In our study of 1 Thessalonians chapter two, we continue our look at the letter that Paul wrote to the "church" that he started in Thessalonica (modern Greece). Just as God examines our hearts, we are going to take a look at Paul and his heart for ministry.
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You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not fruitless.
When Paul talks about the visit not being a failure, he is saying that it produced results and not just results in numbers but also in action. The message did not stop at the head as a theory or philosophy but was put into practice. This one verse shows how the teaching of the apostle Paul agrees with the book of James.
On the contrary, although we had already suffered and been outraged in Philippi, as you know, we had the courage, united with our God, to tell you the Good News even under great pressure.
Paul is talking about the things that happened to him that are recorded in Acts 16. In Phillipi, Paul and Silas were stripped of their clothes, beaten, and thrown in prison because they ran a demon out of a woman. God opened the doors of the prison releasing them and they left for Thessalonica. He reminds the people there that, even though this happened in Phillipi, they still faithfully proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ. The opposition that he refers to comes from the same word that we get "agony" from and tells us of just how intense it was.
For the appeal we make does not flow from error or from impure motives, neither do we try to trick people.
This verse lets us examine the heart of Paul and his companions. We see first that their ministry (the appeal) comes with knowledge (not from error) in that they understood the gospel of Jesus Christ and lived it. Paul knew the word of God and how to put it into action. Second, we see that their ministry was not motivated by greed (impure motives). We probably think of greed and associate it with just money but it can also be fame and other things. Paul is reminding them that the reason his team came to them was simply to proclaim the gospel so that people might be saved and they did not expect anything in return. Finally, they weren't simply after numbers of converts but were looking to make true disciples as Jesus has instructed. They did not use a big show (tricks or gimmicks) to bring in the harvest but simply and boldly proclaimed the gospel. It is not about "making friends and influencing people" but about proclaiming the Word and letting God change hearts.
Instead, since God has tested us and found us fit to be entrusted with Good News, this is how we speak: not to win favor with people but with God, who tests our hearts.
Paul goes on to explain that they came and proclaimed the gospel because of God's calling on their lives and not the will of men. He goes on to explain that, because God is the One that chose them to do so, it is God that they are out to please and not men. God is the boss and that is who they answered to. Today, as in the past, there are those that think that they have to pretty up the message to make it acceptable to men (after all that is how they earn a living). Paul stands in sharp contrast to that as, even when it was difficult, they did not change the message but boldly proclaimed the Word. Those that God has chosen and approved can trust that God will provide for them and so their "living" does not depend on men but solely on God.
For, as you know, never did we employ flattering talk, nor did we put on a false front to mask greed - God is witness. Nor did we seek human praise - either from you or from others.
Paul continues by explaining that they didn't come with tricks or having a hidden agenda and that God knows their hearts in this matter. He goes on to explain that they were not even seeking approval from men but only from God. An example of the impure motives comes from one of my true life experiences. As part of a "church" we would go out on Monday evenings calling on people that had visited the worship service. On one occasion, I went to do this with an elder of the "church" and he explained that he was doing it because we had to get more people in to help pay the bills. I never participated in the visiting ever again because that is an impure motive.
As emissaries of the Messiah, we could have made our weight felt; but instead, we were gentle when we were with you, like a mother feeding and caring for her children.
Paul continues to describe the method that God had them to use in bringing people to Christ. That method was simply speaking the truth in love and it is the same method that God would have us to use today. Many want to simply talk of love and even go so far as to compromise the truth while others simply try to beat down the struggling person and not show them love.
We were so devoted to you that we were glad to share with you not only God's Good News but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.
Another part of the method behind the spread of the gospel in Thessalonica was that Paul and his team shared their lives with the people there. They lived among the common folks (if even for only a few weeks) and let the people there see their faith in action. Many today want to proclaim the Word but do not want to lower themselves to be where those that need it are located. Many want the people to clean themselves up and then come to their building to receive the Word. That is not what Jesus (or Paul) did as both of them went to those that needed to hear the Word and stayed among them (if even for only a short time).
For you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship, how we worked night and day not to put a burden on any of you while we were proclaiming God's Good News to you.
We see here that Paul and his team did not count on the people they were trying to reach or anyone else to supply their needs. They worked to support themselves and also shared the gospel. We have gotten so far from this model today as so many people are "paid staff" at local "churches" and it has become more of a job than focused on proclaiming the gospel. Then, many of the people in these "churches" believe that they are no longer responsible for sharing the gospel as they aren't the ones that are on the "paid staff".
You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless our behavior was in the sight of you believers;
Paul is telling us here that the method that they used was simple in that they practiced what they preached. He says here that the Thessalonians saw that they were different and set apart for God which inspired them to do so as well. One of the main problems today is that many who say they are called to spread the Word around the world do not walk the talk.
for you know that we treated each one of you the way a father treats his children - we encouraged you and comforted you and appealed to you to lead lives worthy of God, who calls you into his Kingdom and glory.
Paul reminds the Thessalonians that he had treated them as children. The first duty of any father is to train the children in the ways of the Lord.
Another reason we regularly thank God is that when you heard the Word of God from us, you received it not merely as a human word, but as it truly is, God's Word, which is at work in you believers.
Paul is thankful here because the Thessalonians accepted the fact that the gospel was not about Paul or his companions. They recognized the fact that Paul was just a messenger and a messenger does not create the message; he only delivers it. Many, even today, want to create a new message to either get followers or to keep the ones they have interested. Paul never created a sermon or a sermon series; he simply preached the Word of God.
For, brothers, you came to be imitators of God's congregations in Y'hudah that are united with the Messiah Yeshua - you suffered the same things from your countrymen as they did from the Judeans who
Paul speaks now of the persecution that comes from following Jesus Christ. The religious establishment did not accept Jesus and in fact crucified Him. The believers in Judea were then scattered through continued persecution and now it has happened in Thessalonica. Jesus told us that, as servants, we are no better than our Master and so to expect the same things that happened to Him. That goes for us today as well but we can gather strength from each other and through our Lord.
both killed the Lord Yeshua and the prophets, and chased us out too. They are displeasing God and opposing all mankind by trying to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles, so that they may be delivered. Their object seems to be always to make their sins as bad as possible! But God's fury will catch up with them in the end.
Paul goes on to explain that the people had not only rejected and crucified Jesus but now would not let others hear and accept the gospel. This is the ultimate of sins and is happening in many countries today but, as Paul said, "the wrath of God" will come upon them just as it did in his day.
And as for us, brothers, when we were deprived of your company for a short time - in person, but not in thought - we missed you and tried hard to come and see you. We wanted so much to come to you - I, Sha'ul, tried more than once - but the Adversary stopped us.
Paul describes how when they were apart he tried over and over again to get back to see the Thessalonians. He says that it was Satan that prevented it. Some may read this passage and say "how can that be" and "isn't God in control?". Just as in the book of Job, God is in control but He allows Satan to roam the earth for a time and to have some power. It does not diminish God or His power and He uses it for the good of those that love Him.
For when our Lord Yeshua returns, what will be our hope, our joy, our crown to boast about? Won't it be you? Yes, you are our glory and our joy!
The only things that we are taking with us to heaven are the people that we tell about Jesus. That is why Paul traveled and shared the Word and that should be our reason for everything that we do. That is what Jesus was talking about, in Matthew 6:19 - 21, when He spoke of treasures in heaven instead of treasures on the earth.
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