Defensive Strategy

Please bow with me for a word of prayer:

Lord, we come before You this morning acknowledging our constant need of You. From You we have live and breathe and have our being. We acknowledge our need of You in understanding and applying Your word. And we pray as the psalmist did: Teach me Your way, O Lord. Direct our time together. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Please turn in your Bible to 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6.

My wife grew up on a family that didn’t care much about sports. And when she married me she thought that I was like her family. But she soon found out I wasn’t. The truth is that I love sports. For the most part I have always been a loyal Detroit sports fan, even when we lived in other places. We were married in late June of 1986, and we spent our honeymoon moving to our new home in Waterbury, CT where I began my new position as Minister of Music about a week after our wedding.

1986 was the year when the Boston Red Sox went to the World Series against the New York Mets. Waterbury, CT, where we lived, was have-way between the two huge cities. And I was intrigued by this World Series. One of the most memorable moments of this series was toward the end of game 6 when Bill Buckner, the Boston first basemen, while on defense, muffed a ground ball. If he had cleanly played the ball the series would have ended after game 6 with a Boston victory. But instead, it went on to game 7 and the Mets won the series.

While our text has absolutely nothing to do with baseball or sports of any kind, it is about defense — specifically, Paul’s defense of his ministry. In last week’s passage, we saw Paul affirming his confidence in the authenticity of the Thessalonian believer’s faith. In this week’s passage we see Paul seeking to bolster the Thessalonians confidence in him.

If you will recall, Paul, Silas, and Timothy had to leave Thessalonica because of the riot that broke out there as a result of the preaching of the gospel. It appears that “Paul’s critics took advantage of his sudden disappearance. In order to undermine Paul’s authority and his gospel, they determined to discredit him. So they launched a malicious smear campaign.” (Stott). John Stott contends that “by studying Paul’s self-defense it is possible for us to reconstruct their slanders.”

Some of their charges seem to be the following:

He ran away and deserted you

His motives are insincere and at a base level

He’s just one more of those phony teachers who tramp up and down the Egnatian Way

He’s in his job only for what he can get out of it in terms of sex, money, prestige or power

By calling the Thessalonians as witnesses, and answering the charges of his critics Paul defended the authenticity of his ministry among the Thessalonians.

Let’s read our passage together.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. 3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others,

Let’s look first at

The Thessalonian Witness

Note that Paul calls the Thessalonian believers as witnesses to the authenticity of his ministry. He does so with the statement “you yourselves know” or other similar statements throughout this passage.

The first thing they know is that

Paul’s Ministry was not in Vain

Look at verse 1.

1 Thessalonians 2:1 ESV

For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain.

What about Paul’s coming was not in vain? The term translated “vain” is “kenos” which means empty. It is the same term used of Jesus in

Philippians 2:6–7 ESV

who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Still, the question is in what sense could Paul’s critics claim that his ministry was empty or in vain? Let’s see if we can get further enlightenment by looking at verse 2.

1 Thessalonians 2:2 ESV

But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.

The word “But” translates the Greek term “alla.” This implies a strong contrast. Paul’s coming to Thessalonica was not empty of purpose. Rather they were empowered to speak the gospel of God boldly.

The second thing the Thessalonians knew was

Paul’s Treatment in Philippi

Look again at verse 2.

1 Thessalonians 2:2 ESV

But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.

Do you recall the shameful treatment they endured in Philippi?

The demon-possessed slave girl

The owners of the slave girl

Acts 16:22-23

Acts 16:22–23 ESV

The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.

They were eventually asked to leave the city, and then they journeyed on to Thessalonica

One could envision how their poor treatment in Philippi could potentially make them more cautious is proclaiming the gospel in Thessalonica. But it didn’t.

The third thing the Thessalonians knew about Paul’s ministry was that

Paul Didn’t Pull the Wool Over Their Eyes

Look at verse 5.

1 Thessalonians 2:5 ESV

For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness.

Flattery has often been a tool by unscrupulous sales persons to make a sale. I remember as a kid watching the show Green Acres. Mr. Haney was one of the many colorful characters. And he would brush the flattery on very thickly towards Lisa Douglas in order to sell her something she didn’t need.

The Bible speaks against flattery. In the end times the Anti-Christ will use flattery to marshal mankind to rebel against God.

Daniel 11:32–34 ESV

He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery,

False teachers of all sorts use flattery to deceive their listeners.

Romans 16:18 ESV

For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

But Paul never came with words of flattery!

Let’s turn our attention now to

Paul’s Appeal

As we consider Paul’s appeal we will see that he answers what his critics were saying regarding his ministry, message, motives, and person. Look at verse 3.

1 Thessalonians 2:3 ESV

For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive,

The first thing we see is that Paul’s message was

Truth, Not Error

The other day, as I was praying over our text, (praying for wisdom in how to present the text) a thought came to my mind. And it went something like this: “Avoid cleverness, and simply speak the truth in love.”

Though Paul was a very intelligent man, there is no hint of cleverness in his recorded sermons. He simply spoke the truth that was delivered to him. “For I delivered to you what I have received.” And since he received his gospel from Christ Himself, it is truth, not error.

But obviously his critics were accusing him not only of error but of heresy as well.

The second thing we see is that Paul promoted

Purity, Not Impurity

The word translated “impurity” could refer to physical uncleanness and social uncleanness (stigma), but it primarily referred to sexual uncleanness. John MacArthur pointed out:

1 and 2 Thessalonians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Paul’s Commitment to God’s Truth

In Paul’s day many of the mystery religions and Greek cults practiced and even exalted sexual perversion. Those religions were very popular because in most of them the primary religious experience centered on the cult adherents having sex with a ritual temple prostitute or the cult leader. Temple orgies were not uncommon. Sexual intercourse had such a central role in those pagan religions because the members believed that when one had sex with a male leader or female prostitute—those supposedly closest to the gods—the individual connected with the deities. Therefore, through fornication they supposedly achieved some sort of mystical or metaphysical union with the gods. Thus wicked, unscrupulous leaders would seek converts for the purpose of having a sexual encounter with them.

The third thing we see is that Paul was

Honest, Not Deceptive

The word translated “deceit” points to cunning craft: it properly signified catching fish with a bait, and then it came to mean any crafty design for deceiving someone.

But Paul’s methods and motives were honest, not deceptive.

Let’s look at how

Paul was a God-Pleaser

Our objective in life should be the same as Paul’s; that is, to please God and not man. Notice the first part of verse 4:

English Standard Version Chapter 2

but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel,

Paul did not receive his gospel commission or message from man — he received it from God

Galatians 1:11–12 ESV

For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Though Paul’s apostolic appointment was from God and not man, godly men did recognize his appointment from God Gal 2. 6-9

Galatians 2:6–9 ESV

And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

Look at the last part of verse 4:

English Standard Version Chapter 2

so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.

Because God is the one who entrusted Paul with the gospel message, Paul seeks to please Him and not man. You and I have also been entrusted with the message of reconciliation. And so we should be exhorting others to turn from their manmade idols and to serve the One True Living God. We should be motivated by a desire to please God, and not worry about whether or not we are pleasing other people.

Look at verse 5-6 again from the CSB, on the screen.

1 Thessalonians 2:5–6 CSB

For we never used flattering speech, as you know, or had greedy motives—God is our witness—and we didn’t seek glory from people, either from you or from others.

First we see that Paul

Refrained From Buttering Up His Audience

As mentioned already, flattery is a tool used by many to gain their own agenda. From the world’s perspective it is a legitimate tool. Consider these words by one of our U.S. Supreme Court Justices:

Sometimes, idealistic people are put off the whole business of networking as something tainted by flattery and the pursuit of selfish advantage. But virtue in obscurity is rewarded only in Heaven. To succeed in this world you have to be known to people. (Sonia Sotomayor)

Perhaps a more realistic concept is found in this statement from Mason Cooley:

Flattery and insults raise the same question: What do you want?

But the point is that Paul did not butter-up his audience with false flattery.

Next we see that

Paul was not Motivated by Greed

We know from other writings that Paul was taking up a collection to send to the churches in Judea which were under a great deal of persecution from the Jews. Perhaps his critics saw this as an insincere offering that was going to line Paul’s own pockets and not truly being used for its intended purpose.

We see such things today. Such and such a group puts out an appeal for money for helping out folks in poor situations. And then we find that only pennies on the dollar actually go to the relief effort. The rest goes for “administrative fees.”

Next we see that

Paul Was Not Vainglorious

Vainglorious is an old word for one who is a fame-seeker or attention-seeker. And Paul contends that this does not describe him.

In John’s Gospel account we read about how the Jews were seeking to kill Jesus because He had healed a lame man on the Sabbath. In defending His actions Jesus goes into a lengthy discussion. Part of this discussion deals with why the Jewish religious establishment refused to embrace Jesus as Messiah.

John 5:44 ESV

How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

At a later time during a festival time Jesus was teaching in the temple, and the Jews were amazed at His understanding. Jesus stated that His teaching was not His own, but that it came from God. And then He addressed the issue of seeking glory from men.

John 7:18 ESV

The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.

That’s exactly how Paul approached ministry. He sought the glory of God and not his own glory. He spoke from the authority of God and not from his own authority. His ministry wasn’t in vain for many souls were saved. Though he could have been afraid to speak the truth of the gospel message, based on the persecution he had already endured because of the gospel, still he boldly declared the gospel of God to those who so needed to hear it. Regardless of the personal costs. He was not a charlatan; his appeal sprang from truth, purity, and honesty. His message was anything but man pleasing.

What person wants to hear that they are a sinner, that they are under the condemnation of God. But that is the truth of the situation for all who are outside of Christ. Until we are found to be in Christ, we are sinners in the hands of an angry God. And He is just in His anger. All sin, even the slightest offense, is like a slap in the face of the One who created us. Though our sin may be directed towards people, truthfully it is against God. We cannot remedy our standing before God. We cannot appease His wrath. We cannot atone for our sins.

But God put forward His Son, Jesus, who became a man. Who knew no sin. He fulfilled the righteous requirement of God. He died, unjustly, as a criminal on the cross of suffering. His death satisfied God’s wrath towards all who believe in Him. He was raised from the dead. And He now is in heaven making intercession for His people.

For those who embrace Jesus as their Lord and Savior they become a new creation. The old standing before God as one condemned and under wrath is replaced by a new standing as one who is justified. One who is adopted into the family of God. One who is a joint heir with Jesus. Are you a part of this family?

Let’s pray.

Closing Song: #419

The Family of God