Read 1 Thessalonians 2
Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica
2 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. 2 We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. 3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. 7 Instead, we were like young children among you.
Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. 9 Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews 15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone 16 in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentilesso that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.
Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians
17 But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. 18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way. 19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our gloryand joy.
Go Deeper
Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians is one of encouragement. It’s easy to see how deeply he cares about this body of believers and how eagerly he longs to see them again. In this chapter, Paul reminds his friends of his motive and method for preaching the Gospel in an effort to defend against criticism. He also reminds them of their eager reception of the Gospel to encourage them to stand firm in their faith. Let’s take a closer look at the method and reception of the Gospel in the following verses.
The Method
- Not without results (v. 1)
- In the midst of suffering and opposition, toil and hardship (v. 2, 9)
- Not from error or impure motives or trickery (v. 3) but approved by God and entrusted with the gospel (v. 4)
- Not seeking to please people, but God (v. 4, 6)
- Not with flattery or greed (v. 5)
- With gentleness & care (v. 7-8)
- With integrity (v. 10)
- With encouragement (v. 11-12)
The Reception
- Accepted not as human word, but God’s word (v. 13)
- The word is at work in the lives of believers (v. 13)
- Became imitators of God’s churches (v. 14)
- Through suffering (v. 14)
Both Paul and the Thessalonian church can be examples for us today. When we receive the good news of the Gospel, do we accept it as God’s Word? Is it at work in our lives? Have we become imitators of God’s church? And as we share the Gospel with others, are we doing it with integrity, gentleness, and encouragement? Are we sharing with others absent of pride, people pleasing, flattery, and greed? These are questions for us to ponder as we seek to not only be hearers of the word, but doers of the word also (James 1:22).
Verse 8 is a beautiful picture of the integration of evangelism and discipleship: “Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” He shares the good news and he shows them the good news through his life. They get invited in to see first-hand what it looks like to live a life worthy of God.
Questions
- How did you respond to the Gospel when you first heard it? Compare your experience to the reception of the Gospel by the Thessalonians described in this chapter.
- Is there someone you could share the Gospel with today using the example, motive, and method of Paul seen here?
- Who has a window into your life? Think of someone you share not only the Gospel with, but your own life as well? If no one comes to mind, spend some time praying and asking God who He might want you to extend this invitation to.
By the Way
Acts 17:1-9 provides some background on the start of the church at Thessalonica:
“1 When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.
5 But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, 7 and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” 8 When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. 9 Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.”
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5 thoughts on “1 Thessalonians 2”
Paul embodied tenacity, perseverance, courage, purity, and gentleness in his interactions with the people of Thessalonica. He was driven wholly by pleasing God and was willing to lay down his life to share the gospel. His motives were pure, honest and blameless driven by love for God and his church. These were people he counted worthy, those called by God to share in his glory. Everyone we encounter today is someone Christ died for, and we are called to conduct ourselves in such a way that Christ is on full display in our behavior. We get to partner with him to share the good news. May we follow Paul’s example and let our greatest reward and joy be seeing others come to believe in Christ and grow in him.
1. How did you respond to the Gospel when you first heard it? Compare your experience to the reception of the Gospel by the Thessalonians described in this chapter.
I went to church all my life, even before conception, all my life. I was in the era or a church that taught “hell, fire and brimstone” messages. All my thoughts were always focused on how every time I messed up, “sinned”, I was going to hell. So I had to go get “saved” again, again, and again. In my teenage years I gave up, I decided it was just too hard and I was never go to live up to any of those expectations. So I went my way and did my thing (not good things). I met a woman (when I was 23) who spoke to me about Jesus and what He had done for me, I was like yes I know Him, but I can not live up to what He expects of me. She invited me to a home Bible study where she taught me about love instead of hell. She was there and loved me for about a year and showed me by her actions who Christ really was. She helped send me on a better path. God has continually been the focus since then (with some stumbly bumbly steps along the way) and He has shown up with wonderful loving people to help me comprehend this LOVE.
God thank You for Donna showing me, through her love for You, who You really are, those years ago. Thank You for showing me continually since then about Your HESED love that is so amazing!!! God let Your light so shine through me that I am a beacon of Love for others to know You. Thank You for sending Your Son for me. There are not enough words, never are enough, to express You, but I am believing that with also my actions, from my fruit this will be the beacon to show YOU, in this day, in these minutes in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!
Key taught you about His love ❤️
I felt the same way, overwhelmed thinking I was never good enough. Thank you for the Donna’s in the world sharing His message of love ❤️
Amen, amen, amen! Thank you!
4 “We are not trying to please people but God . . .”
Easier said than done! I need Holy Spirit for that!
Living a life worthy of God is my hope. Thank you, Father for the gift of Holy Spirit help.