First Letter to the Thessalonians ~ Part 3

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We pause our ongoing story of Sha’ul’s Second Missionary Journey as we dig into his first letter to the Thessalonians while in Corinth.

Sha’ul Ministry Among Them

 

2 ¹ You yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not fruitless (see Acts 17:1-9).

Brothers (Greek adelphoi; vv. 9, 14, 17; 3:7; 4:1, 10; 5:1, 4, 12, 26) means “from the same womb.” In this context, it is an inclusive term referring to both men and women of the Messianic faith. Messianics have a new spiritual family relationship based on their shared faith (Mt 12:46–50). ^[1]

² 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 (See Acts 16:16–40). ³ For the appeal we make does not flow from error or from impure motives, neither do we try to trick people. ⁴ 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. ⁵ For, as you know, never did we employ flattering talk, nor did we put on a false front to mask greed—God is witness. ⁶ Nor did we seek human praise – either from you or from others. ⁷ 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. ⁸ 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.⁹ 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.

Accusations against those who proclaim the Good News have been around for a long time and continue to this day. Sha’ul catalogs ten of them here; they include (1) appealing from error or (2) from impure motives, (3) trying to trick people, (4) speaking to win their favor, (5) employing flattering talk, (6) putting on a false front to mask (7) greed, (8) seeking human praise, (9) using one’s authority (as emissaries of the Messiah) to make one’s weight felt, and (10) putting a burden on people by seeking material support from them. He answers these charges in vv. 10–12; see his similar defense in 2 Corinthians 4:1–2. Believers must guard against allowing any of the charges to become true!

¹⁰ You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless our behavior was in the sight of you believers; ¹¹ for you know that we treated each one of you the way a father treats his children – ¹² we encouraged you and comforted you and appealed to you to lead lives worthy of God, who calls you into his Kingdom and glory. ^[2]

In our next post, we will continue to explore Shaul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians beginning in 1 Thess. 2:13.

 Click here for the PDF version.

^[1] Holman Illustrated Bible Commentary.

^[2] 1 Th 2:1-12