1 Thessalonians 2:1-20

When Jesus Christ comes

1 the Thessalonians

Ian Mackervoy

A word list is at the end. It explains words with a *star by them.

Chapter 2

How Paul and his friends came to Thessalonica 2:1-4

v1 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not in vain. v2 As you know, before we came to you, we had suffered and been insulted at *Philippi. But God gave us the courage to tell you his good news about Jesus, although it was a struggle. v3 Our appeal to you was sincere and we had no false intentions. What we said was the truth and we did not lie to you. v4 We always speak as God wants us to. This is because he has approved us and trusted us with his good news. We do not try to please people. We try to please God, who tests our hearts and minds.

Verse 1 The Christians at Thessalonica knew that the visit of these three was no failure and it was not in vain. The visit had been good. And it had achieved the purpose that God had for it. This was that many men and women should believe the good news about Jesus Christ. As a result, many came to know Jesus as the one who saved them from *sin. The experience so changed them that they went and told other people what the *Lord had done. Many more people believed in the *Lord through them and the good news spread through all that region.

The message about Jesus Christ did not come just in the words of Paul. Paul did not make it up. If that was all it was, it could not have achieved such a result. No, it was not just in words but it was in the power of the Holy Spirit. It really was what they claimed it to be. It was the truth and it came from God himself and with his power.

Verse 2 They reminded the Thessalonians how they first came to the city. They had come from the city of *Philippi. There Paul and Silas had suffered badly. The leaders of that city had stripped their clothes from them and whipped them in public. Then they threw them into a prison. The leaders did not even ask whether the charges made against Paul and Silas were true or false (Acts 16:19-24).

Just a few days later, they were in Thessalonica. Although they had suffered so much, they had the courage to go on telling the good news about Jesus Christ. God gave them the courage to be bold and to speak with confidence. Because they trusted in God, they were not afraid of what their enemies might do. They knew that God had sent them to tell what Jesus Christ had done. And he gave them the courage to do it.

With this confidence and courage, they told the Thessalonians the good news that comes from God. They spoke in plain language about the life and the death of the *Lord Jesus. This was God’s plan by which he would save people from their *sins and give them new life. This *gospel was not of human origin. It came from God himself. God was the author of it.

It was not an easy task to speak about the *Lord Jesus in Thessalonica. Many people tried to stop them. The *Jews especially were against them but there were a lot of other people as well. In the end, their enemies forced them to leave Thessalonica (Acts 17:5-10).

Verse 3 Paul and his friends *pleaded with the Thessalonians to *respond to the message that they brought from God. It was an appeal to turn from their wicked ways and turn to Christ.

Those who were against them accused Paul and his friends of many things. Among these were three false claims, which Paul, Silas and Timothy answered:

1 Paul and his friends were false and what they said was a lie. They tried to get the people to believe a story that was not true.

But Paul and his friends knew that the message was true and no lie. Their appeal was not from error. God had sent them to tell this message. What they urged the Thessalonians to believe was good news for all who would trust in Christ.

2 Then Paul’s enemies said that the intentions of Paul and his friends were not pure. They behaved badly and not in a proper way. They came to get some gain for themselves from the people.

Paul and his friends replied that this was not true. They were sincere and had no false intentions. They had come and passed on the message for the benefit of the Thessalonians. They had lived good and pure lives while among them.

3 The enemies said that these three had cheated the people to get them to believe. It was like catching fish by offering them something on a line. Their purpose was to make some gain out of those whom they cheated. What they could get was of more interest than the help that they could give.

Paul and his friends replied that they had no false intentions. They had come for the benefit of those who would believe. They had no other purpose in coming to Thessalonica. What they said was true and no lie. They were sincere when they spoke. They cheated no one and they did not look for anything for themselves.

Verse 4 What they taught was truth and not error. This was because what they said came from God. God had told them to go and tell people the *gospel of Jesus Christ. God had tested them and approved them. The Greek people used the words ‘tested’ and ‘approved’ for the process of proving the quality of metal. God himself had trusted them with the task of spreading this good news. They saw themselves as servants of God, who had sent them for this purpose. So, by what they said and how they lived, they always tried to obey the *Lord.

Paul, Silas and Timothy did what they could to help people. But they did not live to please them. They did not set out to be popular or to get power. But they worked hard to bring the benefits of the good news to people.

They loved and served God first. They saw themselves as the servants or slaves of Christ. Their aim was to please God and not *human beings. They served people because they loved and served God.

Only God can see into the hearts and minds of people. He knows all their secret thoughts. Paul and his friends knew that God tested their hearts and minds. He tested them to see what was good or bad in them. That is why they tried to please him rather than people. They called on God to support them because he knows that they told the truth.

Their attitude to the Thessalonians 2:5-8

v5 We never said nice things that were not true. You know that. What we did was not from a desire for selfish gain. God is our witness to this. v6 We did not try to get praise from you or from anyone else. As *apostles of Christ, we could have asked you to provide for us. v7 But we were gentle when we were with you, like a nurse caring for her little children. v8 We desired so much to help you that we were happy to share the good news from God with you. We also gave ourselves to you because we loved you.

Verse 5 Paul, Silas and Timothy never tried to achieve their purpose by saying things that were not true. People like to hear things that make them seem better than they are. But Paul and his friends never said those kinds of things to the people at Thessalonica. They did not try to get them to do what they wanted, by saying extra nice things to persuade them. Paul and his friends were always sincere in what they said. The Thessalonians themselves knew that this was true.

In all that Paul, Silas and Timothy said and did, they had no hidden intentions. They had no secret plans for their own benefit. Their one desire was to do what the *Lord had sent them to do. Both the Thessalonians and God know that this is so. It would be possible to hide their true intentions from the Thessalonians. But they could hide nothing from God. So, they say that God knows that this is true.

Verse 6 It did not matter to Paul, Silas and Timothy whether the people at Thessalonica approved of them or not. It was not important what men or women thought of them. They were servants of God and of the *Lord Jesus Christ. Their aim was to please God and they wanted him alone to approve of them.

We often use the word ‘*apostles’ to mean the 12 whom Jesus called to be his first team. Some time later the *Lord called Paul to be an *apostle. But here the word *apostles means those whom Christ sent to take the good news. So Silas and Timothy are also, with Paul, *apostles of Christ.

When Jesus sent his teams to take the good news and to heal the sick, he told them to take no food with them. They should stay in the homes of the people and eat what they gave them (Mark 6:7-13; Luke 9:1-6). He said that those who work deserve their wages (Luke 10:7). So the *apostles had the right to expect the people at Thessalonica to care for them. They could have expected to lodge with them and eat their food without cost. There may have been many reasons why Paul and his friends did not ask for this support. But the main one was that they did not want to be a financial cost to the people at Thessalonica. They wanted to be a good model for those who believed the good news (2 Thessalonians 3:9).

Verse 7 Paul and his friends had certainly not tried to make any gain from the people at Thessalonica. Instead, they had done all that they could for them. In all that they did, they were gentle, mild and kind. They were gentle as when a nurse cares for her own little children. To her they are very special. So, to Paul, Silas and Timothy, the Christians at Thessalonica were special, as if they were their own children.

Verse 8 Paul and his friends came to Thessalonica to tell the people the good news about Jesus Christ. They really wanted them to come to know and love the *Lord Jesus. They were happy to do anything to help the people at Thessalonica to believe that good news.

They wanted to share not only the good news but themselves as well. The *apostles were ready to give their lives for the Christians at Thessalonica. Paul and his friends felt this way about them because these Christians had become so dear to them.

How they lived among them 2:9-12

v9 Now you remember our labour and how hard we worked. We were busy day and night, as we told you the good news from God. This was so that we would not need to ask you for anything. v10 You know how we lived when we were with you Christians. You and God know how we lived holy, good and clean lives. v11 You also know how we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children. v12 We taught you, we comforted you. And we urged you to live the kind of lives that please God. You should do this because he chose you to share in his own *kingdom and *glory.

Verse 9 The proof of their love was the hard work that they did on behalf of the Thessalonians. They had to work hard to be able to keep themselves as they taught about the *Lord Jesus. The Thessalonians must have remembered that this was how they lived.

The letter does not say what type of work they did. It was a rule that all *Jewish boys had to learn a trade. Paul was a tent-maker (Acts 18:3). He would have worked at that to earn his wages in Thessalonica. Silas and Timothy did some type of physical work as well, perhaps tent-making with Paul.

They worked both in the day and at night. And, in between, they taught the people about Jesus. This must have been very tiring. But they were happy to do it because they loved the people at Thessalonica. They were eager to tell them the good news about God’s love for them. The reason for this constant work was to make the offer of the good news free to all and without cost.

Verse 10 Paul is certain that their consciences were clear in all that they did. They had carried out their work there as servants of God. At all times they tried to do what was right and what would please God. God would know if there was anything wrong in them. He knows that their attitudes and actions were right and good. The Thessalonians also knew the way that they behaved while they were there.

There were those who accused Paul, Silas and Timothy of bad behaviour. But those who believed in Jesus knew that they were not guilty of this.

Verses 11-12 They had been like fathers to them. They showed an interest in each one of them. They cared for and helped each of them. They were like fathers as they taught and trained them. They loved them as a father loves his children. They encouraged them to live good lives.

Most of the Christians at Thessalonica had *worshipped *idols before. They lived in a city where the normal way of life was not how Christians should live. They had to learn how they should now live. Instead of pleasing the *idols or themselves, they now had to live for God. Paul and his friends taught them what God expects from them. They gave them a model to follow in the way that they themselves lived. They helped and encouraged each one of them. They urged them to live clean and honest lives.

God had called them to share in his *kingdom and *glory. The *Lord Jesus spoke a lot about the *kingdom of God. He taught that the *kingdom of God had come near. And that was why people should *repent of their *sins (Matthew 3:2). Those who *repented of *sins became part of God’s *kingdom. They received the new life that God gives. This life is one over which God rules.

He taught that the *kingdom of God had come because he threw out *demons (Matthew 12:28). In the *Lord Jesus, the *kingdom of God came in power. He showed this by all that he did as he defeated the devil.

He also taught that the *kingdom of God was still to come (Mark 9:1). We do not see God ruling in power over all the world. But when Jesus comes again, he will bring in the full rule of God on earth. The *kingdom of God will come and God will rule the world.

He taught that the *kingdom of God is inside you (Luke 17:21). Where God is the *Lord, there is his *kingdom. All who believe in the *Lord Jesus have this *kingdom in them.

Paul here is thinking about the *kingdom that is still to come. He looks beyond the time when Jesus will come. The *kingdom of God will be the home of those who know God. That *kingdom will never end. It will be full of the *glory of God. And those who believe will live in that wonderful place.

Thanks to God for their *response 2:13-16

v13 There is another reason why we do not stop thanking God. We thank him for the way that you accepted his message. You heard it from us. But you accepted it for what it is. It is not just the words of *human beings. It is the true message of God. God, by his word, is working in you, who believe it. v14 Brothers and sisters, you became like the churches of God in *Judea. The *Jews *persecuted them, because they belonged to Christ Jesus. In the same way, those of your own country *persecute you. v15 It was the *Jews who killed the *Lord Jesus and their own *prophets. They also forced us out of their cities. They do not please God and they are against all people. v16 They tried to stop us from speaking God’s message of *salvation to those who were not *Jews. In this way they have always heaped up their own *sins. But now God’s anger has at last come upon them!

Verse 13 The *apostles thank God for the manner in which the Thessalonians received the word of God. They heard what Paul, Silas and Timothy told them. And they believed it. They turned from their *idols. They accepted the truth and trusted in God.

As they were listening to the *apostles, they did not take what they heard as the words of men. They knew that what Paul and his friends told them was really the word of God.

Some did not believe. Some of them claimed that what Paul and his friends said was of human origin. But the *apostles spoke with certainty and power because they knew that they had the message from the *Lord. That is why they insisted that it was the word of God. It encouraged them. And they thanked God when the Thessalonians accepted the good news as the word of God.

The word of God does things. It works in those who believe it. By his word, God affects the lives of those who believe. He changes their thoughts and actions. As a result of this work, the Christians at Thessalonica had turned from *idols to the God who lives. With joy, they told other people about the good news about Jesus Christ. They were even happy when they had to suffer for the *Lord Jesus Christ.

The change in the Thessalonians was sure evidence that what the *apostles taught was the word of God. The words of *human beings, with powerful speech or clever words, could not have done this.

God’s word was changing their lives. This fact proved that their trust in God was genuine.

Verse 14 Those in Thessalonica, who did not believe the good news *persecuted those who did. But the Christians were ready and willing to suffer for Christ. This was further proof that their trust in God was genuine. It was a normal part of the Christians’ life to suffer for believing in the word of God. Their experience was the same as that of all Christians at that time.

Since the time of *Stephen, there had been *persecution of the church in *Judea. Paul (his name was Saul before he became a Christian) was there when the rulers of the *Jews killed *Stephen. He was looking after the clothes of those who were throwing the stones (Acts 7:56-58; Acts 8:1). He was active in trying to destroy the church (Acts 8:3). There was then a time of much *persecution of the churches in *Judea.

In the way that they suffered, the Christians at Thessalonica had become like those in *Judea. They did not choose to suffer like that. But they now had the same bad experience that the *Judean church had. The *Jews hated the *Lord Jesus Christ. So they tried to destroy the Christians in *Judea. In Thessalonica, both the *Jews and the *Gentiles in that city tried to destroy the Christians. Their own people caused them to suffer.

Verse 15 The *Jews brought Jesus to Pontius Pilate, who was the *Roman ruler in *Jerusalem. They used Pilate to bring about the death of Jesus. Pilate’s soldiers killed him but the *Jews were responsible for it. The *Gospels tell us about this in Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 23 and John 18 and 19.

The *Jews here are the chief priest and the leaders. It is not the *Jewish people as a whole. The writers are not against the *Jews. Paul and Silas were *Jews and so were most of the first Christians. Jesus was a *Jew and all his work on earth was among the *Jews. So the leaders of the *Jews killed Jesus, who was one of their own nation.

It was not only Jesus, whom the leaders of the *Jews killed. In their past history they had killed the *prophets (Acts 7:52).

Paul, Silas and Timothy went first to the *Jews in Thessalonica. Those among the *Jews who would not believe that Jesus was the Christ caused the troubles there. But it was as much the *Gentiles as the *Jews who were the enemies of the church.

The *Jews turned the local leaders against Paul and his friends. They drove them out of their cities. The *apostles had to leave Thessalonica and went to *Beroea (Acts 17:5-10). The *Jews came there and caused trouble. So Paul had to go from there (Acts 17:13-14). In each place that Paul went the leaders of the *Jews were against him.

In what they did and the way that they lived the *Jews did not please God. They thought that they were doing God’s will. They thought that Jesus was not the Christ and therefore was false. So they were against the good news about Jesus Christ. They tried to stop this message from spreading. They became enemies of the God whom they thought that they served.

By what they did, they opposed the purposes of God. They opposed God in his desire to save the *Gentiles. They did not believe in the *Lord Jesus Christ. They tried to stop both *Gentiles and *Jews from believing in him.

Verse 16 The *Jews believed that the *salvation from God was for them and those who became *Jews. They did not accept that this *salvation was through Jesus Christ. They looked for the Christ (the *Messiah), who would come one day to deliver them. They could not see that Jesus is that Christ.

They were angry that Paul, Silas and Timothy taught that *salvation is through Jesus who is the Christ. They were angry that Paul and his friends offered this good news to the *Gentiles. They did all they could to stop Paul and his friends. But they could not prevent the spread of the good news, because it was God who sent it.

The *Jews had, over the years, piled up *sin upon *sin. They *persecuted the church in *Judea and here in Thessalonica. Before this, they had killed the Christ and the *prophets. They were adding to their wrong doing against God who, as their judge, has declared them guilty. The time for their punishment had come.

They had refused to accept God’s Son. They had killed him. And now they *persecuted those who believed in him. God’s anger had at last reached its limit. He was so angry with them that he would soon punish them. There was now no escape for them from the anger of God.

Desire to visit them again 2:17-20

v17 Brothers and sisters, as for us, we had to leave you for a little while. We are now absent from you in person but not in thought. We tried so hard and with such great desire to be with you again. v18 We wanted to return to you. I, Paul, myself tried to come more than once, but *Satan stopped us. v19 You will be our hope, our joy, and our crown of *glory. That will be when our *Lord Jesus comes. v20 This is because you are our *glory and joy.

Verse 17 They ‘had to leave’ means that they felt like parents who had lost their children. It was as if their enemies had torn them away from the ones that they loved. They hoped that this forced absence would not be for long.

Their thoughts were always with their brothers and sisters. They could not now be with them but they loved them very much.

They were eager to be with them again. They had a real desire to get back to Thessalonica. They wanted so much to see them that they tried many times to come. But, although they tried so hard, they failed to achieve their desire.

Verse 18 All three of them wanted to return to Thessalonica. But only Timothy had been able to. He had been back to see how they were (1 Thessalonians 3:2).

Now Paul, who was the main writer, speaks for himself. Paul emphasises that he had tried more than once to get to them. He had tried several times but each time he had failed.

Each time they tried, *Satan had prevented Paul and Silas from getting there. They do not say how *Satan stopped them. The main task of *Satan is to stop people trusting in God. He also works to limit the effect of those who do trust God.

Verse 19 The writers look forward to the time when the *Lord Jesus will come. Then the *Lord will judge what they have done. And then he will give them his rewards.

Then they will see completed what they now hope to see. That hope was that the Thessalonians would continue to trust in God. Then, when Jesus comes, these Christians will be there. They are confident that God will complete the work that he has started in these Christians at Thessalonica.

Paul and his companions love them and are proud of them. They will see those who came to Jesus through them stand before the *Lord. Then they will experience much joy. The Thessalonian Christians will be the cause of their joy. They will be so proud of them. And they will be happy that God used them to bring these to know the *Lord Jesus.

The Thessalonians standing there will be like a crown to Paul, Silas and Timothy. They will be like the crown that was the reward for the winner in a race. That will be the perfect result of all their labour. The Thessalonians will be the sign and proof of the success of their work.

Verse 20 The Thessalonians are the reason why Paul and his companions can be proud. They are happy because they know and love them. They are confident that these Thessalonians will be there in heaven with them.

This publication is written in EasyEnglish Level B (2800 words)

Philippi ~ a city in Macedonia.
Macedonia ~ the northern part of present day Greece; see Achaia.
Achaia ~ the southern part of present day Greece, see Macedonia.
sin ~ sin is the wrong things that we do; to sin is to do wrong, bad or evil; not to obey God.
Lord ~ a title for God, or Jesus, to show that he is over all people and things.
gospel ~ the good news that God saves people from sin through Jesus Christ.
sin ~ sin is the wrong things that we do; to sin is to do wrong, bad or evil; not to obey God.
Jews ~ people who were born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children.
plead ~ to ask with a strong appeal.
respond ~ to reply to an appeal.
humans ~ people.
apostle ~ one whom God sends; especially one of the 12 that Jesus chose to be his helpers.
kingdom ~ the place or territory where a king rules.
glory ~ great honour and beauty.
Jewish ~ people or things that are from the Jews.
Jews ~ people who were born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children.
worship ~ the act of showing honour to God (or an idol) with praise, thanks and respect.
idols ~ objects of worship instead of God.
idols ~ objects of worship instead of God.
worship ~ the act of showing honour to God (or an idol) with praise, thanks and respect.
repent ~ to change one’s mind and heart, to turn away from sin and turn to God. To turn one’s mind and heart away from sin is to repent.
sin ~ sin is the wrong things that we do; to sin is to do wrong, bad or evil; not to obey God.
demons ~ bad or evil spirits that work for the devil.
response ~ the action in reply to an appeal.
Judea ~ the land of the Jews.
Jews ~ people who were born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children.
persecute ~ to attack and hurt people because they believe in Christ.
prophet ~ person who speaks for God. He can sometimes say what will happen in the future.
salvation ~ the result of God saving us from sin and punishment; the new life that God gives to those who believe in the Lord Jesus.
sin ~ sin is the wrong things that we do; to sin is to do wrong, bad or evil; not to obey God.
Lord ~ a title for God, or Jesus, to show that he is over all people and things.
Stephen ~ the first person to be killed because he believed in Jesus Christ.
persecution ~ the actions of enemies of God who hurt people because they believe in Christ.
Gentiles ~ people who are not Jews.
Jews ~ people who were born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children.
Roman ~ Rome was the capital city of the rulers at that time. That which belonged to Rome was Roman.
Jerusalem ~ the capital city of Israel.
Israel ~ the country of the Jews.
Jews ~ people who were born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children.
Gospels ~ the first four books of the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

New Testament ~ the last part of the Bible, which the writers wrote after the life of Jesus. It is about Jesus’ works and the things that he taught and about the church.
church ~ (1) all Christians; (2) members of a local group.
Beroea ~ a city in Macedonia.
Macedonia ~ the northern part of present day Greece; see Achaia.
Achaia ~ the southern part of present day Greece, see Macedonia.
Messiah ~ God promised the Jews that a special person would come to save them. That person is the Messiah. Jesus is that Messiah but the Jews did not believe it. Messiah is a Hebrew word. In the Greek language, the word is Christ. The word in both languages means anointed; that is God chose him and sent him.
Jews ~ people who were born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children.
Hebrew ~ the language of the Jews.
Greek ~ the language that Paul and his friends used to write this letter.
Satan ~ the name of the devil.