1 Thessalonians - 2

1 Thessalonians – Week 2

2:1-20 / 3:1-13

Review - Paul plants this church amidst great challenge, stays likely a few months. Jews and others come to faith in the city. But some Jews and others are jealous. They form a mob, drag Jason (wealthy Jew who hosts the church in his home) out and fine him. Attempt to charge with civil disobedience, trumped up. Apparently the situation is so dangerous that Paul & Silas are sent out that night to Berea. This group follows them to harass them in Berea too. They are relentless in their false accusations and condemnations of Paul and Silas. Here is how he introduces the shift in topic:

2:1-2

-Failure – kene – vain, empty, without result

-not a failure…emphatic to negate a negative (i.e. not too bad, not too shabby)

-Badly treated – hybristhentes (hubris) arrogantly, offensively,

outrageously treated

-Philippi – – stripped naked, beaten, jailed

-opposition – agon – struggle, fight…used of competitions

-courage in face of opposition

;

What follows now for the rest of chapter 2 and all of chapter 3 is a response to the difficulties they have faced. This group has initiated a smear campaign against Paul and his team. This text is Paul’s defense to the Thessalonians. He doesn’t know what they’ve heard (or at least can guess) and he wants to put their minds at ease. In chapter 1 he focused on the experience of those in Thessalonica. In chapters 2-3, he brings the focus onto himself and his ministry companions. Their slams on him were likely this (based on what he writes): Paul abandoned you. Things got tough and he bailed. Meaning, he isn’t legit. He is just another charlatan traveling around to take advantage of you. He hasn’t even come back to check on you. Drop this and move on.

Our text can be divided into two large sections, then we will boil down to some application points at the end.

1. PAUL’S DEFENSE OF HIS VISIT (2:3-16)

2:3-16

4 Images to Describe Paul:

1) Steward (v. 3-6)

v. 3

Preaching – paraklesis – paraclete, come alongside

Deceit – error/deception

Impure motives – akatharsias – dirty, impure (sexual 4:7 impure)

- Not cathardic

Trickery – treachery, cunning

Paul’s message, motives, and methods were all above board.

John Stott – “Here, then, is a tremendous threefold claim. Paul insists that his message was true, his motives were pure and his methods were open and above-board. In these three areas his conscience was entirely clear. In what he said, and in why and how he said it, he was free from anything underhand.”[1]

v. 4

Approved by God – dokimazo – put to test, proven

Entrusted – lit. faithful

-faith once for all entrusted to the saints,

- – steward the mysteries of God

Please – areskontes – accommodate, win favor

-not in this for human applause. Pleasing the true audience of one.

-

Examines – dokimazo – same as ‘approved’

v. 5

Witness – martyr

v. 6

human praise – anthropa doxa – lit. man glory

2) Mother (v. 7-8)

v. 7

Make demands – barei – place burdens, be heavy/weighty

-what demands? Likely financial (v. 9 same word)

Children/gentle – (n)epioi – same general idea either way

-likely gentle – used for leaders in

-children – always used negatively by Paul…spiritual immaturity

Caring for – thalpe – cherish

-apostles put themselves into this category

-not about authority, but love for them

Number 11:12 – Moses resents this role

- // – feed with milk, not solid food

v. 8

so much that – longed for, desire

lives – psyche – soul

3) Father (v. 9-12)

v. 9

remember – mneumoneo

hard work – kopos – same as labor in 1:3 (lit. toiled labor)

-foreshadowing his commands to them later

4:11-12; 5:12-14

we toiled – ergazomai – work – as in a job

-even though Philippians sent him gifts ()

burden – epibarea – weight – same as ‘make demands’ in v. 7

v. 10

devout – hosios – moral/ritual purity

-with God

Honest – dikaious – righteous

-with people

Faultless – amemptos – without blame/guilt

-reputation

v. 11-12

father – not just in birthing (; )

-also in instruction, guidance, encouragement

pleaded – paraclete

urged – martyred

worthy – axios – like an Axiom, statement that is true, worth following

4) Herald (v. 13)

v. 13

thanking God – eucharisto

received/accepted – acknowledged, grabbed onto

-God’s Good News (3x)

Declare v. 2//share v. 8//proclaim v. 9

Only 3x more in all other letters

; ;

Matches – Jesus’ initial ministry description

-word of God (2x)

-Human v. God word – logos anthropou v. theou

continues to work – energetai

-inspiration/efficacy/sufficiency of Scripture

;

v. 14-16

seems not to fit here, or anywhere in Paul’s letters (theories of inclusion)

-only place Paul blames Jews for Jesus’ death

-typically self-giving or by will of God

; ;

-several condemnations against them:

--killed Jesus ()

--killed OT prophets ()

--drove them out of town

--displeased God

--hostile to all people

-anger of God caught up – likely translates…hanging over them

-famine in Jerusalem/Israel

-expulsion of Jews by Emperor Claudius in AD 49 ()

-their own rejection of the Gospel (like Pharaoh, hardened hearts)

-Paul typically positive towards Jews (though never views them as saved)

,

Willing to forfeit own salvation – ;

-Simple fact that Jews tried to eliminate Jesus early and often

-missionary story of creating chart of those going to Heaven/Hell

-people didn’t like chart, so they burned it. Case closed.

-ignoring reality doesn’t help anyone. That’s why we focus so much on

Scripture. We come alongside people with open Bibles to help

them see reality.

2. PAUL’S DEFENSE OF HIS ABSENCE (2:17-3:13)

2:17-3:13

5-fold defense of his absence:

1) He left with reluctance (v. 17a)

v. 17a

separated from you – aporphanizomai – lit. orphaned

-refereed to parentless children, and childless parents

Hearts never left – lit. hearts always facing you

2) His repeated efforts to return (v. 17b-20

v. 17b

intense longing – epithymia – craving, even lust

v. 18

Satan prevented – word used for roadblock, runner cutting into your lane

-Interprets issue theologically, not sociologically (empire is too strong)

or psychologically (enemies were jealous)

; ;

What was Satan’s activity?

-plot of Jews

-thorn in the flesh – messenger of Satan

-issues at Corinth

-government sanctions on Jason, penalties if Paul returns

-whole point…not because Paul didn’t try or want to return

v. 19

proud – lit. boasting

Crown – 2 kinds: diadem (royal); stephanos (victor’s crown)

-he uses stephanos…the prize of this toil/work

v. 20

pride – doxa – glory

; ;

; ,; ;

3) He sent Timothy to check on them (3:1-5)

-You can sense his anxiety…not sinful, but like a concerned parent.

v. 2

God’s coworker – synergon theou

Strengthen – confirm/prop up

ILL – retaining wall for pool

Encourage – paraclete

v. 3

shaken – used of a dog’s wagging tail

destined for troubles

; ;

; ; ;

v. 4

warned – proelegomen – told beforehand – like prologue (first word)

troubles – thilbo – pressure, pinch, squeeze

-world pressuring to conform ( – don’t be conformed)

-abortion, marriage, homosexuality, etc.

v. 5

tempter/gotten best of you – same word – ‘tempter tempted’

-word used for put on trial or test

Useless – empty, vain, without result (same as 2:1 – failure)

4) He was overjoyed at Timothy’s report (3:6-10)

v. 6

good news – lit. evangelized – only 1x in NT does not refer to Gospel

v. 7

troubles – ananke – pressure/distress

v. 8

gives us new life – isn’t that a great statement!

standing firm – steko – holding ground

v. 9

great joy – chairomen chara – lit. rejoicing joy

v. 10

fill in gaps – word used of: fisherman repairing nets/surgeon setting bone

-what gaps? No mention of any deficiencies so far…model church

-remember, very young in faith, always room to grow

-mentions faith and love in 3:6…where is hope? (1:3)

-is this their gap/struggle? Rest of letter is on hope.

5) He has been praying for them (3:11-13)

These verses are the transition into the 2nd half of the letter. All of the verbs are in the optative mood (strong wish)

3 petitions: visit them; love to grow; strengthened

-only 1x in NT his prayer includes a personal request to visit them

-answered 5 years later in , returns to Macedonia 2x

TS - He has clearly, powerfully, successfully defended himself against any and all attacks. In so doing, he gives us a glimpse into the realities of professional ministry. As a way to apply this text, let’s talk for a few minutes about the realities of ministry, and the relationship between pastor and congregation.

1. MINISTRY IS HARD (2:1-2, 14-16; 3:1-5)

Did you notice all the different words he used to describe his situation and the realities of ministry?

Badly treated v. 1

Suffered v. 1

Great opposition v. 2

God examines motives v. 4

Hard work v. 9

24-7 toil v. 9

Pleaded/encouraged you v. 12

Suffered persecution v. 14

Kept trying in spite of failure v. 17

Satan thwarts the work v. 18

Shaken by troubles 3:3

Destined for troubles v. 3

Troubles will come v. 4

Tempter can ruin work v. 5

There is always opposition to the Gospel. Opposition to change. Some people would rather live in a lie than deal with hard truth (ILL – fire Scott, though he was loved). By far, the most damaging wounds I have received have been from Christians in ministry. Lies, gossip, slander, betrayal, loneliness.

Gavin Ortlund on Twitter - "The devil starts many deliberate lies about God's servants, and thousands of Christians grasp them, believe them, and pass them on in ugly gossip.... I shall continue to preach the gospel and not stoop to mudslinging." -Billy Graham, amidst harsh criticism from fundamentalists

2. MINISTRY IS PURE (2:3-6)

Paul said he was not trying to work my way in, deceive, and get money. That was apparently part of these accusations…. “they’re just playing you. They are in it for themselves.”

Defends against deceit/impure motives/trickery v. 3

Flattery v. 5

Pretending to be their friends v. 5

They were devout/honest/faultless v. 10

John Stott in Gospel at The End - “Happy are those Christian leaders today, who hate hypocrisy and love integrity, who have nothing to conceal or be ashamed of, who are well known for how and what they are, and who are able to appeal without fear to God and the public as their witnesses!”

Notice he appeals to their real experience, not what they have heard. “as you well know.”

Mentioned last week about the freedom in ministry because results are up to God. If they’re not, this is what we have to resort to. We must use trickery, deception, bait and switch. But since God is in charge of results, we are free to do ministry in pure, biblical methods…worship the Lord, preach the Bible, shepherd people…God takes care of the rest.

Purpose is to please God, not people. We need to get tattoos of that! If you serve in ministry to make friends, might not be a wise thing to do. Yes, there will be great relationships that forge, but sadly many relationships are lost because of ministry. ILL - at start of the Edge, Rick Hodshire - “Those who start this with you will not be with you to finish this.”

3. MINISTRY IS SELFLESS (2:7-12)

Notice the family imagery he uses here. “We were like children among you.” “Like a mother feeding and caring for her own children.” “Dear brothers and sisters.” “As a father treats his own children.”

This can be a challenge at times because there are always people who we would be happy to love like this, but there are always people we will struggle to love like this. This is how God uses ministry to shape us into Christlikeness.

Hanz Finzel in Empowered Leaders - “Servant leaders must be willing to live with submission on many levels: submission to authority, submission to God the Father, submission to one’s spouse, submission to the principles of wise living, and submission to one’s obligations. Though conventional wisdom says everyone should submit to their leaders, the real truth is that leaders, to be effective, must learn to submit.”

4. MINISTRY IS PERSONAL (2:17-18)

While there are those who are hard to love, there are those who are a delight to love. We become friends, our lives are better because we have them in our lives. This is one of the richest parts of ministry. This is when it really feels like a privilege to do what we do. It doesn’t always feel that way, but sometimes the rays shine through the clouds.

James Stalker, Scottish minister and author, end of 19th century - “When I first settled in a church, I discovered a thing of which nobody had told me, and which I had not anticipated, but which proved a tremendous aid in doing the work of the ministry. I fell in love with my congregation. I do not know how otherwise to express it. It was a genuine blossom of the heart as any which I have ever experienced. It made it easy to do anything for my people.”

Whether we like it or not, this is always personal for us. This is why criticism is so challenging to endure. This isn’t just a job. It is our very lives. Speaking of church leaders, Beverly Gaventa writes, “They work, not for their own promotion, but on behalf of that gospel. They do not pass along the gospel as if it were a commodity that might be packaged and conveyed from hand to hand without altering the ones who pass it on; instead, they are themselves involved in this passing along, so that they are vulnerable and involved and profoundly connected.[2]

5. MINISTRY IS REWARDING (2:13, 19-20; 3:6-10)

They heard the Word of God and accepted as the Word of God. People lovingly submitted to God’s authority and their lives were changed. This is why we do what we do. And when it happens, there is nothing like it. It can become addictive; it never gets old. You counsel from scripture and they follow it; you preach or teach and they have a lightbulb moment; you see the tangible difference your leadership makes. 2:19-20 – you are the pride and joy, the proud reward and crown.

[1] John R. W. Stott, The Message of Thessalonians: The Gospel & the End of Time, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994), 50.

[2] Beverly Roberts Gaventa, First and Second Thessalonians, Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching (Louisville, KY: John Knox Press, 1998), 30.