I Thessalonians 2:1-12

I Thessalonians 2:1-12

I.                   V. 1-2

                                                              i.      The letter moves on to the personal experience of the Thessalonians with Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, and with their work among them

                                                            ii.      Cf. Isaiah 65:23

                                                          iii.      Cf. Acts 16:19-40 for Paul and Silvanus’ treatment in Philippi

                                                          iv.      Cf. Acts 17:1-9 for their treatment in Thessalonica

                                                            v.      Refer back to 1:5, 9

                                                          vi.       “in the midst of a great struggle”- cf. I Corinthians 9:24-27

                                                        vii.      Opposition is Greek word agon, from which we derive our word “agony”

1.       Agon has it’s root in an athletic contest

                                                      viii.      Paul’s treatment in Philippi would have violated his dignity as a Roman citizen

II.                V. 3

                                                              i.      Error or impurity cannot be the source of their appeal, for the gospel has its origin with God.  Furthermore, Paul does not use deception by making false promises or trickery

                                                            ii.      “error” could also be translated as “deceit”, and given a moral rather than intellectual slant

III.             V. 4

                                                              i.      Philosophers would examine themselves, but Paul has been examined by God and found worthy

                                                            ii.      God approved them for a task, but continues to scrutinize their behavior, and more importantly their heart, so that their message must conform to what pleases him, rather than what pleases men

                                                          iii.      Cf. Psalm 7:9; 17:3; Jeremiah 11:20; 12:3; 17:9 for God testing hearts

IV.             V. 5

                                                              i.      Flattery was deemed a vice in the ancient world

                                                            ii.       “Flattering speech” is an outward action, “veiled desire to exploit” is an inward attitude or motivation

                                                          iii.      “as you yourselves know” tests conduct, “God is witness” tests motives

V.                V. 6-7a

                                                              i.      They were not motivated by the thought of receiving honor from them, or others, though this is something they could have done as apostles. 

                                                            ii.      First use of “apostle” in I Thessalonians

                                                          iii.       “Apostles” probably refers to Paul and Silvanus, but not Timothy, as elsewhere he isn’t referred to or classified as an apostle (II Corinthians 1:1; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:1)

                                                          iv.      Could be referring to a financial burden or imposition based on the other usage of the Greek word barei , cf. Galatians 6:2

                                                            v.      Should it be “gentle” or “infants”?

VI.             V. 7b-8

                                                              i.      Should translate “nursing mother” rather than “wet-nurse” based on the reference to “her children”

                                                            ii.       “A mother in nursing her child makes no show of authority and does not stand on any dignity…(and) reveals a wonderful  and extraordinary love, because she spares no trouble or effort, avoids no care, is not wearied by their coming and going, and gladly even gives her own lifeblood to be drained.” – John Calvin

                                                          iii.      Cf. Numbers 11:12

                                                          iv.      The preacher or missionary’s being is connected to his message.  He must give his entire self to the work of proclaiming the gospel.

                                                            v.      Psyche, ones very self, which is what Paul shares, motivated by love

                                                          vi.      Not only did they not take from the Thessalonians, but they actually shared with them

VII.          V. 9

                                                              i.      “Excellent is study of the Law together with worldly occupation, for toil in them both puts sin out of mind.  But all study of the Law without (worldly) labour comes to naught at the last and brings sin in its train.” – Rabbi Gamaliel III

                                                            ii.      Paul’s preaching is inextricably linked to his giving of himself through manual labor, so as not to burden them

                                                          iii.      At the time of writing this, Paul was probably making tents in Corinth

VIII.       V. 10

                                                              i.      “holy, just, and faultless”, covers both inner attitudes and outer actions

                                                            ii.      God is invoked as a witness to Paul’s inner disposition, complimenting the Thessalonians knowledge of their outward behavior

                                                          iii.      The Stoic philosopher Seneca recommended that people seek out “men who teach us by their lives, who tell us what we ought to do and then prove it by practice, who show us what we should avoid, and then are never caught doing that which they have ordered us to avoid.”

IX.             V. 11-12

                                                              i.      The instruction of the father comes after the nurture of a mother

                                                            ii.      Paul’s treatment of them was as individuals, as well as a group

                                                          iii.      It was the father’s role to socialize, or in this case re-socialize, his children

                                                          iv.      Cf. I Corinthians 4:14; II Corinthians 12:14; Galatians 4:19

                                                            v.      “walk”- Christianity was referred to as “the way”, and “worthily” modifies walk since by itself it is a neutral term

                                                          vi.      Just as we “walk”, we are also “called” by God into his kingdom and glory.  God acts first, and we respond

                                                        vii.      “Dominion” might be better reading than “kingdom”