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1 Thessalonians 2:1. You yourself know, brethren, about our entrance to you, that it was not inactive. 1 Thessalonians 2:2. But, having first suffered and been mocked in Philippi, as you know, we dared in our God to preach to you the gospel of God with great feat. “For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain: but having suffered and been vexed, as you know, in Philippi, we dared to speak to you the gospel of God with much effort in our God.” And the evidence of suffering is enough to prove the truth of the sermon. For those who indulge in deception only wear a disguise to the point of danger, but as soon as they see them, they reveal themselves, and the lie is exposed. That is why the divine Apostle mentioned the chains and scourges in Philippi and his boldness after that, making it known that after the sorrowful circumstances he was filled with greater zeal, because he foresaw the benefit of his labors. 1 Sol.2:3. For in our teaching there is no error, no unclean motives, no deceit. “For our consolation does not come from delusion, nor from impurity, nor from flattery.” The Apostle called the teaching “consolation” and says: “What we offer has no resemblance to the fables of poets, filled with many lies and great lewdness. We do not ensnare you into destruction by using flattery as an aid.” 1 Sol.2:4. But just as God has deigned to entrust us with the gospel, so we speak, pleasing not men, but God, who tests our hearts. “But when we have been tempted by God, bring us back to accept the gospel, this is the verb, not as pleasing to man, but to God who tempts our hearts.” We did not make ourselves teachers, but God entrusted us with the Gospel. Therefore, we say and do everything as if with God as a witness, for we know that not a single emotional movement is hidden from Him. What was said: “as if we were tempted by God” means: because it pleases God and He recognized us as worthy to entrust to us. 1 Sol.2:5. For we never had before you any words of endearment, as you know, or any form of self-interest: God is my witness! “Never in words of caress would I come to you, as if I knew, below in the wine of covetousness, God is my witness.” In his discussion of flattery, he called them themselves witnesses, because flattering speech is obvious to those listening; and in considering the covetousness not only of them, but also of the One who oversees the whole universe, because the purpose of what is being done is often hidden from people. He called preaching for money “covetousness.” 1 Thessalonians 2:6. We do not seek human glory either from you or from others. 1 Thessalonians 2:7. We could appear with importance, like the Apostles of Christ, but we were quiet among you, like a nurse tenderly treats her children. 1 Thessalonians 2:8. So, out of zeal for you, we wanted to convey to you not only the gospel of God, but also our souls, because you have become kind to us. “Neither seeking glory from men, nor from you, nor from others, mighty in the hardship of being, like Christ’s Apostles.” We do not like human glory. The Apostle placed this in the middle, but what is added refers to what was said before: “lower in wine is covetousness”; for the words are connected with this: “mighty in the hardship of being, like Christ’s Apostles,” that is, we are commanded to live from the gospel, but we did not take advantage of this right. He said: “in hardship,” meaning those who are not happy to provide what they need. “But there was a presence in your midst, like a milkmaid warming her child.” “He so desires you, with his good will, to give you not just the gospel of God, but also his soul, before we are loved.” In the likeness he allowed us to see his affection and caring, for he likened himself to a mother who rejoices over her own little children, since he calls the same one both “the milkmaid” and the mother, and says: “as the milkmaid warms her children”; like her, we cherish you and wish, in addition to spiritual teaching, to give you our souls; so much “you are loved more quickly by us.” 1 Thessalonians 2:9. For you remember, brethren, our labor and exhaustion: working night and day, so as not to burden any of you, we preached the gospel of God to you. “Remember, brothers, our work and feat.” It lets you see what kind of feat it is. “For we work night and day, so that we may not burden you even one, preaching to you the gospel of God.” He showed the excessiveness of his efforts, not only calling them labor and feat, but also adding night time to the days. 1 Thessalonians 2:10. You and God are witnesses of how holy, righteous and impeccable we acted before you, the believers. “You are also a witness to God, how reverently and righteously and blamelessly you have become believers.” This limitation shows us the accuracy of the expressions in the Apostolic Epistle, for he did not say: “we have proven blameless to all,” but: “to you who believe”; He added the testimony of God, because people know what is visible, and God also knows what is hidden from people. 1 Sol.2:11. Because you know how each of you is like the father of his children. 1 Sol.2:12. We have asked and urged and begged you to act worthy of God, who has called you to His Kingdom and glory. 1 Sol.2:13. Therefore, we also constantly thank God that, having received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as the word of God - as it truly is - which acts in you who believe. 1 Thessalonians 2:14. For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus which are in Judea, because you also suffered the same things from your fellow tribesmen as those from the Jews. 1 Thessalonians 2:15. Who killed the Lord Jesus and His prophets, and drove us out, and do not please God, and oppose all men. 1 Thessalonians 2:16. Who prevent us from telling the pagans to be saved, and through this they always fill the measure of their sins; but wrath is coming upon them to the end. “As I know that you alone are like the father of his children,” “pleading and comforting you, and testifying that you walk worthy of God, who has called you into His Kingdom and glory.” He also presented a new likeness and likened himself to his father, showing in many ways what kind of commitment he had to them. Very opportunely he used these three sayings: “pleadingly, comfortingly, testifyingly.” For it should not only provide consolation to those who are despondent, but also, with a reminder of threatening disasters, should frighten those who live carelessly. This is what I did, says the Apostle, exhorting you to choose a life worthy of God, who called you and promised you the Kingdom of Heaven. “For this reason, we thank God unceasingly, because having received the word of God’s hearing from us, we have received it not as the word of man, but as in truth it is the word of God, which works in you who believe.” Since he instilled fear with his testimony, he consoled him with praise. For he says: not as men, but as God, you received the teachings taught by us. Actual experience showed them to be the same, because they too, having been granted prophetic grace, prophesied, spoke in tongues and performed extraordinary miracles. And not only did the apostolic word point to this, but also to the dangers to which they were exposed from those who resisted. For this is shown by the added words. “For you have become like, brethren, the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus, and thus you also have suffered from your own people, just as you did from the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and their prophets, and those who drove us out, and those who did not please God, and those who opposed all men” (then he shows what the opposition consisted of), ("and") “Those who forbid us to speak with our tongues, may they be saved, so that they may always fulfill their sins: but wrath will come upon them to the end.” This example is sufficient for consolation, because the similarity in suffering serves as a contented incentive to be consoled. The apostolic word informs us that those who believed in Thessalonica suffered insults from infidels and were deprived of their property. And those in Judea who received the saving preaching suffered the same thing; for “wrath will come upon them to the end.” Until now they have not yet taken advantage of the calling. So blessed David said: “What God has you rejected to the end” (Ps. 73:1)? This: “all people who resist” should be understood this way: we are commanded to carry a saving sermon to the whole universe; They oppose us, therefore, they are hostile to all people. 1 Thessalonians 2:17. But we, brethren, having been separated from you for a short time in face, and not in heart, tried all the more eagerly to see your face. “But we, brethren, having become orphaned from you by the time of the hour in face, and not in heart, were too anxious to see your face with many desires.” The apostle likened himself to a mother who feeds and cherishes a baby, and then to a father who is tenderly disposed towards children, but now, like a youth who mourns premature orphanhood and looks for his parents, he says that, having been separated from them for a short time, he wants to see each other again. This addition is beautiful: “with my face, not my heart,” that is, I am deprived of a sensual view of you, but I constantly enjoy a spiritual view. 1 Thessalonians 2:18. And therefore we, I Paul, wanted to come to you once or twice, but Satan prevented us. “We would like to come to you, as Paul, once and twice, and Satan forbid us,” that is, zeal was prevented by continuous temptations, and they are usually raised by a common enemy. This is why the Apostle said that he forbade going to the Thessalonians. 1 Thessalonians 2:19. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of praise? Are you not also before our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 1 Thessalonians 2:20. For you are our glory and joy. “Who is our hope or joy or crown of praise? Are you not also before our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? You are our glory and joy." since he likened himself to a mother who is breastfeeding a baby, he expresses himself in decent words, because mothers of very young children usually call them hope, joy, and similar names. You might be interested in: