1 Thessalonians 2:1-20 (NKJV)

Chapter 2
1
For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2But even after
we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our
God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. 3For our exhortation did not come from
error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. 4But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted
with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. 5For
neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God
is witness. 6Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have
made demands as apostles of Christ. 7But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother
cherishes her own children. 8So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to
you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9For
you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a
burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. 10You are witnesses, and God also,
how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11as you
know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own
children, 12that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
13
For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of
God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the
word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. 14For you, brethren, became
imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the
same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, 15who killed both the
Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are
contrary to all men, 16forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always
to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.
17
But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in
heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. 18Therefore we wanted to
come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us. 19For what is our hope, or joy,
or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
20
For you are our glory and joy.

Three pitfalls of ministry

1. Flattering words – preaching what people want to hear rather than the word of
God. The motivation may be fear of losing members or may be an effort to curry
favor.
2. Cloak of covetousness – some enter the ministry because they see it as an easy
way to make a living or because they want to become rich.
3. Glory from men – Making ministers Hollywood stars, letting them arrive at
church in a limousine, watching as they enter with an entourage of “armor-
bearers” aka servants.

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.
Verse 13 is a very important verse because of its implications for inspiration and for the
Christian attitude toward the Scriptures. There are several distinctions intended by Paul
which do not come across in the translations of this verse. The first is the distinction
between the words here translated received. The first occurrence (Gr paralambanō) is a
word which means to “take to oneself.” In this context it means to listen to and apply the
words that were spoken. It could have been used of the teaching of any philosopher of the
day. The second occurrence (Gr dechomai) is a word which means primarily “to receive”
in the sense of receiving a guest, entertaining someone, or welcoming with open arms a
true friend; this word involves much more commitment. This is the word that shows the
responsive attitude of all true believers for God’s Word.
It is also important in this verse to distinguish between the three occurrences of word
(Gr logos). The first occurrence would be literally “word of hearing” and is a technical
term for the “preached word” of the prophets and apostles. This same expression
translates Isaiah 53:1, “Who hath believed our report?” It is alluded to several times in
the New Testament (Jn 12:38; Rom 10:16). Hebrews 4:2 uses this technical term to allude
to the promise made to the Israelites that they would enter the Promised Land. Paul also
used the term of his own preaching to the Galatians (Gal 3:2, 5). The meaning in
Thessalonians is that the people not only listened to and applied the preaching of the
apostles, and gladly recognized this message as something more than a merely human
message (word of men), but welcomed it for what it really was, the word of God. This
kind of response to the Word of God is characteristic of every true believer. Effectually
worketh (Gr energeō ) means simply to be “effective.” It is interesting that this same
word is found in the same connection in Galatians 3:2, 5 and that it is the Spirit of God in
both passages who causes believers to recognize the Word of God. Although Paul does
not refer to the written Word of God in I Thessalonians 2:13, the implications are the
same, and the oral message was just as inspired and just as authoritative. It was a word
spoken by God (Greek subjective genitive) so that this verse is, in effect, parallel to II
Timothy 3:16.
KJV Bible commentary

Not as the word of men - Not of human origin, but as a divine revelation. You were
not led to embrace it by human reasoning, or the mere arts of persuasion, or from
personal respect for others, but by your conviction that it was a revelation from God. It is
only when the gospel is embraced in this way that religion will show itself sufficient to
abide the fiery trials to which Christians may be exposed. He who is convinced by mere
human reasoning may have his faith shaken by opposite artful reasoning; he who is won
by the mere arts of popular eloquence will have no faith which will be proof against
similar arts in the cause of error; he who embraces religion from mere respect for a
pastor, parent, or friend, or because others do, may abandon it when the popular current
shall set in a different direction, or when his friends shall embrace different views; but he
who embraces religion as the truth of God, and from the love of the truth, will have a
faith, like that of the Thessalonians, which will abide every trial. Barnes

13
For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the
word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it
is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

1. You must receive it as the word of God

2. You must believe

Then it works effectively for you.

 2:18 The word translated “hindered” is a military term, describing the breaking up of
bridges and roads to make an invading army’s progress as slow as possible. Satan was
engaged in such activity as he attempted to keep Paul away from the Thessalonians. Paul
also anticipates that Satan will tempt God’s people by trying to discourage them (3:5). In
3:11 Paul looks to God to clear a path through or around Satan’s hindrances, thus
granting him the victory of a return visit to Thessalonica.
Believers Study Bible

2:19. At his coming (Gr. parousia): This was a common term in the Hellenistic world
for formal visits by royalty. It became a technical term in the New Testament for the
second coming of Christ. As such, it is used 18 times (seven in the Thessalonian epistles).
This is the first time Paul uses it in his writings.
King James Version study Bible