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PAUL'S FIRST LETTER TO THE THESSALONIANS

Reflections on the Greek Text

1 Thess. 2:1-20

INTRODUCTION

In chapter 1 Paul had already introduced the theme of his relationship with the Thessalonians. Here he expands upon that theme more fully.

VERSE BY VERSE ANALYSIS OF THE GREEK

Verse 1

Paul uses "autoi" (pron. "OW-toy") with "humeis" (pron. "hew-MICE") for emphasis: "You Yourselves know!" The Thessalonians are the major witnesses to this trial. How did Paul treat them while he was in Thessalonica? He appeals to them as witnesses.

Verse 2

The word translated "opposition" translates the Greek word "agon" (pron. "AH-gown" as in "grown") from whence we get the English word "agony." In other words, even though Paul's time in Philippi was one of suffering and mistreatment, it didn't prevent him from struggling a great struggle in Thessalonica so that they could hear the gospel. Philippi and Thessalonica were scenes of great struggle for Paul.

Verse 4

The words translated "approve" and "examine" come from the same Greek word dokimazo (pron. dah-kee-MAH-sew). It has the idea of a scientist performing a test on some material to see if it passes the test. In this case God put Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy through the test and saw that they passed the test. They were approved after God tested them!

The word "examines" (again from dokimazo) is in the present tense, meaning that God continues to examine our hearts. He doesn't test us once and leave it at that. Rather throughout our Christian life God tests us to see if we are fit to serve Him.

Verse 7

When Paul writes: "even though as apostles of Christ we might have ASSERTED OUR AUTHORITY" the Greek uses the idea of "weight" or "heaviness." Paul didn't come upon them as a big heavy. He did not use his authority as an apostle as a club to beat them down.

Next Paul mixes metaphors: in order to stress how gentle they were among the Thessalonians, the apostles acted like babes among them. Then he switches the metaphor and says they acted like mothers nursing their babies. Two powerful comparisons to stress how gentle they were among the Thessalonianns.

Verse 8

Word order is huge in Greek. Whenever a writer wants to emphasize a word, he will either put it either at the beginning or the end of the clause. In order to stress how much he loved the Thessalonians, Paul writes: "beloved you became to us."

Verse 9

Again, word order plays a big role in this verse. Paul puts the words "night and day" at he beginning of the clause in order to stress how long and hard Paul worked so that he could have enough money to preach to them. He literally writes: "NIGHT AND DAY working."

Verse 10

Again Paul combines "autoi" with "humeis" (the Greek word for you) in order to put emphasis on them. "You yourselves!" "YOU are my best witnesses!" It's tender how he keeps appealing to them to defend himself. They were there. They know the truth!

Verse 11

Paul used the 2 metaphors above of the babe and the nursing mother to stress how gentle he was towards them. Here he uses the comparison of the father who tenderly cares for his child.

Verse 13

Word order is again is big in this verse. Here Paul puts the words "from God" at the beginning of the clause. When they heard the message of Paul's gospel, as GOD'S WORD they received it, not as man's word about God but God's Word about Himself!

Verse 14

Paul again emphasizes the word "you": "YOU YOURSELVES!" Paul doesn't need to appeal to any other person to prove his case. He doesn't have to appeal to some kind of logical argument. THEY, the Thessalonian Christians, are the proof that what he is saying is true.

Verse 16

By adding a preposition to the word "fill" ("ana" to "plerosai"), Paul is intensifying the word. They are not just filling their cups with God's wrath. They are filling it up to the brim! God's wrath is overflowing in their cup because of the way Paul's Jewish opponents have tried to prevent the Gentiles from being saved.

Verse 17

Verse 18

Again, in the Greek Paul emphasizes how much he personally cares for them by writing (almost) literally “I myself Paul!” (ego . . . Paulos).

Because of word order, Paul emphasizes that Satan, not he, was the reason he had been unable to return to Thessalonica: “He prevented us—Satan!” His Jewish opponents were blaming Paul—“Oh Paul claimed he loved you but skedaddled out of town the moment things got rough!” Paul could have blamed his Jewish opponents. They though were just simply the pawns in the hands of somebody more sinister—Satan.

Verse 20

Paul by using the Greek personal pronoun for “you” [humeis pron. HEW-mice] is stressing that “you” the Thessalonians will be his cause for joy and glory before Jesus on judgment day. He won’t point to scholarly achievements as grounds for boasting before Jesus. He will point to them and their transformed lives.