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1 Thessalonians 2:1. You yourself know, brethren, about our entrance to you, that it was not inactive; Great, says the apostle, are your exploits: only we did not use human words, and our entry was not ineffective, that is, without dangers and temptations, and generally without troubles. For, as has been said many times, dangers strengthen faith; without them it would be futile. 1 Thessalonians 2:2. but, having first suffered and been reproached in Philippi, as you know, we dared in our God to preach to you the gospel of God with great feat. Having escaped the dangers at Philippi, we again fell into other dangers with you. Look how he again attributes everything to God, saying: “they have bolded in our God,” that is, those who are animated by Him. 1 Thessalonians 2:3. For in our teaching there is no error, That is, our teaching is not a deception. For those who deceive do not expose themselves to dangers, but rather indulge in luxury: but I exposed myself to dangers. From here, therefore, it is clear that my teaching does not deceive, and that I do not accept dangers for human affairs, but for divine and immutable ones. That is, I do not teach anything unclean, as magicians and wizards teach. No desire for disturbances and revolutions, as the followers of Theudas do. 1 Thessalonians 2:4. but since God has deigned to entrust us with the gospel, so we say, God, he says, has made us worthy and chosen us to entrust us with the Gospel: He would not have chosen us if He had not found us worthy. Therefore, we remain as worthy as we were chosen by Him for such a great preaching. pleasing not men, but God, who tests: (δοκιμάζοντι) our hearts. That is, we do all this not in order to please you, but wanting to please God, who tests the mysteries (for δοκιμάζειν now means), or because He comprehends hearts and gives crowns. No deceiver, wicked or wicked person can please Him. 1 Thessalonians 2:5. For we never had a word of endearment before you, as you know, Since he had previously praised them, so that the praise would not become suspicious, he says: I have never flattered you (which is characteristic of deceivers), and now I do not flatter you. no kind of self-interest: God is my witness! And it was not out of passion for money that we preached. That I did not flatter you, and you are witnesses, and that I am not selfish, God is my witness; for you do not know this. 1 Thessalonians 2:6. We do not seek human glory either from you or from others: He did not say: we endured dishonor, or: we did not use honor, so that this would not seem to them a reproach, but: we did not seek honor, although the sermon really demanded this. For if we honor the royal ambassadors with great honor, then we should honor the messengers of God much more. Therefore, how can we do anything for the sake of glory, when as teachers we did not desire honor either from you or from others? 1 Thessalonians 2:7. we could appear with importance as the Apostles of Christ, Or: in honor, glory and contentment; or: we could take from you and eat, and be a burden to you. For our dignity required this, to take from you. “Quiet”, that is, meek, unburdensome. Or: “quiet” (νήπιοι) “among you,” that is, gentle, unambitious. For a gentle person does not think of anything like that. The expression “among you” has the following meaning: in treating you I was the same as you, as if I had not received a higher appointment. just as a nurse treats her children tenderly. Here the apostle shows his tender love. Does the nurse flatter the child? Is she looking for money from the little ones? “So a teacher should be meek and love those who insult him, just as a nurse loves her children, even if they beat her.” 1 Thessalonians 2:8. So we, out of zeal for you, wanted to convey to you not only the gospel of God, but also our souls. Όμειρόμενοι υμών, that is, attached to you and caring for you, from όμοϋ (together) εϊρω (I unite). (Further, Blessed Theophylact says: some read: ίμειρόμενοι, that is, willingly, but this is incorrect). Therefore, not only, says the apostle, we did not take anything from you, but we “desired”, that is, we strongly desire to drain even our souls for you, if necessary. Therefore, giving the gospel is a most precious thing, but giving your soul is much more difficult and is a matter of extraordinary love, such is his conclusion. because you have become kind to us. So that it does not seem that he is talking about all this because he worked for them, and therefore should enjoy honor from them, he says: I do this for no other reason than love. For I do not seek reward, but do everything for the sake of duty itself. 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. He did not say: remember our good deeds, but “labor,” and not just, but also “exhaustion,” that is, labor with great diligence. And not only during the day, but also at night. This is what zeal and what care is, so as not to tempt anyone! The words “so as not to burden any of you” shows that the Thessalonians were in poverty. 1 Thessalonians 2:10. You and God are witnesses, God is a reliable witness, but since people do not know whether God testifies to this, he calls those to whom the word is addressed as witnesses. Doing everything that must be done, for this means “holy”, instead of the expression: with the fear of God. That is, without extorting money from anyone - απαιτούντες χρημάτων άπαιτ σεσι. 1 Without insulting or giving rise to temptation. we acted before you believers, Whereas among the infidels the apostle was called godless and a deceiver, an idle talker and completely reckless. 1 Thessalonians 2:11. because you know. Again he calls them witnesses - a sign that he speaks without any arrogance. like each of you, like the father of his children, 1 Thessalonians 2:12. we asked and convinced It’s amazing how he didn’t leave anyone without consolation, but told everyone what they needed! They “asked” that everything be endured courageously. Therefore, he says, I did not seek fame. Above, the apostle likened himself to a nurse, now he likens himself to his father, showing his love, power and his simplicity. For what kind of father behaves proudly in front of his children? and begged you to act worthy of God, who has called you to His Kingdom and glory. To beg (in the Slavic text - “to testify”) is already a sign of very strict instruction. Therefore, he says, I did not flatter. After he said: “like a father,” he added the word: “begged” (“testifying”). For not strictly, he says, but as the fathers (witnessing) “to act worthy of God.” See how he, narrating what happened before, teaches and convinces. For if God calls us into the Kingdom, then everything must be endured. 1 Thessalonians 2:13. Therefore, we unceasingly 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 - Here the apostle also praises the Thessalonians. It cannot be said, he says, that we alone act impeccably in everything, and you showed something incompatible with what I taught you; for you did not listen to us with the same disposition with which people listen, but you listened to us as if God Himself was instructing you. The apostle calls the “heard word of God” the sermon that is believed through hearing. “How can we believe in Him of whom we have not heard?” (Rom.10:14). which works in you who believe. How can it be seen that you accepted my preaching as the word of God? From your actions, he says, that is, it is revealed in deeds. If you had accepted her differently, you would not have endured so many trials so courageously. For just as the apostle himself proves by the dangers he endured that he is not a flatterer or a deceiver, so their measure is revealed by the fact that they endured disasters. 1 Thessalonians 2:14. For you, brothers, have become imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus which are in Judea, So that anyone would not understand by the churches in Judea the synagogues of the Jews, he therefore added: “in Christ Jesus” in order to more clearly show what is being said about the churches of believers. because you also suffered the same from your fellow tribesmen as those from the Jews, Great consolation! For if the Jews, zealots of the fatherly law, having once believed, suffered so much, how much more must you? It is no small proof of the truth of the Gospel that the Jews willingly suffer for what they themselves formerly persecuted. 1 Thessalonians 2:15. who also killed the Lord Jesus And is it surprising that they insulted their fellow tribesmen when they killed the Lord? Look what a consolation it is to be a fellow member of Christ in suffering! Therefore, Paul always points this out in temptations. But someone will say that they did not recognize the Lord. So what? Have they not recognized their own prophets, whose books they carry everywhere? How did they kill them too? From this it is obvious that they do nothing as zealots of the truth, but rather rage against the truth. Apostles, your teachers. Therefore, you, the disciples, must endure everything, having these examples before your eyes. For how could they please Him whose Son they killed, and before that they also killed the prophets? and all men are opposed, 1 Thessalonians 2:16. who hinder us from telling the Gentiles to be saved, For if the salvation of the entire universe must be preached, and they oppose this, then they are the common enemies of the universe. Only extreme envy tends to hinder general salvation. and through this they always fill the measure of their sins; This, he says, was done to the ancient prophets, then to Christ, and finally to us, to show that they are in a hurry to reach the full measure of sins, their extreme limit. but wrath is coming upon them to the end. That is, for them there will be no more than what was before, there will be no return from captivity and they will not take possession of their land, but until the end, the wrath of God will remain on them. The word "wrath" (ή όργ ") with the article shows that they deserve it, that it is intended and predicted. Having consoled the Thessalonians by pointing out that they had many accomplices in temptations, he now also consoles them by pointing out that their oppressors will be punished. 1 Thessalonians 2:17. But we, brothers, were separated from you for a short time Here the apostle speaks of love. Above he said: “like a father of children” (v. 11) and: “like a nurse” (v. 7), and here “having been separated” (in the Slavic text - “orphaned”), which is typical of children looking for parents. This is so that we understand from this how much he loved them. But at the same time, it also hints at the sadness in which he was due to separation. And it cannot be said, he says, that we remain apart for a long time; on the contrary, it is relatively short and small, so that it can be counted in almost one hour. And, moreover, he says, we were separated not by heart, but by face. But even though we carry you constantly in our hearts, we experience grief that we are deprived of the opportunity to see you physically. Notice also that those who love deeply have a need to see their loved ones in person, which makes their love even stronger. the more eagerly we tried to see your face. Most of all I cared about seeing those left for a short time. Pay attention to love: I don’t want to come for anything else, he says, but to see your face. 1 Thessalonians 2:18. And therefore we, I Paul, wanted to come to you once or twice, but Satan prevented us. What are you saying? Does Satan forbid? That's right; for it was not the work of God. The Epistle to the Romans says that God prevented (Rom. 1:13, 15:22); and Luke says that the Spirit hindered them (Acts 16:6); and in the Epistle to the Corinthians he says that it was the work of the Spirit (see 2 Cor. 1:15, 22). Here it is simple that this is the work of Satan, who brings strong and sudden temptations, of course, with the permission of God. Look how proud he is of his love, showing that he loved them more than anyone, which is why he says: “I am Paul,” that is, although others wanted to come to you with me, I even decided. 1 Thessalonians 2:19. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of praise? Are these not the words of mothers, burning with the most tender love, talking to small children? The word “crown” was not enough for him to show his ardor, but he also added “praise.” For in you, he says, I hope that for your sake I will be worthy of great boldness before Christ, and joy for the sake of the very thing that you are now, and then you will be for me a “crown of praise,” that is, a crown of brilliant glory. Are you not also before our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? So what? Are the Thessalonians alone your hope, Saint Paul? No, they are not alone. That’s why he said: “and you,” showing that there were others. 1 Thessalonians 2:20. For you are our glory and joy. How glorious it is to bring such a church to Christ, and such a well-crafted one at that! Migne, in a footnote, gives preference to another reading of this passage according to the Codex S. Marci Veneti. Instead of άπαιτοΰντες there is άδικοΰντες, that is, not offending anyone by demanding money. The first reading he finds disagrees with either the meaning or the grammatical rules. Blzh. Theophylact reads: “and his own prophets” - και τους Ιδίους προφ τας. You might be interested in: