1 Thessalonians 2:9-12

[9] For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. [10] You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. [11] For you know how, like a father with his children, [12] we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. (ESV)

 1 Thessalonians 2:9 -12 ESV

In the previous passage, we saw that Paul and his traveling companions had come to the Thessalonians sincerely. He explained their motives. Paul said they were gentle, like a mother with her newborn. In this passage he continues to remind his readers in what manner they approached them. They "worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you..." (v.9) Did they really work "night and day?" Looking at the accounts of Paul's ministry in Acts 18-19, it appears so. They preached the gospel to many willing listeners, but also had to contend with opposition from some of the Jews in the area. There were many factors contributing to their ministry in Thessalonica. They did not want to "be a burden" to them. He already said that because they were apostles of Christ, they could have made some "demands" of them (v.6). But they did not. What did they do then? How were their needs met? It could have been through their work as tent makers. In Acts 18:3 we learn that Paul did this kind of work with Priscilla and Aquilla. Perhaps Paul had joined some tentmakers in Thessalonica and was able to earn some wages. Also, it seems he took whatever opportunities to preach and teach the gospel that came up. Whatever Paul may be referring to here, he is reminding his readers of something they saw themselves- they saw that Paul and his companions labored hard and were not a burden to them.

They worked hard while they "proclaimed the gospel of God" to them. (v.9) What is the gospel? I have written on this here, https://sprlpsrn.blogspot.com/2011/11/gospel.html,  back in November 2011. But let's review here. The word "gospel" comes from a Greek word that means "good news." The message contained in the good news at it's most basic form is as follows. Jesus was born. He was really a human being, but was also God. He lived a perfect life, that is, He never sinned. He was crucified and died a real death on a cross. He was buried in a real tomb that was sealed by a stone. On the third day, He literally, physically rose from the dead. Hundreds of people saw Him after He had risen. Those who follow Him proclaim these truths. All who believe are saved. Paul and his companions labored and toiled to bring this message to as many people as they could. 

He calls it the gospel "of God." He has called it "my gospel," as well in other places (Rom 2:16, Rom 16:25, 2 Tim 2:8). It is very personal to him. But he uses the term "gospel of God" a few other times as well. (Rom 1:1, Rom 15:16, and in this chapter of 1 Thess a few times). It is also called this in Mark 1:14 and 1 Pet 4:17. Why is it God's gospel (good news)? Because it is the message of God's work to save men. It is God's work through the 2nd person of the Trinity, Jesus. It is God's power on display. It is God who draws people to this message. It is God who receives the glory in this message and in His saving of sinners who believe. Thus it is the "gospel of God." 

Paul again reminds the Thessalonians of his conduct toward them (v.10-12) Paul and his fellow travelers were "holy and righteous and blameless" toward the believers there. They treated them like a father does his children. They "exhorted" and "encouraged" them to live lives "in a manner worthy of God." When I read this, I see them encouraging the believers to be like Paul and his friends. They had been holy and blameless and were not burdens to them. They are persuading the Thessalonians to do the same. He also reminds them that God "calls you into his own kingdom and glory." (v.12) The message preached is from God. God uses the message and Paul's ministry to call people to Himself. 

In the next section we will see Paul continue to encourage them. For now, remember...God is sovereign!

1 Thessalonians 2:3-8

[3] For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, [4] but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. [5] For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. [6] Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. [7] But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. [8] So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. (ESV)

 1 Thessalonians 2:3–8 ESV

Paul explains his motives for coming to the Thessalonians. He says his "appeal." The Greek word can mean exhortation or appeal. When he and his companions came to them their appeal was not from error or any desire to deceive them. He goes on to explain that their motive is "to please God who tests our hearts." (v.4) Because they wanted to please God and not men (not even their audience), they "never came with words of flattery." (v.5) They came with the simple message of the gospel. 

There are many men and women who claim to preach the word of God who DO use words of flattery. They end up trying to please their audiences. Their lifestyles may reveal they came with greedy motives. They claim some authority as ministers of God. But Paul, who was an ACTUAL apostle of God, DID NOT come to his audience this way. Consider this when you listen to various preachers. Are they bringing the simple message of the gospel? Or do they seem more interested in "impressing" you with their flashy appeal?  Not all who are good speakers have false motives, but pay attention to the message. Do they stay true to the Scriptures, not twisting the meaning?

Paul says that as apostles of Christ, they COULD HAVE made demands of them. (v.6) But they did not. Rather, they were "gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children." (v.7) I'm not sure in what sense they could have made demands. I do suspect Paul and his companions chose to follow Christ's word in Mark 10,

42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:42-45 ESV

Jesus commanded his followers NOT to "lord it over" each other. He commanded them to SERVE, to be a SLAVE. Paul is following this example. He goes on to say that they were very affectionate for the Thessalonians, "you had become very dear to us." (v.8) This caused them to want to not only share the gospel, but to share their LIVES with them. This is what gospel ministry looks like. To the extent that we share in each other's lives and in the gospel, we are mimicking Paul, who was following Christ.

I think this is a standard you can use to assess a church. Do they preach the gospel without greed? Do they let God's word remain as it is without twisting the meaning? Do they love those they meet with? Do they live life and share in the lives of those they meet with? In our next section, we'll see more of Paul's care and concern for those in Thessalonica. For now, remember... God is sovereign.

1 Thessalonians 2:1-2

 "For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict."

          1 Thessalonians 2:1–2(ESV)

Paul continues by reminding the Thessalonian believers that when he and his companions came to them, it was "not in vain." What does that mean? The Greek word for vain means "empty." I think of it in this context as meaning "without meaning" or "meaningless." Paul had told them in 1:9 that they had turned away from idols and had turned TO God. Paul and his companions had brought the gospel and the Thessalonians had believed it. Paul also mentions his experience prior to coming to the Thessalonians. He says he and his friends "suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi" v2. There is a record of this in Acts 16. In that account, Paul, Timothy, and Silas had made their way to Philippi. They preached to Lydia and she was saved. They cast a demon ("a spirit of divination") out of a slave girl and her masters were very upset about it.

"And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. "

       Acts 16:20–24(ESV)

While in prison, the Jailer becomes a believer and the magistrates release Paul and his friends. They make their way to Thessalonica after these events. Even though they were persecuted because of the gospel, they continued from city to city preaching the gospel. It is never a vain, meaningless thing to preach the gospel. Yes, they were beaten and jailed over it. But Lydia had become a believer! And it resulted in the Jailer believing! This has me thinking deeply about my life and why I don't share the gospel. When I constantly DON'T share the gospel with people, it is from fear. Fear of being disliked or hated. Fear of losing my job. But even if I were to be mistreated for the gospel's sake, would there be fruit? That is, would people come to know the living God and be delivered from their sins and the wrath of God?  If this were the fruit, then such mistreatment would NOT be in vain. God would be glorified. And He would provide for me and my family. That provision would include different work, different people in my life with new opportunities to share the gospel of God.

Paul and his companions had been severely mistreated because of their work in the gospel in Philippi. This could have influenced them to give up preaching the gospel. But by God's grace it did not. As he says, "But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict."  I think the Thessalonian believers were grateful that Paul had this boldness to continue preaching God's truth to them. It resulted in them receiving eternal life!

We can be encouraged by Paul's example. We cannot know whether our gospel preaching efforts will have fruit or not, but we ought to always have confidence in God. Whether we are mistreated or people believe the gospel message, our job is to remain faithful to God's word. God will save His elect in His time. Remember, God is all sovereign...