The Motive and Conduct of a Man of God I Thessalonians 2:1-20 Part I
In this chapter, Paul’s critics were at their best. There are those who are always trying to undermine the good that you are doing. Paul had his critics during his lifetime, and so do we! The two main charges against this grand apostle were unworthy motives and questionable behavior. These same two charges are basically the ones that our critics are discussing about us, even more so as the Lord is progressing our ministries. Some critics are constantly resisting the advancements in our ministries, and they will do anything to attempt to destroy the credibility and integrity of the minister which God is using at the time.
As we related in our last article, the great Apostle Paul really cherished this church. The believers were “living out the gospel message” to such an extent that everyone in their region and beyond heard about their new-found faith. What a marvelous church! Our text I Thessalonians 2:1-20 may be outlined as follows: I. Paul’s Ministry Being Scrutinized – I Thessalonians 2:1-12; II. Paul’s Ministry Involving Suffering – I Thessalonians 2:13-20.
- Paul’s Ministry Being Scrutinized – I Thessalonians 2:1-12
Now, in Chapter 2, their spiritual father in the faith, the Apostle Paul, was greatly criticized for having unfit motives and unsound behavior as an apostle. Paul will defend himself by stating that his ministry among them produced results – that is, it resulted in the transformation of lives (v.1). He was not in the ministry for any glory because in Philippi he was “shamefully treated (v.2), for he was imprisoned with Silas, but God brought about their release (Acts 16). He left Philippi and came to Thessalonica, and after three Sabbath days, he had to leave these believers prematurely because of a riot that broke out in the city. He went on to Berea, and the same Jews that dogged his trial in Thessalonica gave him problems in Berea. He left Berea and came to Athens, where he came into contact with the philosophers there.
Everywhere Paul placed his feet on the soil of Europe, he was constantly combating those forces that didn’t receive the gospel message. Paul claims that he was not in the ministry for the glory of it because his ministry was one of suffering (v. 2). Then, Paul defends his message by stating that it was not of “deceit.” In other words, it was an errorless message – based solely on the truth. In this verse (v. 3), he also argues that his motives were worthy, for he uses the expression “nor of uncleanness.” He goes on to say that his dealings among them were honest, for he uses the expression “nor of guile” (v. 3).
In essence, Paul stresses that there weren’t any underhanded methods he employed, but he was sincere as he ministered to them. Under such tremendous attack from his critics, Paul steadfastly defended himself, never thinking about renouncing the gospel message that he preached. Certainly, preaching the gospel message with sincerity will cause the messenger much pain, but he cannot refuse to preach it because of opposition from critics. He must continue to preach the gospel despite being severely attacked by others. God will give you the boldness to withstand your critics! Moreover, Paul stated in verse 4 that God has authorized him to carry the gospel message and that he was not trying to get applause from men. He was not “pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.” In the final analysis, God is the one who will examine our motives and conduct as we minister before people. At best, He is the best judge at analyzing a man’s motive and conduct.
As has been discussed, there are those who are always trying to examine our motives and conduct, and Paul could relate with assurance that his actions among them could be recalled by the believers in Thessalonica and God himself. Both his motives and conduct were pure (v. 1-4). They (Paul and his associates, Timothy and Silas) did not allow the persecution they were experiencing to deter them from preaching God’s word.
In verse 5, Paul relates that his message to them was not to gain some favor and that he himself was not acting out of deceit but that God had witnessed his motives. These workers of God were not grasping for praise from men but solely wanted to please God (v.6). As Paul and his associates ministered among the believers, they personally nourished the believers, and they didn’t charge them for their ministry. They had a right as ministers to expect something, but they didn’t charge this infant church (v.7).
In verse 8, Paul states that he and his cohorts ministered out of a great sense of admiration, willing to share the gospel and give unselfishly to the believers. Paul goes on to maintain that he ministered to these believers by not asking them for financial support but working himself, both day and night (v. 9).
Paul had a right to ask of them to furnish his needs, but he didn’t. In verse 10, Paul now calls on God and the believers to testify to the purity of his actions among them. Their behavior was holy, with their behavior measuring what God expected of them (justly), and their behavior stood the test of their opponents’ comments (unblameable). Having given the example of how his conduct among them was like a nursing mother in verse 7, Paul, in verse 11, will liken his deportment to them as an instructing father, with the training consisting of being exhorted, encouraged, and charged. As infant believers, they needed to be encouraged, comforted, and urged to go on in their Christian faith. Finally, Paul calls upon them to live worthy lives, knowing that they had been called by God to do so (v. 12).
May God Bless!
