Chapter 2
1Thess 2:3-7
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:
EXHORTA'TION: the act of inciting to laudable deeds; incitement to that which is good or commendable. The form of words intended to incite and encourage
I suppose first I will focus on a negative, in order to bring the point to light.
Let us look at the things Paul says they “didn’t” do and you will see how the other side operates: false religion, religious industrial complex, cults, bad churches/denominations operate:
v3 exhortations of “deceit”( a catching or ensnaring), “uncleanness”( Moral impurity; defilement by sin; sinfulness), “guile”(craftily disguised)
v4 “pleasing men” and not God
v5 using “flattering words”, and “a cloke of covetousness”(to hide the strong or inordinate desire of obtaining and possessing something)
v6 Seeking “glory” “of men” “of you” “of others”; “burdensome”(requiring financial support)
A religious group will do these things, use these methods, in order to draw people in, to keep them in, to not let them go - because of the lack of the truth. Period. If you have the truth (which I do, found in my Bible, as I believe it is God breathed) you just need to present the truth. You plant, you water – but God gives the increase (1Cor3); if people depart, they depart, but the truth will be like a stone in their shoe.
Paul points out clearly that he did none of these things, probably brought to his mind because that is what he saw in the area of Thessalonica and his other travels, and what he saw as … a Pharisee in the Jew’s religion:
[Gal 1:13-14 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.]
v4: “…God,..trieth our hearts”: God knows our hearts, it is usually us who really doesn’t know our hearts; God tries our hearts by providing us means to know what is there, in order to help us grow in Christ as a useful Christian, hopefully to humble us and to make us want to realize his love and want to serve ‘more better’ (! [Sic]).
v6: concerning “glory” – in the end it will all go towards God, anything current here is temporal and of little value (but we are vain creature – but still have hope [Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,])
Also note the phrase at the end of the verse: “…we… as the apostles of Christ” – which the “we” there is referring to Paul, Silvanus/Silas, Timothy/Timotheus – so we see that there were twelve apostles selected by Jesus Christ in his earthly ministry (with Matthias replacing Judas Iscariot, the basis described in Acts 1:21-22 [Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.]), and then a selection of Paul/Saul (Acts 9) and others after Christ’s ascension into heaven after the resurrection to sit at the right hand of the Father.
Verse 7: “But we were gentle among you…” and that is what you have when you have the truth, you don’t have to compel, To drive or urge with force. You plant, you water – and God gives the increase.
I need to stop – as I am sure you are hoping I do.
Sorry for the tardiness this morn’
Grace and Peace James
1Thess 2:3-7
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:
EXHORTA'TION: the act of inciting to laudable deeds; incitement to that which is good or commendable. The form of words intended to incite and encourage
I suppose first I will focus on a negative, in order to bring the point to light.
Let us look at the things Paul says they “didn’t” do and you will see how the other side operates: false religion, religious industrial complex, cults, bad churches/denominations operate:
v3 exhortations of “deceit”( a catching or ensnaring), “uncleanness”( Moral impurity; defilement by sin; sinfulness), “guile”(craftily disguised)
v4 “pleasing men” and not God
v5 using “flattering words”, and “a cloke of covetousness”(to hide the strong or inordinate desire of obtaining and possessing something)
v6 Seeking “glory” “of men” “of you” “of others”; “burdensome”(requiring financial support)
A religious group will do these things, use these methods, in order to draw people in, to keep them in, to not let them go - because of the lack of the truth. Period. If you have the truth (which I do, found in my Bible, as I believe it is God breathed) you just need to present the truth. You plant, you water – but God gives the increase (1Cor3); if people depart, they depart, but the truth will be like a stone in their shoe.
Paul points out clearly that he did none of these things, probably brought to his mind because that is what he saw in the area of Thessalonica and his other travels, and what he saw as … a Pharisee in the Jew’s religion:
[Gal 1:13-14 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.]
v4: “…God,..trieth our hearts”: God knows our hearts, it is usually us who really doesn’t know our hearts; God tries our hearts by providing us means to know what is there, in order to help us grow in Christ as a useful Christian, hopefully to humble us and to make us want to realize his love and want to serve ‘more better’ (! [Sic]).
v6: concerning “glory” – in the end it will all go towards God, anything current here is temporal and of little value (but we are vain creature – but still have hope [Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,])
Also note the phrase at the end of the verse: “…we… as the apostles of Christ” – which the “we” there is referring to Paul, Silvanus/Silas, Timothy/Timotheus – so we see that there were twelve apostles selected by Jesus Christ in his earthly ministry (with Matthias replacing Judas Iscariot, the basis described in Acts 1:21-22 [Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.]), and then a selection of Paul/Saul (Acts 9) and others after Christ’s ascension into heaven after the resurrection to sit at the right hand of the Father.
Verse 7: “But we were gentle among you…” and that is what you have when you have the truth, you don’t have to compel, To drive or urge with force. You plant, you water – and God gives the increase.
I need to stop – as I am sure you are hoping I do.
Sorry for the tardiness this morn’
Grace and Peace James
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