1 Thessalonians 2:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.

NIV: You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.

NASB: You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly and rightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers;

CSB: You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously, and blamelessly we conducted ourselves with you believers.

NLT: You yourselves are our witnesses — and so is God — that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers.

KJV: Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

NKJV: You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;

The believers at Thessalonica could testify that Paul and his coworkers were beyond reproach in their midst. They were devoted to God, lived up to the standards God had set for behavior, and no one could rightfully accuse them of wrongdoing. They conducted themselves admirably, letting their light shine so that the Thessalonians could see their good works and glorify God (see Matthew 5:16).

When the church at Jerusalem needed men who would administer the church's welfare program without bias, they chose "seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom" (Acts 6:3). It has always been essential in the history of the church to have leaders like those seven and Paul and his missionary companions. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul advised Timothy that an overseer must be above reproach (1 Timothy 3:2). While that especially applies to those who are called to leadership, the entire body of Christians is called to be above reproach (Philippians 2:14–15). God's standards are high for His people, and Paul and his coworkers lived up to them.

First Thessalonians 2:9–12 is Paul's call for the Christians at Thessalonica to recall how he and his coworkers had conducted themselves. He describes how hard they had labored to support themselves, so they would not be a burden to the Thessalonians. He also calls on his readers to remember the godly lifestyle they led at Thessalonica while they shared the gospel. No one could accuse them of any wrongdoing. Like a loving father, they had encouraged and instructed the believers to lead a life that honored God, who had called them into His kingdom and glory.

Paul begins to flesh out the general ideas he mentioned in chapter 1. Here in chapters 2 and 3, he further explains how he came to preach to the Thessalonian people. Paul particularly notes that his good conduct, proving his unselfish motivations, was instrumental in his success. The warm response of the people also endeared them to Paul, making him long to visit them again. Unfortunately, Paul was prevented from doing so, a struggle he attributes to Satan. Paul once again expresses his gratitude for the Thessalonian Christians' ability to honor God despite persecution.

Chapter 1 briefly introduced the relationship between Paul and the Christians at Thessalonica. This introduction is expanded in chapter 2, where Paul gives additional details about how he came to preach there, why he left, and what he has heard of their spiritual progress. Chapter 3 will round out this glowing report with a reference to a visit from Paul's friend and student, Timothy.

The apostle Paul's second missionary journey included a visit to the prominent Greek city of Thessalonica. This stood alongside a major land route and boasted a busy seaport. A number of individuals believed Paul's message (Acts 17:1–4), but an angry mob forced Paul to leave the city after his brief stay. Later, while in Athens, Paul received a glowing report: the believers at Thessalonica were growing spiritually and serving God fervently. However, they had questions about the Lord's return, including what happens to a believer who dies before that day. And, as all churches do, they had some areas in which they were falling short. In Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians, written about AD 51, he addresses these developments. Paul expresses gratitude for the Thessalonian believers' spiritual progress, and frequently makes references to Christ's impending return.

Accessed 5/4/2024 7:51:59 PM