Verses 1-2 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: 2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
As with all of the epistles, the chapters and verses were added much later, dividing up the letters into sections. So verse one above is a continuation of the communication the Apostle Paul wrote in the last verses of chapter 1. Here he is saying that their ministry to the people of Thessalonica was not in vain or futile because, as recorded in the previous chapter, the people gave up their idols to serve the “living and true God.” And that even though he and his companions were treated very badly and persecuted in Philippi, that experience did not stop them from preaching the Gospel when they arrived in Thessalonica.
Verses 3-4 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
The Greek word translated as “trieth” is “dokimazo” and it means to test, examine, prove or scrutinize. The “eth” ending means that the action is ongoing. So God was testing the apostles’ hearts and attitudes. The preaching of the Gospel by the Apostle Paul and others was not with impure motives, but their preaching was because they had been entrusted with the Word of God and commanded to speak. They had no choice, and they had to be obedient to the leading of the Holy Ghost/Spirit. And if what they said was displeasing to the unrepentant, so be it. “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29
Application: This writer is very aware that some of what is presented here in this Bible study site may be displeasing to some people. But like the writers of the epistles, this writer has to obey the leading of the Holy Ghost/Spirit and write down the words that are commanded to be written. Exposing false bible versions and false religious practices in the churches is not pleasant, but the truth must always be presented regardless of who it offends.
Verses 5-6 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: 6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
Again, the motives of the apostles were pure. The Greek word translated as “flattering” is “kolakeia” and it means flattery or flattering discourse. It is an adjective and when referring to a person or to their remarks, it means being full of praise and compliments. So the apostles spoke the truth in love, but they did not “sugar coat” anything they said or try to win the approval of the people through false compliments. The Greek word translated as “cloke” is “prophasis” and it means a pretext or pretended cause. The Greek word translated as “covetousness” is “pleonexia” and it means a greedy desire to have more. So the apostles did not “sweet talk” the people for personal gain or for money. And they did not preach the Gospel for the purpose of elevating themselves in the eyes of the people to something or someone they were not. They wanted all glory to go to the LORD Jesus Christ and not to them.
Application: So often when trying to share the Gospel with the unsaved, the response is one of rejection on the part of the listener due to the belief that Christians just want other people’s money. Jokes are told about tithing and the offering plate. There is a distrust, and unfortunately, it is well founded. Televangelists, radio preachers, and on-line pastors have not all been of God, and many of them have ‘fleeced the flock’ with their scare tactics, with their appealing through emotional blackmail to the honest and good nature of the listeners, with their twisting of Scripture, and with their tales of doom if people do not give. This behavior has led to the false religious man/woman reaping untold amounts of money, often used to buy jets, fancy houses, and gold plated toilet seats and bathroom fixtures. This charlatanism is not new. It is the way of evil men. The apostles, however, were careful to not charge the people for their housing, food, or other needs, and they never charged admission into their services. They accepted gifts from Christian brethren who were directed by God to give, but there was never any arm twisting like has occurred since the forming of the Church. So beware of who you listen to and to whom you send financial support, or hard earned money may be going to foster a fake ministry operating at the behest of Satan. Think about it.
Verses 7-8 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: 8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
The apostles gave of themselves to the Thessalonian people, freely and with love, so much so that the people became like family to them, people who were beloved and esteemed.
Verses 9-10 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. 10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
The Apostle Paul reminds them in this epistle of the long hours they put into ministering to the people of Thessalonica, of the fact that their labor was freely given because they were God’s servants, and the fact that their behavior was above criticism or reproach.
Verses 11-12 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
Application: When an individual becomes a believer in the LORD Jesus Christ and willingly gives up the control of their lives to Him, it should be natural to want to please the LORD and not embarrass Him by behaving like someone in the world. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 Just as a natural fathers wishes to have his son emulate him, so the Christian believer should want to emulate Jesus. If this doesn’t happen, something is wrong and the claims of the believer that he/she is a Christian should be questioned. Remember, the term “Christian” means Christ-like. “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:16
Verse 13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
The Greek word translated as “ceasing” is “adialeiptos” and it means without intermission, incessantly or constantly. The Apostle Paul and his companions continually thought about and prayed for this church long after leaving them to minister elsewhere as directed by the LORD. The people of Thessalonica believed the speech they heard from the apostles was speech from God. They believed it to be the truth, and as a result, what they heard worked in their hearts with the results being salvation from sin, death, and Hell. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6 What was Jesus saying in this sentence? He is the way for everything. On the road of life, there can be many turns that take people off the right track and away from eternal life. Only by first going to Jesus can people see, understand, and learn the truth because He is truth. He is the creator and He knows how all things work and He knows the hearts of mankind: the righteous hearts and the unrighteous hearts. And only through knowing and understanding truth can people attain or inherit eternal life. So first Jesus – follow His way. Then learn and embrace truth, and then have eternal life. He is the way, the only way, to eternal life in Heaven.
Application: Today there is much false teaching that there is more than one way to assure eternal life in Heaven after this life on the Earth. And there is false teaching that those people calling themselves Jews do not have to go through Jesus for salvation as they have a different covenant. This is all lies. This teaching harms people. This teaching leads people on the wrong path and away from the LORD Jesus Christ with the end result being physical death and eternal life in Hell and the Lake of Fire. This teaching is from Satan. This teaching has no Scriptural basis. Plain and simple. There is only one way to salvation and that is through the LORD Jesus Christ.
Verses 14-16 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: 15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: 16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
The verses above are often ignored by pastors, evangelists, and teachers of the Bible. They are not “politically correct”. But they are the word of God and recorded by his servants. And God, through the Apostle Paul who was himself born a Jew and who was a pharisee and trained in the corrupted Jewish religion at the time of Jesus’ ministry on Earth, states clearly and without any wiggle room to reinterpret these scriptures that the Jews killed the LORD Jesus, the Christ or messiah, killed the prophets sent to them by Jesus, and were at the time of the writing of this epistle persecuting the Christians. God, through the Apostle Paul, clearly states that the Jews did not please Him and that they are (present tense) contrary (over against, opposite, opposed as an adversary, hostile, or antagonistic in feelings or actions) to some men? Nope. Contrary to all men. Have they changed over the centuries? You do the research and decide for yourself. What is clear is that the Jewish persecution of the Church has continued down through the centuries and that the Jewish people still refuse for the most part to embrace their promised Messiah, the LORD Jesus Christ. And the responsibility of the Christian church is to still evangelize all unbelievers which includes the people alive today claiming to be Jews and claiming to be God’s chosen people, regardless of the fact they have rejected His only Son, Jesus, and by doing so are destined for eternal damnation as stated in Scripture. “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” 1 John 5:12. “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18 “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36
Verses 17-18 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. 18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
The Apostle Paul and his companions badly wanted to return to this church in Thessalonica, but Satan opposed them. It is not stated here what the opposition was that the apostles encountered, but this apparently saddened them as they wanted to be in the presence of this God-centered body of believers.
Verses 19-20 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 20 For ye are our glory and joy. (1 Thessalonians 2)
Even though the door was not opened for them to return to Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul and his companions were joyful because they had the assurance that the people of this church while in fleshly bodies were in Jesus’ presence through His Holy Ghost/Spirit, and that in physical death they would be in His presence in the spiritual kingdom of God, and if He was to come back to Earth, again they would be in His presence. Their efforts in ministry in Thessalonica were not in vain.