(Chapter 2)
In chapter 1, we have had the need of the Christian worker being sure that the new convert whom he seeks to help is indeed a real believer. Now in chapter 2, we have the need of the new convert being sure that the Christian worker who reaches out to him is genuine. And, not merely that the Christian worker is sincere in his motives, but that he or she is one who knows the truth and can point him in the right direction. This is important because there are many who mean well, but sadly, are ensconced in bad doctrine and unscriptural ecclesiology, and thus, they are likely to lead the new convert in a wrong direction. There are also others in the Christian profession who are outright charlatan preachers who prey on new converts for selfish and fleshly reasons (Acts 20:30; Rom. 16:17-18; 2 Cor. 2:17; 11:12-15; 2 Tim. 2:16-18; 1 John 2:18-19, 26; 2 John 7-11). Obviously, the new believer needs to stay away from such persons.
Since these dangers are present almost everywhere in Christendom, a fair question to ask is: “How can a new believer be sure that the Christian worker who shows an interest in him is legitimate?” Paul addresses this question in this second chapter where the Christian worker is seen proving himself. He must clearly show from the Word of God that he is bringing the truth, and he must also clearly demonstrate that he has a genuine care and concern for the good of those he seeks to help––and through these things gain their confidence. This will take time. Since even the newest believer has the “unction” of the Spirit through the Spirit’s indwelling presence (1 John 2:20, 27), he will have the discernment to know (if he is in communion) whether something he is being taught is the truth or not. Being a babe in Christ, he will not be able to explain the truth because he has not yet learned it, but he will know the truth when it is presented. Conversely, error will not have the same “ring” of truth to it, by which he will know that it is not from God. A new Christian in Christianity today, where the house of God is in ruins (2 Tim. 2:20), has every right to be cautious about receiving instruction from someone.
Paul’s remarks, in chapter 2, are calculated to strengthen the confidence of the Thessalonians and to give them every reason to rest assured that he and his fellow workers were truly sent of God to help them. They were most definitely not seeking the Thessalonians for ulterior reasons, and thus, they could be looked to with confidence as being genuine Christian leaders and role-models.
The circumstances which led Paul to give the following review of the genuineness of his character, and of the principles involved in his service for the Lord, were because the enemies of the gospel were intent upon destroying the work that he had started in Thessalonica. Their strategy was to blacken the character of the principle labourer of that work. Hence, they made him the object of their accusations. This opposition to the gospel, apparently, had been reported to Paul by Timothy when he returned from Thessalonica (chap. 3:6). The attack, of course, was intended to shake the confidence of these new converts in Thessalonica and cause questions to arise among them concerning Paul. In this second chapter, he meets this attack, and what follows is a lengthy vindication of his character and ministry. In doing so, he gives us an exquisite picture of what a genuine servant of the Lord ought to be––both in word and in deed. The Spirit of God uses it to set before us what a new convert should see in those who seek to shepherd him in the path of faith.
Paul proceeds to give an outline of his actions from his very first “entrance” in among them.
The Power of His Ministry
Vs. 1—He says, “For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain.” That is, the mission of Paul and his company to reach the Thessalonians with the gospel had not been a failure. The power of God was evident in their ministry and the proof of it was that the Thessalonians had been saved by it! Deep radical changes had been effected in their lives through Paul’s preaching, and thus, they were the living evidence of its power. If any were to ask about his ministry, they, better than anyone, could testify of its reality and effectiveness. This was a convincing proof that he and his fellow workers had been sent of God and were endorsed by God.
The Price He Paid to Carry the Gospel to the Thessalonians
Vs. 2—Paul reminds them of the intense persecution that came against him and his fellow workers when they were “at Philippi”—which included being beaten and being imprisoned. Thus, their mission to reach the Thessalonians was exceedingly dangerous. Their lives were in constant jeopardy (Acts 15:26), but it didn’t deter them. They battled through various dangers to bring the gospel to Thessalonica. Risking oneself in this way is definitely not the sign of a sham minister with ulterior motives. All such, usually look for something more commodious and easy. If Paul and his workers had not been sent of God on this mission, they surely would have found some other place to preach. The fact that it didn’t deter them is clear evidence that they were not motivated by fleshly desires and worldly gain; and thus, their mission was truly from God.
The Purity of His Motives
Vss. 3-6—Paul proceeds to speak of the manner in which he and his fellow workers approached the Thessalonians. He lists seven negative things that they shunned in their ministry:
• “Not of error” (vs. 3a – W. Kelly Trans.)—First and foremost, their message was the truth of God; it was not some myth or fable fabricated by cunning men. This shows that they paid attention to doctrinal accuracy.
• “Nor of uncleanness” (vs. 3b)—Their ministry had no impure desires attached to it.
• “Nor in guile” (vs. 3c)—They had no clever plot to draw the Thessalonians after themselves, and thus, to create a personal following.
• “Not as pleasing men” (vs. 4)—Paul saw himself as a steward “approved of God” and “entrusted” by God to carry the message of the gospel to the world (1 Cor. 9:17). Having such a responsibility, he didn’t dare to stoop to ulterior motives in his labours. He knew that he served under the watchful eye of “God which trieth [tests]” the “hearts” of all men, and any such false motive would be detected by His omniscience (1 Sam. 2:3), and he would be rebuked for it.
• Not with “flattering words” (vs. 5a)—Their preaching among the Thessalonians did not use flattery to achieve results. It was not aimed at ministering to the ego of man to win them by fleshly means. The gospel that Paul preached is not the kind of a message that man in the flesh would invent because it makes nothing of man. To believe and receive the gospel requires humbling oneself in repentance; it is anything but flattering.
• “Nor a cloak [pretext] of covetousness” (vs. 5b)—They did not preach with a view to gaining something out of it for themselves––i.e. money. Paul was so sincere about this that he called on “God” to bear “witness” of the integrity of his heart in this matter. Thus, they refrained from taking any financial support from them; although, as “apostles of Christ,” they were perfectly entitled to it (1 Cor. 9:12; 1 Tim. 5:18).
• “Nor of men” seeking “glory” (vs. 6)—They were so far from wanting “glory from men” that they refrained from anything that savored of that character. They sought neither fame nor fortune from the Thessalonians.
Thus, Paul and his fellow workmen carefully avoided fleshly and worldly principles in their service. God would not have blessed their work had their motives been corrupt.
His Genuine Love & Care for the Saints
Vss. 7-8—As another proof of their genuineness, Paul speaks of their love for the Thessalonians. This was evident in that they devoted themselves to their care and were “gentle” with them as “a nurse would cherish her own children.” They “affectionately” yearned over these young converts. This was displayed in the fact that they not only imparted the truth of “the gospel of God” to them so that they could get saved, but they also gave their “own lives” to them because these saints were “dear [beloved]” to them. This had to do with the care and attention that they gave to the Thessalonians after they were saved.
The Integrity of His Conduct
Vss. 9-10—Paul asks them to remember how he and his fellow workers conducted themselves among them. They worked “night and day” with their own hands (Paul had a tent-making business – Acts 18:3) to feed themselves so that they would not be “chargeable” to them financially. The Thessalonians were witnesses of how “holily and justly and blamelessly” their lives were among them. This shows that what we are speaks louder than anything we say. The Christian minister must be careful to conduct himself appropriately in every dealing that he has with men.
The Character of His Ministry
Vss. 11-12—Paul not only nursed them “affectionately” as a mother (vss. 7-8), but he also “exhorted and comforted and charged [testified]” them as a “father.” This side of his ministry had to do with training and instructing and guiding these new converts in their first steps in the Christian path. It is significant that he says “each one of you.” This shows that a large part of ministering to new believers is to be done on an individual basis. An address directed to a company of Christians who are gathered together is good (Acts 20:7), but people are all different and they need individual attention to meet their specific needs. Paul’s ministry as a father was all in view of having his converts “walk worthy of God.” They needed to realize that they had been “called” by God for a very high purpose—to be vessels in which Christ’s glory will be displayed in the “kingdom.”
His Presentation of the Message
Vs. 13—Paul was thankful that when the Thessalonians heard their preaching, they could see that it was not merely the words of man’s wisdom but that it was a message which came from God—and therefore, it was received as “the Word of God.” This resulted partly from the manner of presentation which the servants of the Lord used in their preaching, and partly because of the faith of the Thessalonians. Paul, and those who worked with him, kept themselves out of the picture so that the hearers saw Christ and not the preachers. This is an important principle in ministry. In keeping with this principle, Paul said to the Corinthians, “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Cor. 4:5). Had the missionaries been interested in taking advantage of the situation for themselves, it would have manifested itself in the manner of their presentation. Those who have impure motives in their service usually make it known in the way that they minister, oftentimes without realizing it. Making nothing of themselves was a sure sign that these missionaries had no such designs. Paul was not congratulating himself for doing a good job in preaching, but rather, he was showing his integrity in presenting the truth. As a result, the Word of God worked in the Thessalonians “effectually,” and they “became followers of the churches in Judea” (vs. 14a). This was another proof that the missionaries were genuine and that they had been sent of God.
His Ministry Inspired Courage in Those Who Received It
Vss. 14-16—Moreover, the ministry of Paul and his companions was such that it inspired courage in the Thessalonians, to the point that they were willing to suffer for what they believed. And, in this way, they “became followers of the assemblies of God in Judea,” who were suffering similarly for their faith in Christ. By stating this, Paul was indicating that persecution is the common lot of all in Christianity. Not only was it leveled at the carriers of the message (vs. 2) but also at the believers of it (vs. 14). This persecution was mostly from the unbelieving Jews. They would not receive the truth themselves and they did all that they could to stop others from receiving it. Paul says that the great sin of these opposers was that they had “killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us.” And like Ishmael (who is a type of Israel after the flesh), they are “contrary to all men” (Gen. 16:12).
Paul said that the unbelieving Jews were filling up “their sins” by resisting the truth, and the wrath of God had “come upon them to the uttermost.” This was a reference to the governmental blindness that had swept over the nation in answer to the Lord’s prayer on the cross (Psa. 69:23; Matt. 13:14-15; Acts 13:11; Rom. 11:10, 25; 2 Cor. 3:14-16). A further judgment from God would come upon them in A.D. 70 by the literal destruction of the city of Jerusalem and the people (Psa. 69:24-25; Matt. 22:7).
Satan Was Working to Hinder Them
Vss. 17-18—Paul says, “We, brethren, being taken from [bereaved of] you for a short time in presence, not in heart....” (The word “bereaved” is literally “orphaned” in the Greek – see J. N. Darby Translation footnote.) This is a reference to Paul and Silas being chased out of Thessalonica (Acts 17:10). He explains here, that his absence from them had been longer than he had anticipated, but he assured them that his failure to get back to Thessalonica was not due to a lack of love for them. In fact, he tried “once and again” to return to Thessalonica, but “Satan hindered” him. This is significant in the thread of Paul’s thoughts in this chapter. He brings this up as a further proof that he and his fellow labourers were truly sent of God. If they were really doing Satan’s work, which they were accused of, Satan would not have hindered them. Satan would have helped them get back to Thessalonica to further mislead the Thessalonians! But since Satan was trying to hinder Paul, this ought to have been a clear sign to the Thessalonians that Paul was doing God’s work, because Satan is always against what God is doing.
The Divine Result of His Ministry—Reward in Heaven
Vss. 19-20—Paul was not discouraged by the working of the enemy. In spite of Satan’s oppositions, his “hope,” and “joy,” and “crown of rejoicing,” was to see his converts “in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming.” He looked forward to meeting his converts and friends at the Lord’s coming (Rapture). The crown of rejoicing is just one of a number of crowns that will be given to believers at the judgment seat of Christ for various reasons and services.
• A crown “of gold” (Rev. 4:4)—This is a crown that every child of God will receive for believing the gospel.
• A crown “of life” (James 1:12; Rev. 2:10)—This is the martyr’s crown.
• A crown “of rejoicing” (1 Thess. 2:19)—This is the soul-winner’s crown.
• A crown “of righteousness” (2 Tim. 4:8). This crown is given to those who go on faithfully amid the unrighteousness in the ruins of the Christian profession.
• A crown “of glory” (1 Peter 5:4)—This is the shepherd’s crown.
• An “incorruptible” crown is for those who keep their bodies under subjection (1 Cor. 9:25).
• The “overcomer’s” crown is for those who in faithfulness rise above the adverse circumstances in which they have been put (Rev. 3:11).
Thus, the Lord’s work, done in the Lord’s way, under the Lord’s guidance, will be rewarded by Him in that day. Paul was confident that this was the end to which he was travelling in regards to his service. He longed to see the Thessalonian believers, and if not on earth, then in heaven. Our converts and the spiritual lessons we have learned in the school of God are really the only things we can take to heaven with us! Everything else that is material is “reserved unto fire” (2 Peter 3:7).
Some people, strangely, think that we won’t recognize each other when we are glorified; but if that were true, Paul’s words here would be meaningless. The saints will all know one another in that day (1 Cor. 13:12), just as the disciples recognized Moses and Elijah on the mount of transfiguration (Luke 9:30).