First Thessalonians: 1 Thessalonians 2:6-Paul, Silvanus and Timothy Never Sought Honor and Praise from the People of Thessalonica Lesson # 22

1 Thessalonians 2:1 For you yourselves in contrast to those who oppose us, possess the conviction brothers and sisters that our reception which was among all of you is by no means characterized as being without results. 2 But in fact, although we previously suffered, yes, we were verbally and physically abused in Philippi as each one of you are well aware of, for our benefit we courageously communicated the one and only gospel originating from the one and only God (the Father) in the presence of each of you by means of our God’s (the Spirit) power in the face of great opposition. 3 For our appeal was absolutely never from error, nor motivated by impurity nor by means of deception. 4 In fact, on the contrary, just as each one of us are approved by this God to be entrusted with communicating this gospel, so each of us are speaking as absolutely never pleasing people but rather God, who does test our hearts. 5 So therefore, each one of us never at any time conducted ourselves with flattering speech as each one of you are well aware of, in fact, nor motivated by greed-God is a witness. 6 Indeed, nor by seeking at any time honor from people, whether from any one of you or from others. (My translation)

We noted in our study of 1 Thessalonians 2:5 that this verse presents an inference from the statement in 1 Thessalonians 2:4.

The latter states that just as Paul, Silvanus and Timothy were approved by God to be entrusted with communicating the gospel, so they were speaking as absolutely never pleasing people but rather God who tests their hearts.

On the other hand, the former states that God is a witness to the fact that these three men never at any time conducted themselves with flattering speech as the Thessalonians were well aware of, nor with a motive produced by greed.

This indicates that Paul, Silvanus and Timothy communicated the gospel to the Thessalonians to please God rather than people “so therefore” they never appeared with flattering speech, nor with a motive for greed.

In other words, these three communicated the gospel to the Thessalonians in order to please God and never people which was evidenced by the fact that they never appeared to them with flattering speech nor motivated by greed.

Now, 1 Thessalonians 2:6 continues the thought from 1 Thessalonians 2:5 in that it identifies another by means by which Paul, Silvanus and Timothy never conducted themselves when interacting with the Thessalonian Christian community.

The former asserts that these men never at any time sought honor from people, whether from the Thessalonian Christian community or from the non-Christian community in Thessalonica.

In 1 Thessalonians 2:6, the noun doxa, “honor” would speak of Paul, Silvanus and Timothy receiving recognition from the Christian community or non-Christian community in the city of Thessalonica because of demonstrating virtuous character or performing a particular activity.

This recognition can come in the form of being praised or rewarded with high status in society or position of power.

G.L. Green writes “The praise (doxan) to which Paul refers is the honor, prestige, or fame that so many rhetoricians and sophists sought in those days before Hollywood.[1] Orators were akin to the rock music legends or Hollywood stars in ancient society. Plutarch tells of those who were motivated not simply by money but also by honor (doxa) and a public reputation. Dio Chrysostom decried those Cynics who would declaim publicly just for the glory they would receive and ‘who are lifted aloft as on wings by their fame and disciples.’ Dio ridiculed one sophist named Prometheus who was ‘being destroyed by popular opinion (doxa); for his liver swelled and grew whenever he was praised and shriveled again when he was censured.’[2] Epictetus railed against the sophists who sought glory at the expense of their disciples, saying, ‘And so it’s for this, is it, that young men are to travel from home, and leave their parents, their friends, their relatives, and their bit of property, merely to cry ‘Bravo!’ as you recite your clever little mottoes?’[3] In his opinion, some orators made an exhibition of their ingenious way of speaking for no other reason than to gain the praise of their hearers: ‘“But praise me.” What do you mean by “praise”? “Cry out to me, ‘Bravo!’ or ‘Marvellous!’”[4] Paul and his fellows did not come to Thessalonica in order to gain this type of public praise from anyone. They were not looking for cheering crowds who would be awed at their oratory.”[5]

F.F. Bruce writes “To gain a reputation as successful evangelists or as leaders of a school which could boast a large number of disciples was not the aim of Paul or his friends. He set no store by the recognition or assessment of men: he was content to abide the Lord’s judgment (1 Cor 4:3, 4). On the worthlessness of δόξα παρὰ ἀνθρώπων, “the praise of men,” cf. John 5:41–44.”[6]

Thomas Constable writes “Traveling philosophers and orators were common in the Roman Empire. They itinerated from place to place, entertaining and seeking a personal following for fame and fortune. Paul and his companions had nothing in common with such men! Rather than seeking something for themselves they delighted in giving to others freely.”[7]

So therefore, 1 Thessalonians 2:6 is asserting that these men never at any time sought honor in the form of recognition, praise or reward from the Christian and non-Christian communities in the city of Thessalonica.

This assertion and the one in 1 Thessalonian 2:5 support the assertion in 1 Thessalonians 2:4 that these three spoke to the people of Thessalonica in order to please God and never people because they were approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.

Therefore, this stewardship they received from God served as motivation for them to conduct themselves in a manner which pleased God rather than people.

In other words, it regulated their behavior or conduct since they would have to give an account to Jesus Christ at the Bema Seat for this stewardship in order to determine if they merit rewards or not for faithful service (cf. Rom. 14:10-12; 1 Cor. 3:11-15; 2 Cor. 5:10; 1 John 2:28).

Thus, Paul, Silvanus and Timothy never at any time conducted themselves with flattering speech or motivated by greed, nor seeking at any time honor from the people of Thessalonica because of this stewardship which they would have to give account for at the Bema Seat.

So, the assertions in 1 Thessalonians 2:5-6 support the assertion in 1 Thessalonians 2:4 that Paul, Silvanus and Timothy were not people-pleasers but rather God-pleasers when they visited the city of Thessalonica.

John Walvoord writes “Paul could have come to the Thessalonians and puffed out his chest and said, “I am an apostle and you must recognize my high office because God has sent me.” He could have demanded ‘first-class treatment’ and thrown his weight around in an authoritarian fashion. He could have told them he had the right to order them around. But instead Paul said, ‘I did not come in that spirit. I did not come to be honored by you. I came because I had a message, because I wanted to help you, because you needed the Savior.’ Paul refused to be put on a pedestal. He came to humbly serve the people. Certainly, that is the secret of effective Christian testimony. Boldness, having our hearts right before God, delivering God’s message in its purity and in its power, seeking not our own advantage but seeking the glory and the approbation of God—that is the secret of Paul’s success.”[8]

[1] BAGD, 204; TLNT, 1.362–79; TDNT, 2.233–53; NIDNTT, 2.44–48.

[2] Plutarch, Moralia 131A; Dio Chrysostom 32.11; 12.5 (cf. Plutarch, Moralia 78A); 8.33; and 77/78.27.

[3] Epictetus 3.23.32.

[4] Epictetus 3.23.23–24. On this theme, see especially Winter, “Entries and Ethics of the Orators and Paul,” 61–63; Malherbe, “Gentle as a Nurse,” 214.

[5] Green, G. L. (2002). The letters to the Thessalonians (p. 124). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos.

[6] Bruce, F. F. (1998). 1 and 2 Thessalonians (Vol. 45, p. 30). Dallas: Word, Incorporated.

[7] Constable, T. L. (1985). 1 Thessalonians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 694). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

[8] Walvoord, John F., Hitchcock, Mark, 1 and 2 Thessalonians; pages 36-37; Moody Publishers; Chicago; 2012