Chapter Two
1 Thess. 2:1. You yourselves know, brethren, about our entrance to you, that it was not in vain;
Great, says the apostle, are your struggles; but we also did not employ a merely human word, and our entrance was not without effect, that is, without dangers and trials, and in general without hardships. For, as has been said many times, dangers strengthen faith; without them it would be in vain.
1 Thess. 2:2. But even after we had suffered before and were shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
Having escaped dangers in Philippi, we again fell into other dangers among you. See how once more he ascribes everything to God, having said: "we were bold in our God," that is, emboldened by Him.
1 Thess. 2:3. For in our exhortation there is neither error,
That is, our teaching is not a deception. For deceivers do not subject themselves to dangers, but rather indulge in luxury; I, however, subjected myself to dangers. From this, therefore, it is clear that my teaching does not deceive, and that it is not for human affairs that I take dangers upon myself, but for divine and immutable ones.
1 Thess. 2:3. nor from impure motives,
I do not teach anything impure, as magi and sorcerers teach.
1 Thess. 2:3. nor craftiness;
Not the pursuit of rebellions and revolutions, as the followers of Theudas do.
1 Thess. 2:4. But, as God deemed us worthy to entrust us with the gospel, so we speak,
God, he says, deemed us worthy and chose us to entrust to us the Gospel: He would not have chosen us if He had not recognized us as worthy. Therefore we also remain as worthy as we were chosen by Him to be for so great a preaching.
1 Thess. 2:4. pleasing not men, but God, who tests (δοκιμάζοντι) our hearts.
That is, we do all this not in order to please you, but desiring to please God, Who tests the secrets (for this is what δοκιμάζειν now means), or because He comprehends the hearts and gives crowns. No deceiver, cunning, or impious person can please Him.
1 Thess. 2:5. For neither at any time were there words of flattery from us before you, as you know,
Since he had praised them before this, so that the praise would not become suspicious, he says: I never flattered you (which is characteristic of deceivers), and I am not flattering you now.
1 Thess. 2:5. Nor forms of covetousness: God is witness!
And not out of passion for money did we preach. That I did not flatter you, you yourselves are witnesses, but that I was not covetous—God is witness; for this is unknown to you.
1 Thess. 2:6. We did not seek glory from men, neither from you nor from others:
He did not say: we endured dishonor, or: we did not enjoy honor, lest this seem to them a reproach, but: we did not seek honors, although preaching truly did require this. For if we deem the ambassadors of kings worthy of great honor, then all the more should we honor the ambassadors of God. Therefore, how would we do anything for the sake of glory, when as teachers we did not desire honors either from you or from others?
1 Thess. 2:7. we could have appeared with importance, as Apostles of Christ,
Or: in honor, glory, and abundance; or: we could have taken from you and been fed, and been a burden to you. For our dignity demanded this, to take from you.
1 Thess. 2:7. but were gentle among you,
"Gentle," that is, meek, not burdensome. Or: "gentle" (νήπιοι) "among you," that is, without malice, without ambition. For the one without malice thinks nothing of the sort. The expression "among you" has this meaning: in my dealings with you I was the same as you, as though I had not received a higher appointment.