Apostle's Actions

In this section, Paul is responding to some attacks that were made against him and his companions. The attacks were coming from some local Jews, as well as some Gentiles. If you’re interested in more information about this, you can read about it in Acts 17.1-15, later in the week.

Paul is not simply reflecting about these attacks; he is answering the attacks. Those individuals who were attacking were enemies of the gospel and were now trying to destroy the Thessalonians new faith by undermining the integrity of Paul and his friends. We need to understand that there were many con artists that would steal money from people by proclaiming some sort of philosophy which would actually deceive the people. After they had done their evil deed, they would leave and be nowhere to be found. Thus, they were accusing Paul of doing the same thing.

Today, we’ll look at these twelve verses in chapter 2, and see Paul’s response to his accusers. Very simply, he states, “Let the record speak for itself—you judge for yourselves our actions.”

When we are attacked, that should be our response, as well. Our actions should be so above board that all we have to do is point out what actually took place.

Account of Their Ministry—2.1-2

1 Thessalonians 2:1–2 (NASB95)

For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain, but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.

Paul begins by speaking directly to the knowledge which the church had about Paul and his partners. You yourselves is an intensive pronoun. The Thessalonians believers very much knew about what they had experienced. This verse seems also to build upon 1 Thessalonians 1:5: “for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.”

The ministry team’s coming to you or visit was a personal face-to-face experience that implies relationship. Their time together was not some mystical, other-worldly experience; nor was it something done behind the scenes. Anyone who had actually been there, would have obviously known what was taking place.

Paul states that this encounter was not in vain, was not a failure. The actual purpose of their time together is found in 1 Thessalonians 2:9 “For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.”

Verse 2 begins with the Greek word for but, alla, showing a strong contrast. Far from being empty and without power, Paul’s group carried on with boldness, even amid conflict. And as we might remember from the book of Acts, we know that even after being mistreated, they didn’t hesitate to preach again. Let’s take a few seconds and look at some of the suffering Paul experienced, as seen in Acts 16:37 “But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us in public without trial, men who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they sending us away secretly? No indeed! But let them come themselves and bring us out.””

By the fact that even though they had just been mistreated, ought to prove that they were not seeking their own good at the expense of others as they boldly continued to preach.

How can we proclaim Christ with such freedom and confidence? The answer is found in the last part of verse 2. . . . we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition. This was God’s Gospel; it was not their message.

Appeal of the Gospel—2.3-6

1 Thessalonians 2:3–6 (NASB95)

For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts. For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness— nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.

Paul begins with a denial of any impure motives. These verses contain a triple negative, which relate directly to Paul’s purpose in preaching. The purpose was to win and transform lives for the benefit of the Thessalonians.

The first negative is that their teaching source does not come from error. The information wasn’t the product of deception or illusion or impurity. The Bible is without error. Many suggested that the gospel encouraged people to be sexual impure, which is not at all the truth. There was nothing underhanded in what was being presented. In fact, if it was, they probably would not have been accused of this.

The second negative we see is that they were not trying to please men. They didn’t present the Gospel message using flattering speech. They were straight forward with the message of the Gospel that God had entrusted to them to share with others. Again, God had been using Paul for some time in working with other churches. He had definitely proved himself; but more than that, he was approved by God.

The third negative is there was no pretext for greed. They were not pretending to be something other than what they were, just for the sake of bilking the Thessalonians for money. The NLT phrases this in the following manner: . . . we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money!

In fact, the appeal of the Gospel is that it is of God, so there’s not need for any deception or false teaching. They were not going to change just to be found acceptable. Plus, they were divinely commissioned to present this message. Since their desire was to please God and be obedient to Him, there would be no attempt to deceive. Plus, they were obligated to God, which would give them high motivation to do things God’s way. They didn’t choose to do this because it sounded like fun; God had commissioned them to share the Gospel.

Their overriding motivation and thought was to please God. Paul would certainly never compromise God’s message just to win the favor of his hearers. My friends, we should also have the same standard. We cannot proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ with unworthy motives.

We see further how their conduct and behavior exemplified who they were in Jesus Christ. Verse 5 states that they never came with flattering speech . . . This is a picture of someone who might have used this kind of speech for the purpose of pleasing the hearer’s ears, in order to get something; but not Paul. Those types of people are often referred to as being smooth-tongued. They try to make a good impression in order to gain influence over the hearer for the purpose of taking advantage of them.

Paul lets it be known that their work was not at all motivated by greed. There was never a thought of secretly enriching themselves. Even though Paul had a right to received support, he did not demand it. This was not just financial, but also in self-serving glory for themselves. They would not even think of such things. The same should be true for the believer today. We should focus on getting out the message of the Gospel; not just the issue of salvation, but all aspects of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

Assistance Not Requested—2.7-9

1 Thessalonians 2:7–9 (NASB95)

But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

These verses seem to be dealing with how Paul and his companions conducted themselves. The nature of their conduct is described as gentle, mild, kind. We see that they intentionally chose not to use any authoritarian practices over the people. Throughout this section, we get the strong picture of tenderness, devotion, protection, etc.

We even see a picture of a nurturer (mother). The word for cares literally means to warm. This was often used to describe how birds would cover their young with their own feathers. This is descriptive even of human mothers; they care for and protect their young without seeking profit or honor. Their focus is only upon giving for the good of those under them.

Verse 8 presents a very endearing picture. Having so fond an affection for you; being affectionately desirous of you; We loved you so much. Regardless of which translation you might use, the word picture is the language of a parent to a child in nursery. Therein shows a complete willingness to do all that they can for the benefit of the Thessalonians. Paul and his companions intentionally and freely chose to give everything they had within them for the benefit of the Thessalonians.

Paul reminds them that their work was not an easy way of making money. In fact, it was self sacrificing work with a continual habit of practicing long hours of labor. From what we recall from Paul’s ministry times, he most likely was working on making tents. The reason they did this was so that they would not be a financial burden. They wanted the focus to be on their preaching the gospel of God. They were doing all that they could do to proclaim the gospel message with accuracy. It was not hidden or changed from what God‘s intent was for them.

Actions of love – – 2.10–12

1 Thessalonians 2:10–12 (NASB95)

You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

Once again, verse 10 uses an emphatic personal pronoun in relating to what the Thessalonians knew that they had actually experienced. Then Paul uses three different adverbs to show what manner their conduct was by their actions.

The first one is holy, devoutly. In other words, the very essence of this ministry team was concern and care for the well-being of the Thessalonians. This was contrary to what the accusers were suggesting.

The second adverb is righteous, upright. This is a description of absolute moral integrity. If anyone would have looked objectively at what had taken place, they would have known that Paul and his partners measured up to the full standard of what was righteous.

The third adverb is blameless, faultless. Any charges or accusations that would be brought against them would not hold water. Not only did Paul and the others proclaim the Gospel message, they lived it.

In verse 11, we see that they dealt with the Thessalonians as individuals and not as a collective. The NASB gives a detailed explanation for how a father would deal with his children. Some translations have the details in verse 12. The essence is that a godly father would work with them in a teaching manner, as well as using discipline when necessary.

What are some of those details? They were exhorting them. This is a picture of giving a strong, urgent appeal to applying what they were hearing; living a lifestyle that matches the gospel that had been given.

Another is encouraging, comforting. This is similar to a teacher that takes time to point out the positive things being done, motivating the student to continue in that direction.

A final detail is seen as imploring, charging, urging. This takes the form of Paul and the others pleading with them to do what is right. This is a solemn charge, not to be taken lightly.

What is the purpose of all this? We find this in verse 12. The purpose was that they would walk in a manner worthy of the God Who calls you . . . My friends, let me assure you that there is no higher or worthier aim for our lives.

What does the word worthy mean in this context? Live in a way that is appropriate for a believer in Jesus Christ. If a person is truly born again, then everything about that person should be consistent with the message of the Bible. Becoming a follower of Jesus Christ ought to be identifiable by our walk, or our lifestyle.

Even though the Thessalonians, along with us, have accepted that initial call to follow, God continually calls. He calls us to live our lives in a way that will show Him to those watching us. And that calling causes us to look forward to participating in God’s kingdom and glory.

Afterthoughts

Our actions should be so above board that all we have to do is point out what actually took place. That was the thesis based upon the thoughts on the Apostle Paul’s Actions. But let’s take it to an even more practical day by day focus.

Our actions should be such that it is obvious to an onlooking world that we belong to Jesus. Our actions should be such that those around us will either hate us for who we are in Christ, or that will hunger to have Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.