1 Thessalonians 2:1 - Meaning and Application

Here we have an account of Paul’s way of preaching, and his thankful reflection on how he first came among the Thessalonians. His own conscience testified to his honesty, and he could also appeal to the Thessalonians themselves: “You yourselves, brothers, know our coming to you.” It is a great comfort to a minister when both his conscience and the consciences of others bear witness that he began well, with right motives and good purpose. It is also a comfort to know that his preaching was not useless, or empty, or deceitful.

Paul may be saying either that his ministry was not fruitless, or that his preaching was not hollow and false. He did not preach idle ideas, useless fine points, or foolish questions. He preached sound and solid truth, the kind most likely to help his hearers. That is a good pattern for all gospel ministers to follow.

Even more, Paul’s preaching was not false or dishonest. He could say to the Thessalonians what he said to the Corinthians, “We have given up secret shameful ways. We do not use trickery, and we do not tamper with God’s word” (2 Corinthians 4:2). He had no hidden, selfish, or worldly aim in preaching. He reminds them that they knew this.

He preached with courage and steady resolve: “We were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God” (1 Thessalonians 2:2). Paul had a holy boldness. He was not discouraged by suffering or by the opposition he faced. The Thessalonians knew what had happened in Philippi, where Paul and Silas were badly mistreated and put in stocks. Yet as soon as they were released, they went on to Thessalonica and preached the gospel just as boldly as before.

Suffering for a good cause should sharpen holy courage, not weaken it. In the early days of the gospel, there was much opposition. Those who preached it did so with great struggle and effort, either because of the strain of preaching itself or because of the resistance they met. Paul took comfort in this, because neither hardship nor opposition drove him away from his work.

He also preached with great simplicity and godly sincerity: “Our appeal does not come from deceit, impurity, or trickery” (1 Thessalonians 2:3). This was surely a deep comfort to Paul, the awareness of his own sincerity. It was also one reason for his success. He preached the true and uncorrupted gospel, and he urged them to believe and obey it.

He did not try to build a faction or gather people around himself. His aim was to promote pure religion, religion that is clean and real before God the Father. His message was free from deceit. It was true and trustworthy, not a made-up story. It was also free from impurity. The gospel is holy and pure, fitting for its holy author, and it works against every kind of impurity. God’s word is pure, and nothing corrupt should be mixed with it.

His way of speaking was also without trickery. He did not say one thing and mean another. He believed, and so he spoke. He had no hidden or worldly goals. In truth, he was what he appeared to be.

Paul does not only claim sincerity, he gives reasons and proof for it. First, he knew he was a steward, a trusted manager, of the gospel, and a steward must be faithful. The gospel he preached was not his own, but God’s gospel. Ministers are greatly honored and trusted by God, but that trust also brings responsibility. They must not corrupt God’s word. They must handle what has been given to them only as God allows and commands, knowing they will one day give an account when their stewardship ends.

Second, their aim was to please God, not people. God is a God of truth, and he wants truth in the inner person. If sincerity is missing, nothing we do can truly please him. The gospel is not shaped to satisfy people’s sinful desires and passions. Its purpose is to put those things to death and bring people under the rule of faith. “If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ’s servant” (Galatians 1:10).

Third, they acted with God’s searchlight over them, in the sight of the one who tests hearts. That is one of the strongest motives for sincerity. God sees everything we do, and he also knows our thoughts far off. He searches the heart and knows our aims as well as our actions. It is from this God, who tests hearts, that we will receive our reward.

Paul then gives more signs of his sincerity. First, he avoided flattery: “At no time did we use flattering words, as you know” (1 Thessalonians 2:5). He and his fellow workers preached Christ crucified. They did not try to win people’s affection for themselves by praise, false warmth, or smooth talk. He did not flatter people in their sins, or tell them they could live however they wanted if they joined his side. He did not feed them false hopes or let them stay in evil ways while promising them life.

Second, he avoided greed. He did not use ministry as a cover for covetousness, and God was his witness (1 Thessalonians 2:5). He was not trying to get rich by preaching the gospel. Far from it, he did not even bargain with them for bread. He was unlike the false teachers who, out of greed, use made-up words to take advantage of people (2 Peter 2:3).

Third, he avoided ambition and the love of praise: “We did not seek glory from people, from you or from others” (1 Thessalonians 2:6). They were not looking for people’s money or applause. They wanted neither riches nor flattery, neither to be pampered nor called Rabbi. Paul tells the Galatians not to be eager for empty glory (Galatians 5:26). His desire was for the honor that comes from God (John 5:44).

He says they could have used greater authority as apostles and asked for greater respect. They could also have demanded support, which is what he means by not being burdensome, since some might have thought such support too heavy to bear.