1 Thessalonians 2:4

Text (1 Thessalonians 2:4)

4 but even as we have been approved of God to be intrusted with the gospel, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God who proveth our hearts.

Translation and Paraphrase

4.

Instead (of our message being rooted in such wicked motives as we have just mentioned, we govern ourselves by this standard, namely that) just as we have been tested (and approved) by God to be entrusted with the good news, in (just) that manner we speak, not as (those who are) seeking to please men, but (seeking to please) God, who (constantly) tests our hearts (to see if we are sincere).

Notes (1 Thessalonians 2:4)

1.

To put this verse briefly, it says, We did and said only what God approved us to say. Paul did not preach anything motivated by deceit, uncleanness, or guile (1 Thessalonians 2:3), but only what God approved him to say.

2.

God told Jonah the prophet to preach unto Nineveh the preaching that I bid thee. (Jonah 3:2) God approved Jonah to preach only a certain message. Likewise God gave Paul a certain message to deliver. Paul delivered what he was supposed to, and nothing else. It is always a temptation to inject our own feelings, opinions, and hobbies into our preaching. We do well in our preaching not to go beyond what is written. (1 Corinthians 4:6; American Stan. Vers.). Speak where the Scriptures speak, and leave our own opinions out.

3.

The word translated allowed actually means approved, particularly that which is approved by testing. People test metals like gold by melting them over fire. If no impurities come to the top, then the gold is said to be tested or approved, or tried by fire. God likewise tests and approves us. No greater honor could come to us than to be approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.

To be put in trust with the gospel is the highest conceivable responsibility; the sense of it is enough to exclude every base motive and deceitful practice. (Findlay)

4.

There are two words in this verse that are translations of the same word. The King James version does not make this apparent. (Our translation indicates it.) The words are allowed and trieth.

(1)

Allowed (Gr., dedokimasmetha) means tested or approved.

(2)

Trieth (dokimadzonti) means tests.

God tests us for our ability and sincerity. If we measure up to His requirements, we are declared to be tested and approved to do whatever God sees fit.

5.

Many Scriptures teach us that God tests and tries human hearts, so as to know their innermost secrets. The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Jehovah trieth the hearts. (Proverbs 17:3; Amer. Stan. vers.) See also Jeremiah 11:20; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Romans 2:16.

6.

God's testing of our hearts is a continual thing. The verb trieth is in the present tense, indicating continuous action. God must continually test our hearts, for sin can creep into them at any time and change them from good to evil.

7.

It was always a joy to Paul to think that he had not only been forgiven for his fierce unbelieving past, but even entrusted with preaching the gospel he had once opposed. 1 Timothy 1:12: I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry. See also 1 Timothy 1:11; Ephesians 3:2-3; Ephesians 3:7-8.

8.

Since God had given Paul the gospel, Paul tried to please God, rather than men. There is much in the gospel that is distasteful to the natural manits humiliating exposure of our sin and helplessness, its demands for our acceptance of God's will, the fact that it claims to be the only unchangeable truth, and the severity of its judgments upon those who reject. A preacher can become popular by saying only what the people want to hear. See Isaiah 30:9-10; 2 Timothy 4:3-4. Paul would not do this, and we dare not do it either. Remember, God is testing our hearts continually!

9.

In one way, however, Paul did seek to please men. See 1 Corinthians 9:19-22, especially 1 Corinthians 9:22 b: I am become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. If Paul could gain the good will of people without compromising God's message, he certainly did so, even if that meant extra effort and discomfort to him. When he was among Jews, he ate Jewish food and lived like a Jew insofar as doing so did not violate the gospel. Thus also he did among Gentiles. By doing this, he was able to win more people.