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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
1:4-2:16 Paul's Confidence in the Election of the Thessalonians. Paul is confident that the Thessalonians are elect because of God's blessing on the missionaries during the mission and the authenticity of the Thessalonians' reception of the gospel and subsequent obedience.
1:4 The ultimate reason for Paul's certainty regarding the Thessalonians' election is that they are brothers loved by God. God's love undergirds election (Eph. 1:4-5; cf. Rom. 1:7; 9:13) and is demonstrated by it (Rom. 8:35-39; 11:28). Chosen (lit., "elected," using Gk. eklogē, "choice, selection, election") refers to God's antecedent sovereign act of appointing people for eternal life (see notes on Rom. 10:20-21; Eph. 1:4; 1:5; 1:11). Paul infers from the events of the mission that the Thessalonians were elect and therefore he can reassure them that they are forever secure.
1:5-10 because. Paul grounds his confidence that the Thessalonians are elect in two things: the undeniable authenticity and authority of those preaching the gospel to them (v. 5) and the exemplary nature of the Thessalonians' response to the gospel (vv. 6-10). First, he appeals to the fact that the missionaries' preaching (our gospel) was characterized by power (miraculous power, or power in preaching, or both), the Holy Spirit (manifestations of the Spirit's approving presence), and full conviction (transparent sincerity and integrity, bringing certainty to the hearers' minds). You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. The genuineness of the gospel was reinforced, as it always should be, by the evident integrity of its preachers.
1:6 imitators of us. The Thessalonians followed Paul's example even as Paul followed Christ's example. for you received the word in much affliction. See Acts 17:5-9; 1 Thess. 2:14. Suffering affliction is normal for those destined to be saved at the end (see Rom. 8:17-18; 1 Pet. 4:12-14). with the joy of the Holy Spirit. The remarkable joy in suffering that characterized the Thessalonian Christians was patterned after the joy of Jesus and Paul.
1:7 Macedonia and Achaia were the two Greek provinces of the Roman Empire.
1:8 not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth. This may refer to evangelistic activities or, more likely, news of the Thessalonians' newfound faith. Either way, what transpired in Thessalonica resulted in the gospel being proclaimed far and wide, no doubt aided by the fact that Thessalonica was strategically located (see Introduction: Purpose, Occasion, and Background).
1:9-10 The Greeks from other areas report that the Thessalonians had repented of their idolatrous past, had committed themselves to serve God, and were waiting for Jesus' second coming--the key traits of genuine Christian conversion. living and true God. In contrast to idols, God is the only real Deity. wait for his Son. This is the first of many references to the second coming in this letter (cf. 2:12, 19-20; 3:13; 4:13-18; 5:1-11, 23-24). whom he raised from the dead. This may anticipate 4:13-18, where Paul affirms the Thessalonians' hope for the deceased on the foundation of Jesus' resurrection from the dead (4:14). delivers us from the wrath to come. This may anticipate 5:1-11, where Paul emphasizes that the Thessalonians are not destined for wrath at the final judgment.
2:1-12 Paul expands upon what he had said in summary form in 1:5: the missionaries in Thessalonica displayed all the traits of authentic ministers of the gospel. Some suggest that Paul is giving a model for imitation, and this is probably part of what Paul is emphasizing here. However, the appeals to witnesses (2:5, 10) and the references to the Thessalonians' knowledge (vv. 1, 2, 5, 11) suggest that Paul in vv. 1-12 is primarily defending the missionaries' integrity with respect to the mission, just as in 2:17-3:10 he will offer a defense of his subsequent absence from Thessalonica. Paul may be responding to real accusations, or merely anticipating concerns in the wake of the Thessalonians' crisis regarding the day of the Lord (see 5:1-11). Paul distinguishes the missionaries from charlatans, perhaps especially Cynic philosophers and/or Jewish false prophets.
2:1 in vain (Gk. kenos, "empty, without content, without result"). Empty of results or empty of substance and character.
2:2 shamefully treated at Philippi. See Acts 16:19-39. boldness. Despite experiencing fierce persecution in Philippi, Paul did not shrink from proclaiming the gospel in Thessalonica, even when it entailed further suffering. conflict. Persecution.
2:3-4 Paul states his thesis in general terms before demonstrating it with specific regard to the Thessalonian mission in vv. 5-12. Negatively, Paul insists that the missionaries were not characterized by a faulty message, impure motives, or dubious methods (v. 3). Positively, he states that they preached the gospel as those approved by God and as those committed to speaking in order not to please their human audience but to please God (v. 4). who tests our hearts. Not only did God sanction the missionaries to proclaim his gospel; he continues to approve of their inner motives and integrity.
2:5-9 Negatively, Paul asserts that he and his fellow missionaries had not spoken as charlatans or false prophets in order to gratify their own vanity, line their own pockets, or gain (even legitimate) honor (vv. 5-6). Positively, he stresses the missionaries' sincerity and selfless and profound devotion toward the Thessalonian believers, extending beyond the call of duty (vv. 7-9).
2:5 words of flattery. If the missionaries had employed flattery, there might have been legitimate doubt as to whether their message was trustworthy. pretext for greed. Paul did not minister for financial gain; this is made abundantly clear by his insistence on working at a trade rather than depending on his converts for his keep (v. 9; 2 Thess. 3:8). God is witness. Only God can attest to the inner motives of a human heart.
2:6 Nor did we seek glory. Paul's ministry in Thessalonica was not a quest for personal glory or fame. made demands as apostles of Christ. As apostles, they had unique authority to request support (cf. Rom. 15:24; 1 Cor. 9:3-14).
2:7-8 gentle (Gk. nēpios). Paul is highlighting the fact that he and his fellow missionaries did not exploit their rights and privileges but acted in an unassuming manner toward the converts. like a nursing mother. Paul and his fellow missionaries were without guile, loving, and selfless in their devotion to the converts.
2:9 Paul's love was shown by the fact that he had undertaken long hours of manual labor in order to avoid burdening the Thessalonians financially.
2:10-12 Paul forcefully insists that the missionaries had been holy, righteous, and blameless in everything they did while among the new converts. Note the strong familial language in vv. 7, 11-12 (also v. 17). Paul stresses again that the manner and content of the missionaries' proclamation demonstrated their authenticity and authority (v. 12). kingdom and glory. At Jesus' second coming, Christians will enjoy the full blessings of the kingdom and will participate in God's glory.
2:13-16 Paul continues to underscore his certainty regarding the Thessalonians' election (1:4). They put their trust in the Word of God (2:13), and they suffered persecution just as the mother churches in Judea had (v. 14). Paul then denounces apostate Jews who had opposed the prophets and Jesus, and who had more recently driven Paul out of Thessalonica (vv. 15-16).
2:13 not as the word of men but as . . . the word of God. Paul clearly claims an absolute divine authority for his words as an apostle, and contrasts his words with ordinary human words. His apostolic teaching really is the "word of God," and should be received as from God himself. which is at work in you. The word of God is still active in the Thessalonian community (see 1 Cor. 1:18; Heb. 4:12).
2:14 Genuine offspring bear the traits of their parents. The Judean churches were the first, indisputably authentic churches, and the mother churches of all those planted by Paul. They established a standard by which all other churches might measure themselves. Like them, the Thessalonian Christians suffered persecution for Jesus. your own countrymen. The Thessalonians' Gentile compatriots were stirred up against them by Jewish opponents of the gospel (Acts 17:5-10). Jews. Paul so loved his fellow Jews that he would almost be willing to be eternally damned if it would mean that they would come to faith (Rom. 9:1-3), but here he points out that in their hard-heartedness they consistently reject God's Word (see Matt. 23:29-35).
2:15 drove us out. See Acts 17:5-10. Paul sees what happened to the missionaries in Thessalonica as the latest in a long series of examples of Jewish hostility to the word of God. oppose all mankind. It is in all humanity's interest to hear the gospel that offers salvation; to stand in the way of the gospel is therefore to oppose all mankind.
2:16 God's wrath has come upon them at last. It is possible that Paul has in mind here
