Paul was desperate to save the new ecclesia in Thessalonica from the railing attacks of the unbelieving Jews. Their willingness to stop at nothing to discredit him threatened the ecclesia’s very survival. Because he was absent from Thessalonica and thus absent from the ecclesia, it was quite difficult for him to defend himself and the gospel of Jesus Christ which he taught. He was very careful to remind them how important it really is. He is telling them (and us) that the truth is so wonderful that it is worth fighting for; it is worth our every effort to protect and to strengthen it. We can see this example in Paul: not only did he teach the truth at every possibly moment, but he lived the truth to the best of his ability.
The apostle Paul in the second chapter of 1st Thessalonians is very careful to remind the believers in Thessalonica not only of his zeal and motive for his missionary work, but also of the extreme importance of the truth. Paul delineates how we must under no circumstances be deceived into thinking otherwise. At this particular time, Paul was having a great deal of trouble with the unbelieving Jews, who were doing whatever they could to stop the spreading of the truth. We can begin to see this hatred that the unbelieving Jews had towards Paul and his missionary work when they hired “certain lewd fellows, of the baser sort” to start an uproar in the city of Thessalonica so that they could seize Paul, and as they probably hoped, have him killed. However the leaders of Thessalonica, seeing no real threat in the accusations against Paul, but still seeking to calm the uproar, decided to ban him from the city for a certain period of time. The unbelieving Jews were not satisfied with this. After hearing that Paul had gone on to Berea, they followed him there, and had him driven out of that city as well (Acts 17:1-13).
Unfortunately, these Jews felt that driving Paul out of these cities was not enough, and they sought to discredit him, and therefore the message he was preaching, by spreading false accusations. Their goal was to destroy not only the truth, but also the apostle Paul himself. Paul in this chapter reminds the believers that they know that these accusations are not true. His accusers claimed that his teachings were based on “deceit” (v. 3) “uncleanness” (v. 3) “pleasing men” (v. 4) “flattering words” (v. 5) “cloaks of covetousness” (v. 5) seeking glory of men (v. 6) and that he was “burdensome” to the ecclesia (v. 6). These adversaries of Paul even went as far as to forge letters to try to deceive the ecclesia (2 Thess 2:1-2; 2Cor 11:26).
Paul’s defense of his character
The truth was much too precious to allow the unbelieving Jews to destroy and corrupt it with their false accusations, so Paul begins this chapter by defending the truth and himself from the charges that were made against him. He reminds those in Thessalonica of his actions and how they themselves can remember how he acted when he was among them. He points out in the first verse that his “entrance in unto you…was not in vain.” Strong’s defines this word ‘vain’ as “empty.” In other words he is saying that his work among them was successful and they have grown to be firm believers in the Gospel. This alone should be enough to prove to them that he was in no way trying to deceive them, and that he was sincere and genuine in his work (cp. Isa 45:18). He then continues to remind them how he was treated in Philippi. He was treated like a criminal, beaten, and imprisoned, but this did not discourage him. He still put all of his effort into preaching the truth, and being a good example to those around him. We can see the amount of effort that Paul typically gave: “And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling” (1Cor 2:3).He had used all the energy that he had, and was constantly worrying about the welfare of his brothers and sisters.
In verse 4 Paul reminds them that he had been approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel. This is the largest responsibility that could ever be put upon one’s shoulders. Paul is implying that since God had entrusted him with the gospel, that alone should disprove the accusation that he had some ulterior motive or deceitful practice. For it is “God which trieth our hearts” (Jer 17:10; 11:20). Now it is important to note here that Paul is not in any way “patting himself on the back” or bragging about his accomplishments. The reason that he is doing this is because he was afraid that his brothers and sisters were going to leave the truth, because of the false rumors the unbelieving Jews were spreading. He was afraid that the brethren would be coerced into their erroneous way of thinking. The purpose of Paul’s letter was to make them realize that the Jews are not genuine and that they are deceiving everyone. He is no way gloating or bragging about his accomplishments, but rather he is reminding them that what he taught them was the truth.
Paul also confronts the accusation that his preaching was for his own personal glory. Paul states in verse 6 that because he was an apostle of Christ, he could have easily used this to his own advantage, but he did not. The only glory Paul sought was that of God. Paul was so careful to avoid being glorified of men that he even did his best to not be “burdensome” to those around him. This word “burden some” in the Greek has the meaning of “a weight”. Paul was “labouring night and day” so that he could support himself and not be a burden to his brothers and sisters (v. 9). He states that because they were apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, and because they “have sown…spiritual things, [would it be] a great thing if [they should] reap your carnal things?” but he points out that they “have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest [they] should hinder the gospel of Christ” (1 Cor 9:11-15). His only desire is to keep his brothers and sisters in the Thessalonian ecclesia strong in the truth, and to be sure that they were not deceived by “the lie” being spread by the unbelieving Jews. Paul was ceaselessly teaching the gospel, and asking nothing in return (Matt 10:8). Paul’s way of teaching was quite unlike any of the preachers of his day, or of today, whose continual message is to include a vigorous appeal for funds. Rather they labored night and day “because we would not be chargeable to any of you” (v. 9).
The truth was so vital to Paul that he dedicated his entire life to it. He was able to live the gospel to the best of his ability. We must learn from Paul’s example, and live the truth. We must be sure that our lives can stand up to scrutiny. “Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves” (v. 10). People will not be convinced by those who are passionate teachers but are known to be dishonest. They will not give credence to those who break promises to their wives, to their children, to friends, employers or employees. Those who claim to offer light to them that are in darkness must not be groping in the darkness themselves (cp. Rom 2:17–22). Imagine now if Paul was found to be deceiving them, all his credibility would have been lost. His preaching would not have been credible had he not been living the life he was instructing others to live. We must, like Paul, make the truth the most important thing in our lives. We must live the truth.
Paul’s way of life
Beginning around verse 7, the apostle changes his perspective. He shifts his argument from defending himself from the false accusations that were brought against him, and goes even farther to remind them of his actions and attitude while he was among them. He was reminding them how important the truth was to him, and the continual effort that he put onto it so that those around him would believe as well. This would, in essence, remove any lingering feeling of distrust or deceit that the believers might have still held toward Paul. He explains how his attitude and manner of teaching them was like a mother feeding her baby; he would have laid down his life for the believers of Thessalonica if it was necessary. Paul reminds them that he was in essence feeding the young ecclesia of Thessalonica (Heb 5:12 14). There are numerous lessons that we can take from this. Paul is indicating that this is the way that the gospel is supposed to be given. This is the way that it was given from God (John 3:16; Isa 53:12; Gal 2:20). It must be given in love and with a sacrificial attitude, as a mother would feed her child. In addition to this, in verse 11 Paul describes himself as a father who “exhorted and comforted and charged” the brothers and sisters in Thessalonica to “walk worthy of God” (v. 11-12). Are not these the exact duties of a father? Should it not be his duty to instruct his children and to encourage them, to comfort them, and even to command them to “walk worthy of God, who hath called [us] unto his kingdom and glory”(v. 12).
Would Paul have had such concern for the believers and for the truth itself if his motives were impure? Absolutely not. We must learn when preaching and defending our faith that although we must have a thorough knowledge and understanding of Biblical teaching, it is vital that we also have a love for those who we hope will receive the Gospel of Christ. “We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children” (v. 7). “Ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children” (v. 11). Paul, and ourselves, had the responsibility of saving people. An attitude of loving-kindness and of genuine and sincere concern for people’s needs is always more effective in disposing audiences in our favor. It is no use winning the argument if we lose the person.
Paul is so grateful to those in Thessalonica because they knew that Paul was teaching the truth when they heard it. And now Paul as both a mother and a father unto the ecclesia in Thessalonica, thanks God without ceasing because they received God’s word “not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (v. 13). Paul not only tells us that we must never cease to thank God for what he has done on our behalf and on the behalf of others, but he is also telling us that the word of God has the ability to work in the lives of those who believe. It is God’s word that provides us with the energy and influence to do that which is pleasing in His eyes. It is up to us to put in the effort as we see Paul did in verse 9 in that he was “laboring night and day”. We must realize that it is through God and his word that we can get the motivation and will to “do of his good pleasure” (Phil 2:13).
Fellowship in persecution
In the final verses of this chapter Paul changes gears and reminds the believers of what his persecutors have done previously. The believers need to be constantly on their guard, for it is the persecutors’ desire, to if it were possible, “deceive the very elect” (Matt 24:24). He reminds them that they have “both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved” (v. 15-16). He is ultimately saying that it was the unbelieving Jews who instigated the crucifixion of Christ, it was the unbelieving Jews who in times past instigated the death of the prophets, it was the unbelieving Jews that had pushed him out of Thessalonica, and finally that it was the unbelieving Jews who were continually attempting to prevent him from teaching to the Gentiles. This is not to say that Paul despised the Jews — by no means (Rom 9:1-4). He longed for the Jews to be saved, yet they would not have it. We can also notice, if we read carefully that the unbelieving Jews had even convinced the Gentiles to persecute the believers. “… for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they [have] of the Jews” (v. 14) This word “countrymen” means “ethnicity or race” — these were Gentiles that were persecuting them, and this fits perfectly with what Paul is saying here. The unbelieving Jews were instigators, and he seems to be warning them of this. In the latter half of verse 16, Paul reminds the believers that the judgment upon these Jews, who had been persecuting them for so long, was indeed coming. The time would come when their “transgressions are come to a full” (Dan 8:23; cp. Gen 15:16) and the instigators would be stopped.
A somewhat hidden element in this section that can very easily be overlooked is Paul’s record of how the believers at Thessalonica came to the truth. How they went from being ignorant Gentiles, to becoming enlightened and with the hope of being found worthy in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. These steps are as follows:
- “remember” {=to keep in mind},
- “Ye [are] witnesses” {=to spectate},
- “ye know” {=perceive, or know what must be done},
- “ye received” {=to accept, associate with},
- “ye received” {=take hold of, learn},
- “ye became followers”,
- “ye also have suffered” {to feel, or be affected by it},
- “ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 9,10,11,13,13,14,14,19).
They saw how Paul acted differently from those around him; they were able to witness how he really behaved himself. Next they realized what must be done on their part, and they accepted it and associated themselves with it. Then they learned about it and took hold of it and let it affect them. Finally they had the hope of being found in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ at his coming. We too must be careful to follow these last few steps as closely as we possibly can. We must truly accept and take hold of the truth and follow it every day of our lives, allowing it to affect our lives so that we can be found in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming. Finally, Paul expresses his great desire to see them again. He tells them that he still has this “agape” love for them, and that he would have returned to Thessalonica to be with them if “Satan”, or the unbelieving Jews (Acts 17:5-6,13), hadn’t hindered him. He concludes this chapter with words of encouragement to all those who are looking forward to Christ’s coming. He reminds them of the hope of being in the presence of the Man who will remove all persecutions and afflictions and oppression. For this is our “hope, and joy, and crown of rejoicing”.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One