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    1 Thessalonians 2:1-16
    Lesson 392

    Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

    In this lesson:
     Paul defends his ministry. 
     Christian living. 
    Note Paul's tribute to the Thessalonians in verse 2:13.
    Persecution (2:14-16).
      

    Study Tip:
     
    It helps to read two Bibles.
    Whenever you encounter a difficult passage, scroll back and forth
    between the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation" below.
    Also, read the margin notes in blue and click on the links.

    The First Epistle of Paul The Apostle To The Thessalonians

    The King James Bible    ​




    1 Thessalonians 2:1-16
    Live the Gospel

    1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
     
    2 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.
     
    3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
     
    4 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.
     
    5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
     
    6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
     
    7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
     
    8 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.
     
    9 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.
     
    10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
     
    11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
     
    12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
     
    13 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.
     
    14 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:
     
    15 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:
     
    16 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.

    ​

    Margin notes:
     
    "Know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain." (2:1) - "Know that our first visit with you was not in vain."  Paul made converts and established the Thessalonian church on his first visit (Acts 17:1-4).
     
    "We had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi."  (2:2) - Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison for preaching in Philippi (Acts 16:12-24).
     
    "We were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God." (2:2) - Paul preached the Gospel, ignoring the threat of persecution, beatings, and prison.
     
    "With much contention." (2:2) - "With a lot of opposition." 
     
    "Our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile." (2:3) - "Our message was not deceitful, evil, or a trick."  Here, Paul is answering his critics who said he was wrong, deceitful and preaching for fame and fortune.  See also 2 Corinthians 4:1-2 and 2 Peter 1:16.
     
    "We were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel." (2:4) - "We were approved by God, who trusted us with the Gospel."
     
    "Trieth our hearts." (2:4) - "Judges our hearts."
     
    "Covetousness." (2:5) - "Greed."
     
    "Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others." (2:6) - "We did not seek praise, not from you or any one else."  Paul is addressing the accusation that he preached for personal glory.
     
    "As a nurse cherisheth her children." (2:7) - "As a mother cares for her children."
     
    "We were willing to have imparted unto you." (1:8) - "We were willing to share with you."
     
    "Remember, brethren, our labour and travail." (2:9) - Paul did not preach for money.  Here, he reminds the Thessalonians that he supported his ministry as a tentmaker (Acts 18:3), so he wouldn't be a financial burden.  Paul reinforces this point in 2 Thessalonians 3:8-9.
     
    "Exhorted and comforted and charged." (2:11) - "Encouraged, comforted, and directed."
     
    "For this cause." (2:13) - "For this reason."    
     
    "Ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God." (2:13) - The Thessalonians heard the word of God and believed it to be true.  This is called faith.
     
    "Judaea." (2:14) - Also called Judea, it is the southern area of Palestine covering approximately two thousand square miles from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River.  It is almost fifty percent desert.  Bethlehem and Jerusalem were in Judea.  It is where Jesus was born, lived, taught, and died.  Christianity began in Judaea.  
     
    "Ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen." (2:14) - "You also suffered similar things at the hands of your countrymen" (Acts 17:1-9).
     
    "And are contrary to all men." (2:15) - "And are against mankind."
    New Living Translation
    1 Thessalonians 2:1-16
    Paul Remembers His Visit
     
    1 You yourselves know, dear brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not a failure.

    2 You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition.

    3 So you can see we were not preaching with any deceit or impure motives or trickery.
     
    4 For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.

    5 Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know. And God is our witness that we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money!

    6 As for human praise, we have never sought it from you or anyone else.
     
    7 As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children.

    8 We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God's Good News but our own lives, too.
     
    9 Don't you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to any of you as we preached God's Good News to you.

    10 You yourselves are our witnesses-and so is God-that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers.

    11 And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children.

    12 We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.
     
    13 Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn't think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God-which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe.
     
    14 And then, dear brothers and sisters, you suffered persecution from your own countrymen. In this way, you imitated the believers in God's churches in Judea who, because of their belief in Christ Jesus, suffered from their own people, the Jews.

    15 For some of the Jews killed the prophets, and some even killed the Lord Jesus. Now they have persecuted us, too. They fail to please God and work against all humanity

    16 as they try to keep us from preaching the Good News of salvation to the Gentiles. By doing this, they continue to pile up their sins. But the anger of God has caught up with them at last.     

    This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible.  However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
    Today's question:
     
    1. What is the message in verse 2:12?

    ​

    Pray for the strength to resist sin.      Ask God for forgiveness when you fall into temptation and give thanks when you don't.  
    Answer:​ (Do you agree?)
    ​
    1. "By words and example, Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to live in such a way that would bring joy to God.  Is there anything about your daily life that would embarrass God?  What do people think of God from watching you?" 
     
    (From the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; page 2395)



    Application thought for the day:
     
    "Walk worthy of God." (2:12)
    How do a person's behavior and life change once they find Christ?
    What changes would you like to make in your life, and how can you implement them?     ​   
    Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke.  Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible."  All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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