BOOK 52 OF 66 · PAULINE EPISTLES · KING JAMES BIBLE

1 Thessalonians 2

1 Thessalonians book home•Chapter 2 of 5•20 verses

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1 Thessalonians 2 Overview

Paul reminds the Thessalonians that his ministry among them was bold, sincere, gentle, sacrificial, and free from flattering greed. He worked so as not to burden them, exhorted them as a father, and rejoiced that they received the word as God’s word. He also explains his separation from them and longing to return.

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Before you read 1 Thessalonians 2

Coming from

Paul thanks God for the Thessalonians’ work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope. The gospel came to them not in word only but in power and the Holy Ghost. They became examples throughout Macedonia and Achaia by turning from idols to serve the living God and to wait for His Son from heaven.

In this chapter

Leads into

Unable to bear uncertainty about the persecuted church, Paul sends Timothy to establish and comfort them. Timothy returns with good news of their faith and love, which deeply encourages Paul. He prays to see them again, to increase their love, and to establish their hearts unblameable in holiness at Christ’s coming.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Paul defends motives as well as message because gospel ministry can be discredited by greed, flattery, manipulation, or abuse of authority.

His maternal and paternal metaphors show both tenderness and exhortation.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Gospel ministry should be sincere

Paul rejects deceit, uncleanness, guile, flattery, and covetousness.

Leadership combines gentleness and exhortation

Paul is both nursing mother and charging father.

God’s word works in believers

They received apostolic preaching as the word of God.

Faithful ministry values people

Paul calls the believers his glory and joy.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Acts 16:22–24

Paul’s suffering at Philippi explains his reference to earlier shameful treatment.

Acts 20:33–35

Paul later points to laboring with his own hands.

2 Corinthians 4:1–2

Paul likewise renounces dishonest ministry methods.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not treat self-support as a universal ban on church support

Paul elsewhere defends financial support for gospel workers.

Do not use parental ministry metaphors to justify control

Paul’s model is sacrificial and accountable.

Do not treat every modern preacher as apostolic Scripture

The Thessalonians received Paul’s apostolic word as God’s word; modern teachers must be tested by Scripture.

Read 1 Thessalonians 2 watching for…

Every motive Paul denies.

The mother/father metaphors.

Paul’s work habits.

How they received the word.

Paul’s longing to see them.

Chapter outline4 sections

1-6Paul recalls preaching the gospel boldly without deceit, flattery, covetousness, or seeking human glory 7-12Paul describes his gentle, sacrificial care and fatherly exhortation among the believers 13-16Paul thanks God that they received the message as the word of God and endured persecution 17-20Paul longs to see them again and calls them his hope, joy, and crown at Christ’s coming

For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:

But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:

But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,

That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:

Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.

Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

For ye are our glory and joy.