1Thessalonians, Chapter 2
Copyright © 1999 Darroll Evans-All rights reserved

1Thessalonians 2:1-2
1 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.

Paul continues the thought begun in Chapter one.

I doubt that Paul knew that there was a chapter 1-5.

At the end of Chapter one, Paul was admonishing the Thessalonian Christians to wait patiently for Christ to deliver them from the wrath to come.

Let's look again at Thessalonians 1:10.

This time we will look at the Greek text.

1Thessalonians 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. (KJV)

The KJV translators took a liberty that is unnecessary.

They translated a present tense word in past tense. "Which delivered" (Gr. ruomenon-ruomenon) is Greek present tense.

It should have been translated, "is delivering."

God's plan for the ages is technically and spiritually complete.

However, it is experientially still in the growth process.

Too many people try to drag us into the future prior to the experience.

That is due to spiritual immaturity.

In this section, Paul is telling the Thessalonians that his coming to them was not a vain act.

It was conceived by God and executed by the Holy Spirit.

Paul realized that it was the persecution in Philippi that brought him to Thessalonica.

How many of us would praise God for the results of our persecution?

We are much too busy trying to get God to keep Satan from persecuting us to realize that it may be for the good of the Kingdom that we experience what we do.

I had a few stokes.

They took my ability to sing.

They greatly hampered my ability to learn new things.

So I fell back on what was in my long-term memory, and this is the result. Praise God!

Paul found that due to the opposition in Philippi, he spoke more forcefully in Thessalonica.

Opposition is not a negative unless we let the negative rule!

How do you react to pressure?

1 Thessalonians 2:3-4
3 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.

 Paul explained that his appeal did not come from a need to deceive the Thessalonians.

He spoke from pure motives.

Paul knew that he had God's seal of approval to deliver an unabridged gospel message.

It seems that many try to tinker with the gospel, to make it more palatable.

Adding to or diluting the gospel is the work of demons.

It is not the work of God's called and chosen.

1Thessalonians 2:5-6
5 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.

We who are called by God have no need to use unduly favorable speech.

The pure message of Christ will do all the work necessary for the good of mankind.

Such use of flattery is based on personal greed. Undue human flattery is not found in the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Just as we do not need to use flattery to tell others about Christ Jesus, we also need not seek the approval of society.

As followers of Christ, His approval is all we need.

1Thessalonians 2:7-8
7 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.

As Children of God we are to act in a gentle manner.

Paul uses the example of a nurse caring for children.

Have you ever been to a hospital maternity ward?

When the newly born children are brought to the nurses, they are washed and cleaned of all the after-birth vernix.

In doing that, they take special care for the welfare of that child.

The nurses actually are showing that they cherish that child.

That child is in their charge, and they give it all the care it needs to survive.

All too many Churches have no plan to love and cherish newly born Christians.

As mature Christians, we are to act in such an affectionate manner.

As it was with Paul, so should it bee with us.

We should rejoice in our goal of impart to gospel.

1Thessalonians 2:9 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.

Paul reminded the Thessalonians that he and the others with him worked for there own funds or necessities during their stay.

They did it that way so that they would not present a hardship to the members of that church.

That brings up a crucial point.

Many have used Paul as the full example of those serving the Church.

That is to say, serving without income or reimbursement.

That is a false biblical stance.

While serving without pay is nice it is not practical.

To do so one would need to be a millionaire or a bum.

Paul chose to do that. He also chose to remain unmarried.

Others Apostles, Peter as one example, were married and paid.

That was, and is, normal and biblical.

Paul put it this way:

1 Corinthians 9:9-14
9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

those that preach the gospel should, unless otherwise called to do so, live of the gospel.

Notice that Paul refers to the gospel as the gospel of God.

In other places Paul refers to the gospel as;

1. The gospel of His Son

2. The gospel of Christ

3. The gospel of Peace

4. The gospel of the uncircumcision

5. The gospel of the circumcision

6. The gospel of your salvation

7. The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ

8. My gospel

9. Our gospel

and perhaps a few others.

Much has been said about the differences in these "gospels."

This is a theological debate among those that want to be ruled by law rather than grace.

The two that cause the most concern are the gospels to the circumcision and the uncircumcision.

These references are to areas of ministry and not to basic differences in the message of the gospel.

Knowing that the Jews would reject whatever Paul said, God told Peter to deliver the message to the Jews.

Paul went to the Gentiles.

There is not biblical evidence that Peter was ever given permission to speak to Gentiles except in the single case of Cornelius (Acts 10).

1Thessalonians 2:10-12
10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
11 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.

Here, Paul defends his ministry by doing a bold thing.

He calls God to bear witness that he conducted himself in an acceptable manner.

His job was to exhort, comfort, and encourage the Thessalonian Christians.

Paul did just that so that they too may life in a manner acceptable to God.

I must note that through the centuries the job description for Christians has not been modified.

1Thessalonians 2:13 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.

For the cause of the gospel Paul constantly praise God for those to whom He gave entrance into the kingdom.

We may initially accept the words of men, but those words are based in the Word of God.

The Word of God is most beneficial when it "effectually worketh" (Gr. energeita-energeitai) or is energized within us.

The word must be energized before it is unitized.

1Thessalonians 2:14-16
14 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.

In the matter if suffering for the sake of Christ, the cause of the gospel, those in Thessalonica followed in the footsteps of their Jewish brothers-in-Christ.

Today, in the land of the free, many are not free to worship Christ.

The devil's advocates are twisting the founder's pleas for freedom to assure that Christians will live in government sponsored bondage.

I hear a Congressman on TV tell his host that the founders of this nation came here to be free "from" religion.

Such lies permeate the halls of the Congress of the United States.

1Thessalonians 2:17 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.

Paul planned to come to the Thessalonians to see them in person.

During his second missionary journey Paul spent perhaps three weeks in the city.

It was during that time that many people came to Christ (Acts 17:4).

Also at Thessalonica men accused Paul and his companions of turning the world upside down (Acts 17:6).

I pray for the day that men will accuse us of the same thing.

1Thessalonians 2:18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

Here Paul says the Satan hindered him. Earlier (Acts 16:6-7), Paul said that the Holy Spirit had hindered or forbidden him.

Not many today would understand the difference.

Many well meaning Christians go around rebuking Satan for what God is trying to bring about in their lives.

Our spiritual ability to discern the Truth is slightly hampered by our mental need to succeed.

1Thessalonians 2:19 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?

I know many who ask others to pray for them.

That is not bad.

We should pray for each other.

However, if you are a Christian Christ through the Holy Spirit escorts you everywhere you go.

He is with you when you sleep and wake, and when you go to work.

One day we will stand in His presence in a manner not now understood.

Rejoice in the thought of His coming!

1Thessalonians 2:20 For ye are our glory and joy. 

If you have ever had the privilege of being used by God to lead another to Christ you will understand this verse.

If not, nothing I can say would make you understand.

My son is one of those unique people.

Due to certain circumstances, I tell people that I wouldn't take a million dollars for him, but at times I will consider 5 cents.

One of the "million-dollar" times was when he went for a walk and came home with a small family.

He had talked with them at a restaurant and the daughter had decided to accept Christ.

Not knowing what to do, he brought them all home.

We praise God for that day and that family.

They are not now members of our denominational Church, but they are members of "The" Church.

Chapter 3
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