1 Thessalonians 2:5

“For neither at any time were we found using words of flattery, as ye know, nor. cloak of covetousness, God is witness”

“At any time”: “Never once did we try” (Tay). “Cover the whole period. No room is left for exceptions” (Morris p. 73). “Words of flattery”: “Language of flattery” (TCNT). “Flattery which flatters in order to get something” (Barclay p. 221). “They had not descended to flattery in order to make the gospel acceptable” (Vincent p. 23). Carefully note that Paul believed that the gospel message did not need any improvement. He completely rejected smooth and flattering speech as. method to spread this message (1 Corinthians 2:1). Fields notes, “Good-will gained through flattery will not stand the tests that brotherly love produced by conversion will stand (Proverbs 28:23)” (p. 57). “As ye know”: Paul often repeats this expression in this section (1 Thessalonians 2:1). Stott notes, “Paul's ministry in Thessalonica had been public. It was exercised in the open before God and human beings, for he had nothing whatever to hide. Happy are those Christian leaders today, who hate hypocrisy and love integrity, who have nothing to conceal or be ashamed of” (Stott p. 47). “Nor. cloak of covetousness”: “Pretext for greed” (Rhm). “Nor to any pretext for self-seeking” (Mof). “Here Paul denies that evangelism had been simply. cover for an underlying covetousness” (Morris pp. 73-74). See Matthew 12:40; 2 Peter 2:3. “The world of the Greeks was full of teachers and philosophers who traveled about lecturing and disputing, seeking to live by their wits. Notice Acts 13:6; Acts 19:13” (Fields pp. 57-58). “P retending to serve while in reality wishing to be served” (Stott p. 51).

In making this defense, Paul is admitting that other people did behave in such underhanded ways. Paul was not naive, and neither did he have something good to say about everyone. He realized that the world contained many false teachers (2 Corinthians 11:13). Here is motivation for the teacher or preacher. Our lives must be completely free of ulterior motives, because so many impostors do exist (1 John 4:1).

“God is witness”: See 2 Corinthians 1:23; Romans 9:1; 1 Peter 1:8). This is. solemn oath to his own truthfulness.