1 Thessalonians 2:1

Paul’s Conduct

1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain.

2 But¹ even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at ^aPhilippi, as you know, we were ^bbold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.

3 ^aFor our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.

4 But as ^awe have been approved by God ^bto be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, ^cnot as pleasing men, but God ^dwho tests our hearts.

5 For ^aneither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a¹ cloak for covetousness—^bGod is witness.

6 ^aNor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when ^bwe might have ^cmade demands ^das apostles of Christ.

7 But ^awe were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased ^ato impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also ^bour own lives, because you had become dear to us.

9 For you remember, brethren, our ^alabor and toil; for laboring night and day, ^bthat we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

Commentaries:

Barnes' Notes

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1 Thessalonians 2:1

For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you - notes, I Thessalonians 1:9. Paul appeals to themselves for proof that they had not come among them as impostors. They had had a full opportunity to see them, and to know what influenced them. Paul frequently appeals to his own life, and to what they, among whom he labored, knew of it, as a full refutation of the slanderous accusations of his enemies; compare notes, I Corinthians 4:10-16; I Corinthians 9:19-27; II Corinthians 6:3-10. Every minister of the gospel ought so to live as to be able, when slanderously attacked, to make such an appeal to his people.

That it was not in vain - ̀ kenē This word means:

(1)"Empty, vain, fruitless," or without success;

(2)That in which there is no truth or reality - "false, fallacious;" Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 2:8.

Here it seems, from the connection I Thessalonians 2:3-5, to be used in the latter sense, as denoting that they were not deceivers. The object does not appear to be so much to show that their ministry was successful, as to meet a charge of their adversaries that they were impostors. Paul tells them that from their own observation they knew that this was not so.

Other Barnes' Notes entries containing 1 Thessalonians 2:1:

1 Thessalonians 1:1
1 Thessalonians 2:20
2 Timothy 3:10
1 John 4:6

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1 Thessalonians 2:2 >>

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Paul’s Conduct

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning