1 Thessalonians

Chapter 2

vs 1

A good recap of the last chapter - the Thessalonian ministry was a success.

vs 2

PS&T could have given up in Philippi, but instead they pushed on, with daring, to the next area. Lucky they didn't give up on Philippi either - because they are another of those churches that receives a nice letter (although it still as a lot of correctives, but doesn't seem as harsh as I Corinthians or Galatians).

And yet even in Thessalonica PS&T suffered opposition. Now look at them!

vs 3

I'm not quite sure why this verse is in the present tense in the NIV, but I wouldn't make too much of it. PS&T could be talking about how this is the norm for their ministry. The KJV saw no need to put this in present tense though.

I think it's at this point that we begin to see the purpose behind this next section - it's a defense of PS&T's ministry. What we often forget is that the NT letters are occasional letters (yes yes, very funny, they are letters the rest of the time too). So we must ask what occasioned them. It is probably fair to say that PS&T are replying to some controversy or criticism of their ministry, either by letter or by report from the church.

While that might have been a strain on PS&T, it's great for us, because it forces them to outline the principles behind their ministry! Which is great for us. So this first section (3-6a) is about their motives, which were pure.

vs 4

This links to their authority, which doesn't get a section on its own, but pops up throughout the chapter. But it also shows they were not driven by a desire for praise or to create for themselves a following or to gain flattery. That their motive was to please God.

vs 5

I don't know why the translators used the word 'mask' here - the KJV people used 'cloke' (ie cloak) which is just as bad - when the word pretext or pretence would have been just as good. PS&T didn't use a fancy word picture, they just said prophasis - pretext or pretence. Now I know that mask (and cloak) have the less literal meanings as verbs, and that is why they are used by the translators. But sufficed to say, don't be confused and think that PS&T literally wore masks or were being charged with doing so.

Verse 5 is talking more about actions (the lack of flattery or masking of greed) but I think their pledge that God is their witness shows that they are really talking about the motives behind such actions - they did not use flattery to try and woo people, nor did they come for a greedy purpose which needed hiding.

vs 6

They weren't seeking praise from Thessalonica (for bringing the gospel), or from Jerusalem or from Antioch (for taking it).

Now PS&T move on from talk about their motives to their actions proper. Don't think I'm trying to segregate these things - their motives, actions and behaviour interchange throughout the whole thing. It's just an easy way to remember.

So as apostles, they could have asked for support. Which shows us two things - one, that apostles were by rights of their position able to claim physical support (important for our churches to learn anyway); and two, that Paul here, along with Silas and Timothy, are claiming the title of apostle. If you think Paul is referring only to himself, then I ask why he doesn't break from the plural language until verse 18. Perhaps because he doesn't mind Silas and Timothy being designated as apostles too...

It's a much bigger issue than it seems, what with apostolic succession and all that it means (or all that we invest in the term?) to be an apostle . But that argument is perhaps better left for 2 Timothy.

vs 7

PS&T were not keen on taking what was rightfully theirs - they were prepared to lay down their rights for the furtherance of the gospel. This is a lesson the church has only had to learn a billion times or so. You would think Jesus Christ would be a good example...

vs 8

This is so much the story of missionaries. They go to some people group somewhere, learn their language and their culture, translate the Bible for them, help their sick people, educate them, give them better tools etc. There is so much of their lives invested in these people, is it little wonder that, even after retirement, they will continue there, sometimes even dying with their boots on? Street preaching has its place, I guess, but ministries that lack this love, this dearness, I think lack a vital component of mission.

vs 9

PS&T, or at the very least Paul, did not have any problem with taking money from the churches he had helped create (and he passed on this sage wisdom to Timothy too). So I think we have to conclude that there was something about the Thessalonian situation that made this inappropriate. Perhaps it is always inappropriate when reaching out to unreached people. But you can't tell from this one situation.

vs 10

This is the start of what I call their defense of their behaviour. As opposed to their actions (what they did) I'm talking about how they did it. And that was in a righteous way. They were holy and blameless. Why the caveat "among those who believed" I wonder? Perhaps PS&T were ruthless bastards with unconverted people... more likely it's just because that's they are writing to. Shame, really.