THE GOSPEL OF GOD.
1 Thessalonians 2:9-13.
Paul is continuing to speak about the Thessalonian reception of the gospel message from the point of view of the messengers.
1 Thessalonians 2:9. Now, still addressing them as “brethren” (cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:1), he reminds them of what they “remember”: “our labour and the toil.” Far from being ‘burdensome’ to them (cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:6), the missionaries were “night and day working, in order NOT TO burden” any of them. You can imagine Paul busying himself in his trade of tentmaking, but still finding time to “preach unto you the gospel of God.”
Appointed by God, approved by God, entrusted by God, and aiming to please God (cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:4): it is “THE GOSPEL OF GOD” that they (and we) preach (cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:8; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; Romans 1:1; Romans 15:16; 2 Corinthians 11:7).
1 Thessalonians 2:10. Having called God as witness to their integrity (cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:5), Paul now summons the believers AND God as witnesses as to “how holily (i.e. devoutly), righteously and blamelessly” the missionaries conducted themselves among the believers in Thessalonica.
1 Thessalonians 2:11. “Even as you (all) know.” Paul reintroduces the strand of what the Thessalonians “know” to be true (cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:5; 1 Thessalonians 2:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:5).
Not only were the missionaries gentle as nursing mothers ‘yearning’ over their own children (cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8), but they were “as a father with his own children” exhorting and comforting each one of them.
1 Thessalonians 2:12. The missionaries were literally “testifying” that the new believers should “walk worthy of God who called (them) to His own kingdom and glory.”
The kingdom of God broke into this sphere of existence when Jesus was ‘born king’ in Bethlehem. So, when John and Jesus both said, ‘the kingdom of God is at hand’ (cf. Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17), they were speaking of the immediate presence of the king. The mighty works of Jesus were intended to prove that the kingdom of God had come (cf. Matthew 12:28).
When the Pharisees demanded to know when the kingdom of God should come, Jesus answered, ‘The kingdom of God is within you’ (cf. Luke 17:20-21). The word ‘you’ is plural, so a better reading might be ‘in the midst of you all.’ Jesus was NOT saying that the kingdom of God was in the Pharisees’ hearts (cf. Matthew 5:20 and Luke 11:39)!
We become citizens of the kingdom of God immediately upon our conversion. We have a new king over our lives, Jesus. The word ‘kingdom’ speaks of the sovereignty of Jesus, His right to rule over our hearts. It also speaks of God’s people, under God’s rule.
1 Thessalonians 2:13. “For this cause also we thank God unceasingly, that, when you (all) received the word of God which you (all) heard of us, you (all) received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectually works in you (all) who believe.”
No wonder Paul, Silas and Timothy could ‘give thanks always for you all, making mention of you (all) in our prayers’ (cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:2). To God alone be the glory!
