"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...
