1 Thessalonians 2:1
HIS MANNER OF PREACHING, AND THEIRS OF RECEIVING, THE GOSPEL; HIS DESIRE TO HAVE REVISITED THEM FRUSTRATED BY SATAN. (1Th. 2:1-20)
For—confirming I Thessalonians 1:9. He discusses the manner of his fellow missionaries' preaching among them (I Thessalonians 1:5, and former part of I Thessalonians 2:9) at I Thessalonians 2:1-12; and the Thessalonians' reception of the word (compare I Thessalonians 1:6-7, and latter part of I Thessalonians 2:9) at I Thessalonians 2:13-16.
yourselves—Not only do strangers report it, but you know it to be true [ALFORD] "yourselves."
not in vain—Greek, "not vain," that is, it was full of "power" (I Thessalonians 1:5). The Greek for "was," expresses rather "hath been and is," implying the permanent and continuing character of his preaching.
