1 THESSALONIANS 2:1-12
MEMORY VERSE: 1 THESSALONIANS 2:7
Persecution leads to a stronger and more faithful church. It does not make sense on the surface, and it certainly does not fit the plans of those who oppose Christ. Suffering can bring out the best in God’s people. It produces a dependence on God that leads to boldness rather than fear. This is what Paul experienced during his missionary journeys, and it is what he encouraged the Thessalonians to remember as they continued their walk of faith.
(In PSG, p. 19)
Acts 17 tells us that Paul spent three weeks ministering to Jews in the synagogue of Thessalonica. In all likelihood, he also spent time during the week in the marketplace and other public arenas, talking with Gentiles and anyone else God brought along his path. We don’t know the exact length of Paul’s stay before opponents began stirring up trouble, but we do know that his interrupted visit was brief. As a result, he didn’t have the time or the opportunity to disciple the Thessalonian converts as he would have liked.
To help rectify this situation, he wrote his first letter to the church of Thessalonica. In the letter we know as 1 Thessalonians, Paul reminded the Thessalonians of his concern for them. During his short time in the city, the apostle had provided a living example of genuine faith (1 Thess. 1:4-6). His walk had matched his talk, and his sincerity left an indelible impression.
In the first chapter, Paul also encouraged them to continue standing strong in their faith. Despite the relative youth of the Thessalonian congregation, the members had established a reputation for persistence and faithfulness under difficult circumstances. Persecution had not slowed them down but had accelerated their efforts on behalf of the gospel. In fact, they had become an example for other Christians in Greece and around the Roman Empire (1:7-8).
In chapter 2, Paul returned to the example he had given his readers during his time there. He acknowledged the reality of persecution and suffering, but he also reminded them that God provides boldness for those who are willing to endure (2:2). If the gospel had been something Paul invented, he probably would have stopped preaching when faced with suffering. But this was God’s message, so opposition had no impact on his ministry.
While false teachers and hucksters in Thessalonica might have been more concerned with large followings and healthy profits, Paul and his coworkers cared more about the people. Manipulation had no place in the gospel. Instead, Paul loved the Thessalonians with the compassion of a mother (2:7) and labored with the work ethic of a diligent father (2:11).
EXPLORE THE TEXT
1 For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our visit with you was not without result. 2 On the contrary, after we had previously suffered and were treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition.
The Thessalonians had a profound experience with Christ as a result of Paul’s ministry. In the Greek, you yourselves know is emphatic and resembles the honest testimony expected of witnesses called to testify in a trial. While others might question their faith, the Thessalonians understood clearly the reality of what Jesus had done for them.
This vibrant relationship with Christ was affirmed through their lives in two specific ways. First, Paul referred to them as brothers and sisters. They were family, connected to one another through God the Father and His Son. This unity provided further evidence that their spiritual walk was genuine. Paul would return to this idea of family later (vv. 7,11), explaining the parental roles he played in ministering to these new believers.
Second, they had seen firsthand that Paul’s ministry among them was not without result. Paul’s efforts were not bankrupt or useless. On the contrary, the Thessalonians’ spiritual transformation demonstrated the truth of the gospel message. God had been at work in Thessalonica, and the believers there were living proof that Christianity was no fraud. The world might have questioned the success of Paul’s ministry, but he focused on the church and its growing influence around the world. That was God’s standard, so it was the apostle’s standard as well.
Paul and his companions arrived in Thessalonica on the heels of a difficult experience in Philippi. They had been wrongly accused of disturbing the peace and false teaching. They had been beaten and imprisoned. As Paul noted, they had been treated outrageously. The Greek word Paul used here described insults, abuse, and shaming. It included not only physical attacks against Paul’s body but also attacks against his reputation and dignity. The mistreatment in Philippi, though, did not stop God’s plan in Thessalonica.
If anything, the opposition left Paul and his coworkers more emboldened by our God to share the gospel. While their human strength could have faded over time, the missionaries leaned into their relationship with Christ. Their work was powered by divine energy, not human wisdom or ability. The gospel’s results in Thessalonica were a testament to God’s faithfulness alone, not to the efforts of Paul, Silas, and Timothy.
The persecutions did not stop simply because they moved to a new location. The enemies in Philippi stalked them and spurred great opposition in Thessalonica. Paul’s adversaries had sparked a riot and accused the missionaries of treason against Caesar. If the gospel had not been true, it would have been easy to close shop and move on. But the missionaries did the opposite, choosing faithfulness in the face of persecution. Persecution never invalidates the truth of the gospel, and it never provides an excuse for believers to stop sharing with those who need to hear.
The apostle praised the Thessalonians for their faith and for how their example was making an impact across the Roman Empire. If Paul and his friends had withered under the attacks of their enemies, the Thessalonians may have never heard the good news of Jesus or gotten the chance to make such a profound difference in Greece and beyond. The missionaries’ refusal to quit in the face of persecution had opened the door for the Thessalonians, and God was using these new believers to open new doors around the world.
3 For our exhortation didn’t come from error or impurity or an intent to deceive. 4 Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please people, but rather God, who examines our hearts.
False teachers in the first century might focus on drawing large crowds or making large profits. They appealed to emotions or a prideful desire for wisdom. But Paul, Silas, and Timothy rejected such selfish ambitions. Instead, they could be bold (v. 2) because they had nothing to hide. Their ministry had been marked by integrity, and it was important for the Thessalonians to remember that their message came with proper motives.
Paul had certainly provided exhortation for the Thessalonians. He had challenged them and encouraged them to put away their idols and to follow the living God. He had urged them to embrace Jesus as their Savior and to share this message with others. From every indication, that’s what happened.
Because the gospel was not Paul’s creation, his ministry was never about him. He wasn’t trying to enrich himself or to gain popularity. His message came from God and centered on Christ. As a result, he didn’t need to rely on error or impurity or an intent to deceive.
The term used for impurity refers to waste or filth. Greed and personal manipulation are like stains that tarnish purity, and Paul would have no part in them. Likewise, he would not try to trick his listeners through his words or actions. Paul told the unvarnished truth about Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection. That was what God had called him to do, and he did it faithfully.
The word instead in verse 4 indicates a sharp contradiction. Paul quickly shifted from the denials of verse 3 to focus on the true nature of his ministry. Rather than following the example of dishonest teachers, his work was approved by God. The Greek wording here indicates something that has been proven true through close analysis and examination. Some scholars have connected it with the process of testing metals. Paul’s message had been thoroughly vetted by the Creator of the universe and found trustworthy. Years later, Paul would urge Timothy to pursue God’s approval so that his ministry would not be put to shame (2 Tim. 2:15).
Since Paul’s focus was on God’s approval, he refused to stray from the truth of the gospel. His goal was to reveal God’s plan of salvation, even if some did not appreciate his honest assessment of the human race or its need for a Savior. Still, the apostle remained unfazed by opposition. His goal was not to please people, but rather God.
Paul was not trying to make enemies. He simply recognized a higher standard set by a higher authority. So he was obligated to preach the message he had received without altering it. God had called him, and God was the One who examines our hearts. The Greek word for examines is related to the word Paul used for approved earlier in verse 4. Thus, the One who tests our faithfulness is the same One who provides the seal of approval. Because of that, Paul had no choice but to preach with sincerity and integrity, because he was accountable to God alone for his work.
5 For we never used flattering speech, as you know, or had greedy motives — God is our witness — 6 and we didn’t seek glory from people, either from you or from others.
Paul had no use for flattering speech but simply shared the truth of the gospel. In addition, he did not have greedy motives. Teachers who rely on these tactics are not genuine. They see people as objects to be used for their own benefit instead of individuals in need of help. Paul’s refusal to please people over God served as evidence he was genuine.
To emphasize his point, Paul highlighted two parallel witnesses: the Thessalonians and God. The apostle attached you know to his rejection of flattery. The Thessalonians had seen Paul’s boldness (v. 2), so they knew he had not surrendered his integrity—or the integrity of his message—to score points with his listeners.
Likewise, the phrase God is our witness refers to Paul’s rejection of greed. Humans are easily deceived, but God rightly discerns the motives of the heart. Other preachers would say whatever the crowds wanted to hear in order to get more money (see 2 Tim.4:3), but Paul never sought money, and he never altered his message. By calling on the Lord to validate his work, Paul was surrendering his ministry to God’s scrutiny and making himself accountable to the Lord for any abuse of power.
The Thessalonians also knew that Paul never tried to make a name for himself. While some teachers would attempt to build an impressive following, Paul emphasized that he and his companions did not seek glory from people. Just as he did not try to profit financially from his work, Paul also left his reputation in God’s hands. Seeking glory for himself would only distract others from seeing the One who deserves all glory—Jesus Christ.
7 Although we could have been a burden as Christ’s apostles, instead we were gentle among you, as a nurse nurtures her own children.
If anyone could have made an argument for profiting from their preaching, it was Paul. No one worked harder for Christ or suffered more for the gospel. As such, Paul and his friends could have been a burden to the Thessalonians. They could have used their authority to request financial support from the church without any conflict of conscience. However, Paul often distinguished between what he had a right to do as an apostle and what was best for others (1 Cor. 9:7-14). In this case, the missionaries chose a different path, validating their rejection of greed and personal glory.
Using the image of a mother with a child, the apostle highlighted the gentle way he ministered to these new converts. Mothers were the epitome of compassion and tenderness. Spiritually, Paul acted like a nurse—literally, a nursing mother—providing for the needs of her dependent infant. This nurturing compassion attracted the Thessalonians. It created a close bond between them and Paul, who then pointed them to the Savior.
(In PSG, p. 24)
8 We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.
Jesus said that the greatest demonstration of love was to lay down one’s life for another (John 15:13). While He was speaking of His death on the cross, the connection between love and personal sacrifice extends to more than just physical death. For Paul, love meant doing something for others, not just feeling good about them. In his ministry, loving included a selfless devotion to those he led to Christ.
Paul and his friends were pleased to share the gospel with the Thessalonians. The verb used here could also be translated “delighted,” which underscores the special love Paul had for them. But their delight didn’t stop at sharing the message. They also invested their own lives in the new church. While false teachers might stop in a town, pocket some money, and move on, God’s missionaries lived out the gospel as they preached it. They acted on their love by serving as mentors and leaders.
Paul, Silas, and Timothy became personally involved with and attached to their brothers and sisters in Thessalonica. The Thessalonians had become dear to them. The bond they shared in Christ was strong, so personal sacrifice was really no sacrifice at all. It was simply a reasonable part of their ministry.
9 For you remember our labor and hardship, brothers and sisters. Working night and day so that we would not burden any of you, we preached God’s gospel to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously, and blamelessly we conducted ourselves with you believers. 11 As you know, like a father with his own children, 12 we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
While their ministry produced joy, it also included labor and hardship. Paul’s wording describes difficult work, as indicated by the phrase night and day. Paul and his friends worked hard because they refused to be a burden to the Thessalonians. Their commitment to raising their own financial support ran contrary to the typical practice of other first-century teachers. Everything they did, even outside preaching and teaching, was geared toward evangelism and discipleship.
In verse 10, Paul again appealed to the dual witness of the Thessalonians (you are witnesses) and the Lord (so is God) to validate his words. The believers in Thessalonica had experienced Paul’s ministry firsthand and could accurately judge his integrity.
The apostle used three adverbs to describe his lifestyle in Thessalonica. First, he had acted devoutly. He had steered clear of sinful and selfish attitudes. Second, he had performed his work righteously. He had cut no moral corners or entertained any hint of spiritual compromise. His walk matched his talk. To this, Paul added that he had lived blamelessly. While opponents might attack his reputation, those who knew him best—God and the Thessalonian believers—understood he had nothing to hide.
Earlier in the passage, Paul had compared his love for the Thessalonians to a mother nursing her infant. Here, he embraced the role of a father. In the first century, a good father served as teacher and trainer. He provided both wisdom and discipline. The parent-child relationship has a powerful dynamic. Like maturing children, new believers need a balance between a tender embrace and a firm challenge.
Paul mentioned three actions to help the Thessalonians grow in their faith. He encouraged them, comforted them, and implored them. Encouragement describes a sustained support that produces strength and courage. Comfort is an empathetic support that walks with others through struggles and failure. Finally, imploring implies an urgent challenge to cut through the haze and focus on what truly matters in life.
Each task played a role in the Thessalonians’ spiritual growth and helped them walk worthy of God. The church’s testimony in a pagan culture hinged upon an accurate demonstration of Christ through their lives and words. Just as Paul had lived a blameless life among them, they needed to live beyond reproach. They needed to become more like Jesus and live out an accurate reflection of the One who pursued them and redeemed them.
Evangelism and Missions
The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded the preaching of the gospel to all nations. (See Ps. 67:2, Acts 1:8.)
Use a Bible dictionary or Bible handbook to learn more about family relationships in the first century.
Paul used parental relationships to illustrate how he and his companions ministered in Thessalonica. Review articles about family in a Bible dictionary or Bible handbook to research how families interacted in the first century. Why would Paul use these images to describe his interaction with the church? How can believers today balance encouragement and instruction?