1 Thessalonians 2 Commentary

- Vs. 1-2 Paul, Silas and Timothy went to the church in Thessalonica.

o Their visit did bear fruit

o They were persecuted in Philippi and most likely timid about sharing the gospel with the Thessalonians, as implied in verse 2, but with the help of God they still went out and preached the gospel, even though they were being persecuted.

- Vs. 3 the gospel is not false and is not being shared with them because Paul, Silas and Timothy want some sort of personal gain.

o Along with this, they aren’t trying to speak in a way that would trick the Thessalonians to believe something that they didn’t want to believe and that, ultimately, was false.

- Vs. 4-6 Paul is showing here what authority he calls upon to be able to speak such an offensive message. He says that their authority is from God because God chose (or approved) them for this work

o They are sharing this message knowing that the God of the universe is watching over them.

o They don’t speak in such a way that men would be pleased, for this message is not based around the wants of man, but rather the needs of man. This pleases God because, as stated above, God has entrusted this task to these three.

o They were not trying to seek personal gain with monetary things here either. As Paul would have known, a noble goal is usually preached when someone wants some sort of monetary gain from someone else. This was not what Paul, Silas and Timothy were doing.

o They were also refraining from demanding from the Thessalonians. Paul’s love and acceptance came from Christ and when he went to the Thessalonians he went to give out, not to receive.

o As an apostle, he could have asked for money, food, water, etc. but they did not do that.

- Vs. 7-9 The three did not come to take, as stated above, but to give out. They did this by being gentle among the Thessalonians. They cared for and loved the Thessalonians so much that they spent their time ministering and working so that they could live among the Thessalonians. In verse 6 Paul says “even though we could have asserted our authority,” what he is talking about here is explained by verse 9, they could have asked for money and all of the material essentials, but because they loved the Thessalonians so much they chose to work for everything themselves and not ask for anything.

o This was difficult for the three, they considered this hardship.

- Vs. 10-12 Just like a father and son relationship, Paul loved, cared for, encouraged and showed the Thessalonians what it is like to live a life that is truly devoted to Jesus.

o There seems to be an implication of one on one mentoring here in verse 11.

o The life that Paul is encouraging the Thessalonians to live is not based on something material, but based on the gift that the believers in Thessalonica have received; they are called into His kingdom and His glory.

- Vs. 13 The three are praying for the Thessalonians; continually thanking God for how they understood that they weren’t preaching a message that mere man made up, but one that the God of the universe has spoken and called them out to preach.

o The Word of God that was spoken to the Thessalonians did not come to them without power, but it is actually at work inside of those who have believed. As Paul writes in Philippians 1:6 “And He, who began a good work in you, will continue it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

- Vs. 14-16 The church in Thessalonica truly began living their lives for Christ and His kingdom. They not only received the Word, but they began acting on what is called on them to do by that very same Word.

o They suffered at the hands of their own people, but continued to persevere.

o They looked to those who were truly living out their faith, the churches in Judea, and became imitators of them. This is similar to what Paul said in chapter 1 when he said that you have “become imitators of us.” As they became imitators of true Christian churches they became imitators of Jesus Christ himself, as we should be according to Philippians 2:5

o Those who persecuted the true believers in Judea are not right with God and are not only waging conflict with the believers, but with everyone so that they could somehow try to stop the gospel from being preached. The churches in Judea suffered persecution from the Jews; their own people who killed Christ. The Thessalonians have undergone the same type of persecution

o The ones persecuting the Thessalonians and the churches in Judea similarly, have caused great distress among the people. Nothing displeases God more than to see the gospel being hindered and the salvation of souls being halted by a road block.

- Vs. 17-20 Paul, Silas, and Timothy wanted to come back to see the Thessalonians, but they were separated from them. Although they were separate, Paul writes that the Thessalonians were still in his thoughts and that the three longed to see the Thessalonians. Paul even attempted many times to go see them.

o Couldn’t make it to see them because Satan blocked his way.

§ Paul was a great leader and could have offered a lot of insight to the Thessalonians and, as we see in ch.3, he could have strengthened their faith if it was necessary.

§ This relates contextually to Paul talking about how he was afraid that the Thessalonians had been carried away by the tempter (Satan) (ch. 3:1-5)

· Paul was most likely afraid that Satan was blocking his way so that he (Satan) could overtake the Thessalonians through temptation

o The church in Thessalonica is what will be Paul’s glory in the time of Christ’s coming.

§ Material things do not matter; what matters are the souls who are saved and offer themselves as living and holy sacrifices to Christ.

· These things are eternal; and Paul, Silas and Timothy are directly linked to this church because they started it. This will be part of their reward in heaven