1 Thessalonians 2 ESV
1 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, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. 9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. 13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind 16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last! 17 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy.
Discussion Questions
Describe Paul’s ministry when he first came to Thessalonica.
Paul draws parallels between the brethren in Judea and the brethren in Thessalonica. Why does he do this?
Personal Application: How do we show the same care to the brethren today that Paul had to the brethren in Thessalonica?
Discussion Summary
Paul came to Thessalonica after being beaten and humiliated in Philippi (Acts 16:22-39. He himself had once persecuted believers (Acts 9:1,2), but now he was receiving the same treatment. Because Paul knew that God wanted him to bring the gospel to the Macedonian region (Acts 16:9,10), he did not allow that experience to stop him from preaching boldly in Thessalonica.
His preaching was effective because many people were drawn to his teaching. This caused the religious leaders to become jealous (Acts 17:5). Paul reminded the Thessalonian brethren that he was not trying to be popular or a leader of men when he preached. That this was an accurate description of his ministry is shown by the fact that when he left, the brethren remained true to the gospel.
Paul’s ministry was very loving and gentle. He described his relationship to the Thessalonians as family. He treated them as if they were his own children. He never wanted to be a burden to them. He only wanted to be a help to them.
The Thessalonian brethren were experiencing great persecution. Paul encouraged them by reminding them that all Christians experience opposition (John 15:20; Luke 6:22). Jesus’ teaching was the “new wine” that when put into old wineskins cause the skins to burst. (Matthew 9:17). In other words, anyone who is satisfied with the present life and the current situation of world events is going to be opposed to something different, even if it is better. Unfortunately, even fellow Christians can be in opposition to us if our lifestyles have changed more than theirs, or if our beliefs do not line up with theirs.
Therefore, we want to be like Paul and the brethren in Thessalonica. We do not want to assume a superior attitude to other believers. We want our lives to be genuine.
We also want to give of ourselves to fellow Christians. We want to help brethren in a gentle, comforting way and rejoice in their growth and development.
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