5 For G1063 neither G3777 at any time G4218 used we G1096 flattering G2850 words, G1722 G3056 as G2531 ye know, G1492 nor G3777 a cloke G1722 G4392 of covetousness; G4124 God G2316 is witness: G3144
For G1063 God G2316 is G2076 my G3450 witness, G3144 whom G3739 I serve G3000 with G1722 my G3450 spirit G4151 in G1722 the gospel G2098 of his G846 Son, G5207 that G5613 without ceasing G89 I make G4160 mention G3417 of you G5216 always G3842 in G1909 my G3450 prayers; G4335
I have coveted G1937 no man's G3762 silver, G694 or G2228 gold, G5553 or G2228 apparel. G2441
Likewise G5615 must the deacons G1249 be grave, G4586 not G3361 doubletongued, G1351 not G3361 given G4337 to much G4183 wine, G3631 not G3361 greedy of filthy lucre; G146
Did I make a gain G4122 G3361 of you G5209 by G1223 any G5100 of them G846 whom G3739 I sent G649 unto G4314 you? G5209
For G1063 they that are such G5108 serve G1398 not G3756 our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 but G235 their own G1438 belly; G2836 and G2532 by G1223 good words G5542 and G2532 fair speeches G2129 deceive G1818 the hearts G2588 of the simple. G172
But G235 have renounced G550 the hidden things G2927 of dishonesty, G152 not G3361 walking G4043 in G1722 craftiness, G3834 nor G3366 handling G1389 the word G3056 of God G2316 deceitfully; G1389 but G235 by manifestation G5321 of the truth G225 commending G4921 ourselves G1438 to G4314 every G3956 man's G444 conscience G4893 in the sight G1799 of God. G2316
Now G1161 the things which G3739 I write G1125 unto you, G5213 behold, G2400 before G1799 God, G2316 G3754 I lie G5574 not. G3756
For G1063 a bishop G1985 must G1163 be G1511 blameless, G410 as G5613 the steward G3623 of God; G2316 not G3361 selfwilled, G829 not G3361 soon angry, G3711 not G3361 given to wine, G3943 no G3361 striker, G4131 not G3361 given to filthy lucre; G146
Feed G4165 the flock G4168 of God G2316 which is among G1722 you, G5213 taking the oversight G1983 thereof, not G3361 by constraint, G317 but G235 willingly; G1596 not G3366 for filthy lucre, G147 but G235 of a ready mind; G4290
Having G2192 eyes G3788 full G3324 of adultery, G3428 and G2532 that cannot cease from G180 sin; G266 beguiling G1185 unstable G793 souls: G5590 an heart G2588 they have G2192 exercised G1128 with covetous practices; G4124 cursed G2671 children: G5043 Which have forsaken G2641 the right G2117 way, G3598 and are gone astray, G4105 following G1811 the way G3598 of Balaam G903 the son of Bosor, G1007 who G3739 loved G25 the wages G3408 of unrighteousness; G93
For G1063 when they speak G5350 great swelling G5246 words of vanity, G3153 they allure G1185 through G1722 the lusts G1939 of the flesh, G4561 through much wantonness, G766 those that were clean G3689 escaped G668 from them who live G390 in G1722 error. G4106
The merchandise G1117 of gold, G5557 and G2532 silver, G696 and G2532 precious G5093 stones, G3037 and G2532 of pearls, G3135 and G2532 fine linen, G1040 and G2532 purple, G4209 and G2532 silk, G4596 and G2532 scarlet, G2847 and G2532 all G3956 thyine G2367 wood, G3586 and G2532 all manner G3956 vessels G4632 of ivory, G1661 and G2532 all manner G3956 vessels G4632 of G1537 most precious G5093 wood, G3586 and G2532 of brass, G5475 and G2532 iron, G4604 and G2532 marble, G3139 And G2532 cinnamon, G2792 and G2532 odours, G2368 and G2532 ointments, G3464 and G2532 frankincense, G3030 and G2532 wine, G3631 and G2532 oil, G1637 and G2532 fine flour, G4585 and G2532 wheat, G4621 and G2532 beasts, G2934 and G2532 sheep, G4263 and G2532 horses, G2462 and G2532 chariots, G4480 and G2532 slaves, G4983 and G2532 souls G5590 of men. G444
But G1161 woe G3759 unto you, G5213 scribes G1122 and G2532 Pharisees, G5330 hypocrites! G5273 for G3754 ye shut up G2808 the kingdom G932 of heaven G3772 against G1715 men: G444 for G1063 ye G5210 neither G3761 go in G1525 yourselves, neither G3756 suffer ye G863 them that are entering G1525 to go in. G1525
And G2532 they sent out G649 unto him G846 their G846 disciples G3101 with G3326 the Herodians, G2265 saying, G3004 Master, G1320 we know G1492 that G3754 thou art G1488 true, G227 and G2532 teachest G1321 the way G3598 of God G2316 in G1722 truth, G225 G2532 neither G3756 carest G3199 thou G4671 for G4012 any G3762 man: for G1063 thou regardest G991 not G1519 G3756 the person G4383 of men. G444
Who is there even among you that would shut H5462 the doors H1817 for nought? neither do ye kindle H215 fire on mine altar H4196 for nought. H2600 I have no pleasure H2656 in you, saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 neither will I accept H7521 an offering H4503 at your hand. H3027
Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 concerning the prophets H5030 that make my people H5971 err, H8582 that bite H5391 with their teeth, H8127 and cry, H7121 Peace; H7965 and he that putteth H5414 not into their mouths, H6310 they even prepare H6942 war H4421 against him.
Therefore will I give H5414 their wives H802 unto others, H312 and their fields H7704 to them that shall inherit H3423 them: for every one from the least H6996 even unto the greatest H1419 is given H1214 to covetousness, H1215 from the prophet H5030 even unto the priest H3548 every one dealeth H6213 falsely. H8267
Yea, they are greedy H5794 H5315 dogs H3611 which can H3045 never have H3045 enough, H7654 and they are shepherds H7462 that cannot understand: H995 they all look H6437 to their own way, H1870 every one H376 for his gain, H1215 from his quarter. H7097
A lying H8267 tongue H3956 hateth H8130 those that are afflicted H1790 by it; and a flattering H2509 mouth H6310 worketh H6213 ruin. H4072
He that goeth about H1980 as a talebearer H7400 revealeth H1540 secrets: H5475 therefore meddle H6148 not with him that flattereth H6601 with his lips. H8193
They speak H1696 vanity H7723 every one H376 with his neighbour: H7453 with flattering H2513 lips H8193 and with a double H3820 heart H3820 do they speak. H1696 The LORD H3068 shall cut off H3772 all flattering H2513 lips, H8193 and the tongue H3956 that speaketh H1696 proud H1419 things:
Let me not, I pray you, accept H5375 any man's H376 person, H6440 neither let me give flattering titles H3655 unto man. H120 For I know H3045 not to give flattering titles; H3655 in so doing my maker H6213 would soon H4592 take me away. H5375
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 2
Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 2 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 2
In this chapter the apostle puts the Thessalonians in mind of the manner of his preaching among them (v. 1-6). Then of the manner of his conversation among them (v. 7-12). Afterwards of the success of his ministry, with the effects both on himself and on them (v. 13-16), and then apologizes for his absence (v. 17-20).
1Th 2:1-6
Here we have an account of Paul's manner of preaching, and his comfortable reflection upon his entrance in among the Thessalonians. As he had the testimony of his own conscience witnessing to his integrity, so he could appeal to the Thessalonians how faithful he, and Silas, and Timotheus, his helpers in the work of the Lord, had discharged their office: You yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you. Note, It is a great comfort to a minister to have his own conscience and the consciences of others witnessing for him that he set out well, with good designs and from good principles; and that his preaching was not in vain, or, as some read it, was not fain. The apostle here comforts himself either in the success of his ministry, that it was not fruitless or in vain (according to our translation), or as others think, reflecting upon the sincerity of his preaching, that it was not vain and empty, or deceitful and treacherous. The subject-matter of the apostle's preaching was not vain and idle speculations about useless niceties and foolish questions, but sound and solid truth, such as was most likely to profit his hearers. A good example this is, to be imitated by all the ministers of the gospel. Much less was the apostle's preaching vain or deceitful. He could say to these Thessalonians what he told the Corinthians (2 Co. 4:2): We have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully. He had no sinister or worldly design in his preaching, which he puts them in mind to have been,
1Th 2:7-12
In these words the apostle reminds the Thessalonians of the manner of his conversation among them. And,
1Th 2:13-16
Here observe,
1Th 2:17-20
In these words the apostle apologizes for his absence. Here observe,
The apostle here puts the Thessalonians in mind that though he could not come to them as yet, and though he should never be able to come to them, yet our Lord Jesus Christ will come, nothing shall hinder this. And further, when he shall come, all must appear in his presence, or before him. Ministers and people must all appear before him, and faithful people will be the glory and joy of faithful ministers in that great and glorious day.