1 Thessalonians part 2

1 Thessalonians 2:1-16 | “A Look at a Missionary”

We continue this week with 1 Thessalonians in chapter 2. Chapter 2 is a continuation of Paul’s experience and the report he received from Timothy. It is interesting that of the 5 chapters in 1 Thessalonians, three of them are devoted to the encouragement Paul has from this little church. The first is Paul’s thankfulness for what God has done in Thessalonica, the second is a recap of his experience there, and the third is an encouragement to them to continue in the direction they are going.

Before we read chapter 2, a couple of remarks are in order. First, we should not misread Paul’s words as false humility or some form of self-aggrandizement. He is reminding them of his conduct while he was there for those three weeks. A perennial problem for Paul’s ministry were the accusers he faced from both Jews and pagans. His appeals to his innocence, work ethic, and motives are responses to the accusations Paul faced, and the Thessalonians undoubtedly were hearing.

Second, this chapter gives us a glimpse at Paul’s missionary work. Rather than skipping through it only seeing it as a chapter of thanksgiving, we can also look at for instruction in our own missionary work. After all, if Paul is a model (if not the model) for Christian missions, then perhaps we should take a closer look to how he operated. I once heard a pastor say, “If we want to accomplish what those great men of faith did in the past, maybe we should look harder at what they actually did.”

So, let us read together 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16 and see how Paul operated in Thessalonica.

The Attitude of a Missionary | 2:1-8

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

The first eight verses give us a glimpse into the attitude of Paul the missionary. First, he notes he declared the Gospel in the midst of much conflict. He mentions the “shameful treatment” they received in Philippi, but they had boldness to continue their proclamation in Thessalonica.

If you turn back to Acts 16, you will notice Philippi treated Paul about as well as Thessalonica. In the first part of the chapter, Paul receives a vision of a Macedonian calling out to him for help. They land in Philippi and begin their mission. While there, a slave girl with a spirit of divination starts mocking at Paul. Verses 16-18 can be a bit confusing until you realize the girl is not helping the ministry, she is in the way. She may be speaking truth, but she is doing it in a way that is disruptive and distracting. Paul drives out the spirit by the power of Christ upsetting her owners. Their money train has left them behind.

They stir up the magistrates to have Paul and his companions imprisoned. And here, we have the famous story of the earthquake that freed Paul and Silas. But, instead of running, they remained behind allowing the jailer to keep his job...and life. The jailer receives Christ and they celebrate the next day.

Now, at the end of that chapter, is a piece of info that is often overlooked. The magistrates realize they have imprisoned men without a trial or following due process. They order for them to be released, but Paul calls them out for their error invoking his rights as a Roman citizen. Once they realize they have treated a Roman citizen so poorly, they come and apologize to Paul. By treating Paul this way, they have actually broken laws themselves.

This story helps illustrate the perseverance of Paul. Because upon leaving Philippi, he heads to Thessalonica where he is treated pretty much the same way. But he continues on. And now, in his letter, he is addressing further accusations.

First, the Gospel does not spring from error, but rather is a faithful witness to the Truth.

The same arguments against Christianity in the first century continued into the second, third, and onward to today. These arguments typically fall into the category surrounding Jesus’ death and resurrection such as, “the disciples mistakenly believed Jesus arose,” or “they mistook his death” and variously as such. There are several evidences for the Resurrection as presented in the Gospels, but ironically Paul himself is one of the best. Paul was a leading Jew who persecuted the Church. In fact, being both a Roman citizen and a prominent Jew put him in some of the highest social circles. When he went to Rome as a prisoner, he was well-treated at first because of his past associations. And yet, he gives it all up, because he saw the Risen Lord. All other explanations for Paul’s transformations are difficult to reconcile with the evidence. The easiest explanation happens to be the hardest for nonbelievers—He really saw the crucified Christ raised to life.

Now, Christians are often accused of many errors, but the truly foundational question is “What about Jesus?” Who was he? What did he say? Did he actually rise from the dead? Everything else falls into place once the resurrection of Christ has been established.

Secondly, the Thessalonians are now evidence for the power of the Risen Lord. In verse 1, Paul says their coming was “not in vain.” The previous chapter already established the transformation in the lives of the Thessalonians. They have turned from idols to serve the living and true God. Every believer is one more piece of evidence for the Risen Lord and the truth of Christianity.

Second, the Gospel does not spring from impure motives, but rather the motive to please God.

Again, the same arguments against Christianity have not changed much in the last 2,000 years. The first century was as wrought with charlatans and swindlers as this century. It was common for Christian missionaries to be mixed in with the riffraff in first century minds. Today, we see the same phenomenon, and unfortunately, we have true charlatans masquerading as Christians. We see them on tv and in the market squares of the Internet seeking out donations for their false hope.

But the true missionary for Christ has pure motives. They have experienced the risen Lord and put away earthly treasures in favor of eternal. In verse 4 Paul describes his motives by saying, “but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.” His only motive is to please the Lord who saved him. Why else would he endure the prison, the floggings, and ultimately, his death? Had he wanted to be loved by men, he could have remained in his high position of his former life.

Third, the Gospel is no attempt to deceive, but rather speaks with genuine love.

Paul did not go with his team with the intent of deception or greed. In fact, he says, he did not even make demands on them as he rightfully could have being an apostle of Christ. Instead, he treated them like a “nursing mother” with gentleness and affection. They gave of their own selves in order to demonstrate the truths of a transformed life.

But notice, Paul genuinely loved the people. Even though he was there for only three short weeks, he genuinely loved them. he says in verse 8, “you had become very dear to us.” The Christian missionary is propelled by love for his fellow man. There is no other motivation that will keep the missionary moving in his mission. Novelty, glory, and praise will fall away, but love remains.

Now, let’s move on and look at the work ethic of a missionary. The next few verses Paul addresses how they worked in Thessalonica.

The Work Ethic of a Missionary | 2:9-12

1 Thessalonians 2:9-12

For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

Now, we can assert “night and day” is a figure of speech, but it nonetheless demonstrates how much work was put into Paul’s ministry. In the typical work day of the first century Mediterranean, they would begin at dawn and work till the afternoon. At the heat of the day, the people would either rest, make their errands, or as in the case of Paul and those who would listen, they would meet together to discuss whatever topics were at hand. Students would attend school (if they could afford it) and the people might visit other homes before evening chores would begin. Paul and his team worked at their jobs (Paul was a tentmaker) in the first part of the day, and then would work at their ministries for the remainder of the day.

But this work ethic was not for their gain, it was for the benefit of the Thessalonians. Notice Paul says he did not want to be a burden to anyone.

Christian missions should be a benefit to an area, not a burden.

Paul was in his right to collect from the new believers, not just in our modern understanding of supporting missions, but in the first century, teachers were paid by their students. Within the Jewish system of teaching, the students were to support their teachers through all manner of giving. The Gentiles paid their teachers directly, and we have evidence from many sources that teachers tended to want their payment up front because some students would skip out on the bill. Paul could have asked for contributions for his teaching, but he wanted to benefit the people with the Gospel of Christ, not sell it like some new passing fad.

Instead, he says they walked “holy and righteous and blameless” in their conduct. They were more like father figures than teachers. They exhorted and encouraged the Thessalonians to walk in a similar manner “worthy of God” who called them into His Kingdom.

Christian missions are for building up those reached, not those doing the reaching.

And from this attitude and work ethic, Paul reaps a harvest. Let us finish reading our passage today and see the fruits of the labor.

The Fruit of a Missionary | 2:13-16

1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received them word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judaea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!

The fruits of labor for the missionary may sound a bit familiar.

First (on a positive note), the missionary can expect some to respond in faith. Paul says of the Thessalonians, “you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.”

The first fruit to expect on the mission field is new believers.

Second, the missionary can expect growth in believers. Paul says, “For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judaea.” In other words, these Gentile believers have become faithful as the believers in Judea. The bridge between Jews and Gentiles was built by Christ’s work, and these believers have crossed it. Whenever we continue speaking the words of God, they will go forth and accomplish their purpose—primarily to transform hearts from death to life.

The second fruit is a gathering of believers growing in faithfulness.

Third, the missionary can expect push back from the surrounding society. It is an unfortunate reality for the missionary, but it is also a promised warning from Christ. Jesus said, “Do not be surprised if the world hates you, because it has hated me first.” The Judaean Christians faced persecution from their Jewish brothers, and the Gentile Christians faced persecution from their Thessalonican brothers. We, too, can expect persecution to some degree from those who reject the saving message of Christ.

The third fruit is backlash from those who reject Christ.

But, no matter the heartache that may come in the mission field, we must remember the promise of God in Isaiah 55:11,

Isaiah 55:11

so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

    it shall not return to me empty,

but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,

    and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Whatever fruit we see in our labor unto the Lord, know that God is working His purposes and His plans. Our job is to share the message of Christ to the lost around us, and let God complete His purposes. As the Word of God is shared, it transforms our hearts and the hearts of those around us. It is the process by which God is recreating this world until the time of Christ’s Return when all will be set new.