1 Thessalonians 2 Bible study

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1 Thessalonians Chapter 2:1–10 The Message and the conduct of the Messengers 2:1 You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain.

Paul came to Thessalonica with Silas after his experience of being beaten and imprisoned at Philippi where he had led the jailor and his household to Christ (and before that Lydia and her household too). His reception at Thessalonica was much more successful as many received Jesus Christ as their Saviour the proof of this was the existence of a thriving church there.

2:2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition.

Despite having suffered so much at Philippi, God gave them the courage and boldness to proclaim the gospel message in the power of the Holy Spirit in spite of strong opposition (Acts 17:5). These men were following in the footsteps of the original apostles such as Peter and John after they had been imprisoned (Acts 4:13).

2:3 For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery.

When Paul preached the gospel message he did so in truth and in fullness, with no compromise at all. He did not have any hidden motives or gimmicks to try and trick anyone into believing.

2:4 But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts.

In his letter to the Corinthian church Paul called himself a servant of God and a steward of the ‘mysteries of God’, someone who had been put in charge of explaining the Word of God and who must be faithful (1 Corinthians 4:1–2). He neither received the message from a human source nor did he preach it according to human reason, or to please other people. Rather, he received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ (Gal 1:11–12) and preached it in order to please God, who knew the motivation of his heart.

2:5 As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed.

The Thessalonians knew that Paul had not once tried to win them over with flattering words. God was their witness that they did not proclaim their message in order to make financial gain.

2:6 nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.

Neither was it to gain approval or praise from people from them or anyone else. As apostles of Jesus Christ they had some right to be supported.

2:7 But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children.

Paul and his team did not come in a bombastic manner, forcing the gospel message on their converts, but with a meek and gentle spirit (1 Peter 3:15). They cared for them as a devoted mother looks after and cherishes her children.

2:8 with such affection for you we were happy to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

It was with such compassion, deep love and affection for the souls of the people, that they were more than willing to share not only the gospel message but also their own lives; that is, to give their time, talents, substance and if necessary to lay down their lives to win them for Christ.

2:9 You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. So that they would not be a financial burden to the church, Paul and his companions worked hard day and night to support themselves in the ministry. Although Paul did not want to receive financial support for himself he did, however, insist that the church was under an obligation to pay a wage to every minister of the gospel (1 Cor 9:7–14, 2 Timothy 2:6). In 1 Corinthians he quotes from Deuteronomy 25:4 where God the ox who treads out the corn should be allowed to eat it also. If God has commanded that the labouring oxen be provided for, how much more should his ministers be supported by the church?

2:10 You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was toward you believers.

The Thessalonian Christians and God were witnesses to the pure, honest, and blameless way in which Paul, Silas, and Timothy behaved in all their dealings with the believers (Titus 2:7–8).

2:11–12 As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

Just as a father would look after and care for his children, bringing them up in right way, so the apostles had instructed, trained, and commanded the Christians to live lives worthy of God, who had called them to his kingdom and glory (Proverbs 22:6).

2:13 We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God's word, which is also at work in you believers.

The apostles were always giving thanks and praising God because the Thessalonians had so wholeheartedly received the word which the apostles preached, accepting it as the word of God and not as man’s philosophy.

This word that they had believed and received had also begun to do a work of grace in their lives and they were continually growing in Christ (1 Pet 2:2; Col 1:9–10, 2 Thess 1:3).

Persecution for the Gospel's Sake 2:14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you suffered the same things from your own compatriots as they did from the Jews.

They had turned from their sinful lives to the living God, had accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, and were walking in his way, truth, and life (1 Cor 5:17) Because of this they were suffering persecution from their own countrymen the same as the Christians in Judea were from the Jews.

2:15 Who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out; they displease God and oppose everyone.

The Jews had rejected and killed the Lord Jesus Christ, as they had killed the prophets who came before him.

They had more recently driven the apostles out and had made attempts to kill them (Acts 9:23–25). Their actions were displeasing to God and their rage so great it spilled over to make them hostile to everyone who a not, in their eyes, a true Jew.

2:16 By hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they have constantly been filling up the measure of their sins; but God's wrath has overtaken them at last.

Not only did they reject the gospel message for themselves, they also opposed the way of salvation through Christ that he had provided for the whole world, including the Gentiles (John 3:16). This was quite the opposite of what God had intended, that Israel should be a light to the nations (Isa 42:6), and by resisting God’s will they continually piled up their sins, and while they were seeking to destroy others the wrath of God was coming upon them.

2:17 As for us, brothers and sisters, when, for a short time, we were made orphans by being separated from you--in person, not in heart--we longed with great eagerness to see you face to face.

Because of the trouble at Thessalonica Paul was sent away at night to Berea by the disciples (Acts 17:6–10).

Although they had been separated physically yet Paul’s heart was still with them and he had an eager desire to return and see them again.

2:18 For we wanted to come to you--certainly I, Paul, wanted to again and again--but Satan blocked our way.

When he had to leave Thessalonica Paul went to Berea, but the antagonistic Jews followed him there and stirred up trouble, forcing him to flee to Athens. From this verse it would seem as if Paul planned to return to Thessalonica from Berea but Satan (through these Jews) prevented him. Paul revisited Thessalonica on his third missionary journey when he revisited all of the churches he had planted (Acts 18:23b–21:15).

2:19–20. For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?

Yes, you are our glory and joy!

It was the salvation of the many souls saved in Thessalonica and indeed throughout all the provinces that gave Paul and his fellow workers hope and joy and which would be their crown before the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ when he returns. ‘Yes,’ he says, ‘you alone are our glory and crown’.

Throughout this chapter it has shown how all ministers of the gospel should present the gospel message in sincerity, truth, and gentleness and as we do so our lives must reflect the nature of the Lord Jesus Christ.