Gann's Commentary on the Bible

1 Thessalonians 2:1

ch. 2. Suffered -Mistreated - Opposition.

Ch. 2 What Every Church Deserves. II. Paul’s Examples.

Know -- Perfect tense, active, indictive, 2nd per, plural; continuing results.

Not in vain -- Not a failure.

A. A good start; from one (v.1-12)

1) Who is faithful like a steward, v.1-6

2) Who has love like a mother, v.7-8

3) Who has concern like a father, v.9-12.

1 Thessalonians 2:2

Philippi -- cf. Acts 16:12-40.

*Paul attacks what must have been charges against him.

1) Manner of his ministry - boldly in struggles.

2) Message - v. 2, Gospel of salvation.

3) Motive (v.3a) was pure, not in covetousness.

4) Method - straightforward, not flattering, v.9

Contention -- NASV, opposition.

1 Thessalonians 2:3

Deceit -- "not come from error" NASB, "from lies" NCV,

Uncleanness -- impurity, cf. v.5(b)

Guile -- deceit, cf. v5(a)

1 Thessalonians 2:4

Allowed -- Perfect, passive, indicative; Tested and approved.

Put in trust -- Like a steward. Galatians 1:11-12. Treasure in vessels, 2 Corinthians 4:7.

Speak -- Present tense.

Which trieth -- Examines, tests. From the same verb as approved which occurs earlier in the verse. A word-play by Paul.

1 Thessalonians 2:5

Cloke of covetousness -- pretext for greed.

1 Thessalonians 2:6

We -- Plural. cf. 1 Thessalonians 3:1 and 1 Thessalonians 1:1.

Burdensome -- cf. 2 Thessalonians 3:9.

Apostles -- Plural. cf. Acts 14:4. Acts 14:14. Remember Barnabas and Silas were "sent out" as representatives or ambassadors of the church at Antioch, therefore they were "apostles" of the church, and not "apostles" of Christ, as Paul and the twelve were, who were selected by Christ himself.

cf. 2 Corinthians 11:13 for "false apostles."

Some think this is simply editorial "apostles."

NASV "we might have asserted our authority."

1 Thessalonians 2:7

2) Gentile like a -- nursing mother. v. 7-8.

Gentle -- is ηπιοι, "babes" is _____ , a play on words for Paul. [The previous word ended with a "ν". See NASB Bible notes.]

Nurse -- i.e. a "nursing mother."

Cherisheth -- warm, tenderly cares for, used of a mother bird in Deuteronomy 22:6 in the Sept.

Her children -- Her own children.

1 Thessalonians 2:8

Souls -- psuche, breath, physical life, but a often by implication for the spirit of man.

Dear -- αγαπητοι. Sometimes "beloved" plural.

1 Thessalonians 2:9

3) Concerned like a father, v. 9-11.

Labor -- His work v. 9, his walk, v.10; his words v.11-13. 2 Thessalonians 3:8 Probably again making tents,. The chuch at Philippi sent help to Paul twice, c. Philippians 4:16.

Travail -- hardships.

Laboring night and day -- Probably making tents. cf. Acts 18:3.

Chargeable -- A burden.

* The church at Philippi sent help to Paul to preach the gospel elsewhere, Philippians 4:16.

1 Thessalonians 2:10

Paul’s walk among them.

1) devoutly - toward God.

2) uprightly - toward man.

3) blamelessly - toward self. (without reproach)

Ye -- Emphatic.

Holily -- devoutly

Justly -- upright.

Unblameably --

1 Thessalonians 2:11

Paul often piles up descriptions like a mountain: exhorting, encouraging, imploring.

exhorted -- comforted -- charged --

Every -- Each; emphatic and personal.

As a father --

Doeth -- would, (could be supplied as well).

1 Thessalonians 2:12

Called -- Calls. (verb, present, active, participle, genitive, masculine, singular,) Romans 8:28; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:14

Unto -- Preposition eis "into".

Unto his kingdom and glory -- Here and now. Kingdom and glory, (noun: accusative, singular, faminine.)

Kingdom -- "Church" in 1 Thessalonians 1:1.

Kingdom and glory -- One and the same.

1 Thessalonians 2:13

New Paragraph

B. A Good Influence, 2:14-20

1. God’s Word within them, v.13

2. God’s People around them, v.14-15

3. God’s Glory before them, v.16-20

Cause -- Reason.

Word of God -- They: 1. appreciated, 2. appropriated, 3. applied; -- the Word.

Word of God -- NASV "which also performs its work in you who believe."

INSPIRATION - 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:21, 1 Corinthians 14:37, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Galatians 1:11-12, Matthew 17:5, Luke 1:68-70,

Which -- worketh -- The Word does what? Produced believers! Romans 10:17, Hebrews 4:12, Colossians 3:16.

* Truth effects people, and the greater truth has the greatest effect.

1 Thessalonians 2:14

Country-men -- Gentiles and Jews of Thessalonica,

They -- The Christians in Judea.

Jews -- The Jews of Judea. Hebrews 10:33. The Jews were among those who most bitterly attacked Paul.

1) Lord Jesus -- They crucified Him.

2) Prophets -- John the Baptist, Stephen, James

3) Persecuted us -- NASV "drove us out"

4) Please not God ..

5) Contrary -- Hostile, contrary winds, opposing.

Verse 6.

6) Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles -- Acts 13:45.

7) Fill up their sins -- (v.16) to fill up the measure of their sins. cf. Genesis 15:16, Persecution were heaping sin upon sin. AS thou the bowl of God’s wrath against them was filling up.

* Paul was certainly not antisemitic, but this was the truth.

1 Thessalonians 2:16

(See the notes on the previous verse as well.)

Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles -- Acts 13:45.

Fill up their sins -- to fill up the measure of their sins. cf. Genesis 15:16, Persecution were heaping sin upon sin. AS thou the bowl of God’s wrath against them was filling up. (God seems to be patient with sins, until one’s sins "fill up".)

Wrath -- God’s displeasure and anger.

Come upon them to the uttermost -- Undoubtedly a reference to AD 70 and the destruction of Jerusalem and the Jewish nation.

1 Thessalonians 2:17

Taken from you -- Bereft, Literally orphaned.

Presence -- In person, but not in spirit.

Endeavoured -- Eager.

1 Thessalonians 2:18

Would -- wanted.

Once and again -- more than once.

Satan hinder us -- Was this because at Thessalonica they took security of Jason? Acts 17:9.

1 Thessalonians 2:19

What -- Who

Crown -- Stephenos, the victory laurel. Even in the OT crowns and garlands were used as symbols of future reward , Isaiah 28:5, Isaiah 62:3, Isaiah 61:3.

His coming -- Paul would have joy when he saw the Thessalonian Christians in the presence of Christ at His coming (at the judgement or in heaven. This is a good answer to the question, "Will we know each other in heaven?" Paul indicates he would know, or recognize, them.)

Coming -- παρουσια, official royal visit, about 22 times in the N.T.

Some Various Comings of Christ

*1 Emmanuel, the incarnation - Matthew 1:23; John 1:14;John 6:38;Galatians 4:4

This was the coming of the Lord in the flesh, his birth at Bethlehem.

2 Pentecost, Matthew 16:28 (Mark 9:1) Mark 14:62, Matthew 26:64

In some significant way it could be said that Christ also came on Pentecost representatively when he sent his promise of the Holy Spirit.

3 To Paul at His Conversion __ Acts 26:16, Acts 22:7-9 ; 1 Corinthians 15:8

The Lord came to Paul so he could see him alive after his crucifixion and thus qualify him to be an apostle.

4 In Visions -- At Jerusalem, Acts 22:17-18 (after conversion);

At Corinth, Acts 18:9; again at Jerusalem, Acts 23:11

5 AD 70, His coming in judgment upon the Jews for their rejection.

Matthew 24:27, Matthew 24:30, Matthew 24:44, Matthew 24:39; Mark 13:26-30; Luke 21:20-27; Hebrews 10:37; James 5:8

6 The Second Coming at the Resurrection -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-18.

1 Thessalonians 2:20

Ye -- The Thessalonian brethren.

Verse 19 & 20 indicates recognition of each other in heaven.