1 THESSALONIANS 2
Part One
Make sure you read chapter 2 several times. It is a very short chapter. Remember our discussion about making observations. Read the chapter trying to see what Paul is saying to this young church.
Since this is our first stab at this, I have tried to divide the homework up into two sections—an easier and a more challenging. If you are new to studying your Bible feel free to stay on the easier section. The third section stresses application of what we are learning. Someone once said that Bible study without application is spiritual abortion.
We will probably discuss the first four verses of the chapter. To make your life easy, I have included the second chapter in the New American Standard Version.
[1] For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain, [2] but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition. [3] For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; [4] but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.
[5] For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed – God is witness – [6] nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority. [7] But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. [8] Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. [9] For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. [10] You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; [11] just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, [12] so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
[13] For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. [14] For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, [15] who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men, [16] hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins But wrath has come upon them to the utmost.
[17] But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short while — in person, not in spirit — were all the more eager with great desire to see your face. [18] For we wanted to come to you — I, Paul, more than once — and yet Satan hindered us. [19] For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? [20] For you are our glory and joy.
SECTION ONE: 1 Thessalonians 101
1. What is Paul’s main point in 2:1-4?
2. How does Paul’s persistence to preach the gospel in the midst of persecution support the validity of his message?
3. Why does Paul remind the Thessalonian readers that his motives were not driven by error, impurity, or deceit?
4. If the Thessalonians accepted Paul’s message, why is he now defending his message and motives so quickly after he’s left them?
5. Why is it important that Paul preached to please God rather than men?
6. Do men who claim to be Christians make their livings by teaching messages that please men, driven by motives of error, impurity, or deceit?
7. If Paul was willing to become all things to all men (cf. 1 Cor. 9:22), why did he emphasize that he didn’t seek to please men in this passage?
8. Why was Paul willing to endure beatings, to work for his own money, demanding nothing of his listeners, to submit his heart and motives to the Living God, risking reputation and life, simply to proclaim this message?
SECTION TWO: 1 Thessalonians 401
1. There are two possible interpretations of “not in vain” (v1):
a) Paul’s teachings were not hollow or empty; and
b) Paul’s teachings were not ineffective.
What would be the emphasis of each of these translations? Which do you think was Paul’s point in v. 2:1?
2. In what way is the “gospel” in v.2 “of God”? Why?
3. The Greek word for “appeal” in v.3 is paraklesis, similar to the word used to describe the Holy Spirit as a “comforter”. What are some of the other ways this word is translated in the New Testament?
SECTION THREE: APPLICATION
1. What sacrifices do we make individually to insure the Gospel is not only heard but that it is received in word and power? Are we willing to endure persecution? Do we live a life worthy of the gospel? Or, does our lifestyle negate any claims we make by proclaiming the Gospel?
2. Do we preach the Gospel in its pure, unadulterated form, or do we attempt to water it down to make it pleasing to wicked men?
3. What one time killer can we remove from our life so that we may more boldy proclaim the Gospel to those around us? Or, what one impure thing must we remove before those who hear our words will believe the Gospel has power to save?
I’ve held off for some time on upgrading to an iPhone. The tax for leaving Verizon was too high, and AT&T’s network is not desirable, especially around West Michigan. So I was rather pleased when Verizon announced the coming of the Motorola Droid. I was excited because I’ve been an avid user of Google products (Google Apps for your Domain, gmail, Picasa, etc), and because it’s an open platform with a fairly simple development environment.
