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1 Thessalonians 2

In brief

In 1 Thessalonians 2, Paul recalls how he and his companions announced the gospel in Thessalonica: without flattery, without greed, to please God, who tests our hearts. He describes his conduct with two images, that of a nursing mother full of tenderness and that of a father who exhorts. He thanks God that the Thessalonians received the word as the word of God. He speaks of their sufferings, his desire to see them again and the joy they are to him.

The chapter in 4 parts

  1. v. 1-6A gospel announced without flattery, to please God
  2. v. 7-12The tenderness of a nursing mother and the exhortation of a father
  3. v. 13-16The word of God received and suffering shared
  4. v. 17-20The desire to see the Thessalonians again: Paul's hope and joy

1For you yourselves know, brothers, our visit to you wasn’t in vain,

2but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi, we grew bold in our God to tell you the Good News of God in much conflict.

3For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception.

4But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak: not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts.

5For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness),

6nor seeking glory from men (neither from you nor from others), when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ.

7But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

8Even so, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you, not the Good News of God only, but also our own souls, because you had become very dear to us.

9For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail; for working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached to you the Good News of God.

10You are witnesses with God how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you who believe.

11As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and implored every one of you, as a father does his own children,

12to the end that you should walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own Kingdom and glory.

13For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe.

14For you, brothers, became imitators of the assemblies of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus; for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews

15who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out, and don’t please God, and are contrary to all men,

16forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, to fill up their sins always. But wrath has come on them to the uttermost.

17But we, brothers, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence, not in heart, tried even harder to see your face with great desire,

18because we wanted to come to you—indeed, I, Paul, once and again—but Satan hindered us.

19For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isn’t it even you, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?

20For you are our glory and our joy.

Key verses

Verse 4
But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak: not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts.

Paul states that God has entrusted him with the gospel and that he therefore speaks to please God and not people. He knows he is examined by God, who tests our hearts.

Verse 7
But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

Paul chooses the image of a nursing mother who cherishes her children. It shows a ministry of gentleness and closeness rather than of authority.

Verse 11-12
As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and implored every one of you, as a father does his own children, to the end that you should walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own Kingdom and glory.

After the image of the mother comes that of the father: exhorting, comforting and urging them to walk in a way worthy of God, who calls them into his kingdom.

Verse 13
For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe.

Paul rejoices that the Thessalonians received the message as the word of God, and not as the word of men. It works in those who believe.

Bible verses to meditate on

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What the sermons say

The Word of God: A Powerful SeedThe sermon cites verses 3 and 4: God has approved believers to be entrusted with the gospel, so life must be worthy of obedience, even before fine words.Read the summary →God Is Also Like a Mother to UsThe message takes the image from verse 7, the gentle nursing mother, to show that God also has maternal traits: he teaches and corrects with gentleness.Read the summary →Jehovah Jireh: Your Extremity Meets the LORD Who ProvidesThe sermon opens with verse 13: a word received as the word of God and not as the word of a human being is the one that works in the person who believes.Read the summary →Keeping Your Hands Raised to Defeat AmalekThe sermon cites verse 18, where Paul says Satan hindered him from coming, to speak about the opposition that the work of God meets.Read the summary →

Frequently asked questions about 1 Thessalonians 2

What does the comparison with a nursing mother mean in 1 Thessalonians 2:7?

Paul compares his attitude toward the Thessalonians to that of a nursing mother who tenderly cares for her children. He means that he did not come with authority, but with gentleness and affection, ready to give not only the gospel but his own life. The image helps us understand a ministry founded on love.

What is the main message of 1 Thessalonians 2?

Paul recalls the sincerity of his ministry: he announced the gospel to please God, with gentleness, working night and day so as not to burden anyone. He rejoices in the faith of the Thessalonians, who received the word as the word of God despite persecution. The chapter shows a model of humble and affectionate pastoral service.

What does Paul mean when he says the word of God works in us in verse 13?

Paul thanks God that the Thessalonians received his message not as a human word, but as the word of God itself. He adds that it works in those who believe. The verse affirms the authority of Scripture and its ability to transform the life of the person who receives it with faith.

Articles quoting 1 Thessalonians 2

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World English Bible translation — public domain.