1: For yourselves
brethren know our entrance in unto you that it was not in vain 2: But
even after that we had suffered before and were shamefully entreated as you
know at Philippi we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God through
much conflict[1]
3: For our exhortation was not of deceit nor of uncleanness nor in guile
4: But as we were approved of God entrusted [with the] gospel even so we
speak not as pleasing people but God who tests our hearts 5: For neither
at any time used we flattering words as you know nor through cloaked covetousness
God is witness 6: Nor of people sought we glory neither of you nor yet
of others when we might have been burdensome as the apostles of Christ 7:
But we were gentle among you even as a nurse cherishes her children 8:
So being affectionately desirous of you we were willing to have imparted to you
not the gospel of God only but also our own souls because you were dear to us 9:
For you remember brethren our labor and travail for laboring night and day
because we would not be chargeable to any of you We preached to you the gospel
of God 10: You are witnesses and God also how holily and justly and
unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe 11: As you know
how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you as a father his
children 12: That you would walk worthy of God who has called you to his
kingdom and glory 13: For this cause also thank we God without ceasing
because when you received the word of God which you heard from us you received
it not as the word of audawm but as
it is in truth the Word of God which effectually works also in you that believe
14: For you brethren became followers of the churches of God which in
Judaea are in Christ Jesus for you also have suffered like things of your own
countrymen even as they have of the Jews 15: Who both killed the Lord
Jesus and their own prophets and have persecuted us and they please not God and
are contrary to all people[2] 16:
Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might
be saved [3] to fill up their sins alway for the wrath
is come upon them to the uttermost 17: But we brethren being
taken from you for a short time in presence not in heart endeavored the more
abundantly to see your face with great desire 18: Wherefore we would
have come to you even I Paul once and again but Satan hindered us 19:
For what is our hope or joy or crown of rejoicing Are not even you in the
presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming 20: For you are our
glory and joy.
[1] It was a struggle for Paul to do the
work of the Lord at Philippi (where he was mistreated “shamefully”) and also
through much conflict at Thessalonica, but he persevered and succeeded in
establishing assemblies in those places. He did not allow ridicule and
opposition to stop him from obeying God.
[2] God still has a plan for the Jewish
people, and we love and honor the race through which Messiah came. God’s
promise is not void that he will bless those who bless Abraham and he will
curse those who curse him. He was speaking not only of Abraham, but of Abraham
and his descendants through his sons Isaac (The child of the free-woman. The
child of the promise) and Jacob (who wrestled with God and would not let Him go
until he had been promised the blessing his very life depended on). Much joy
and knowledge is gained when studying the Hebrew scriptures from a Jewish
perspective. But take care not to elevate Jewish culture or Messianic ministry
above any other. The apostle Paul did not. In fact, he did not take to pretty
things up, when he wrote that the Jews killed the Lord and were contrary to
everyone around them. Israel, today, is a secular nation, but God has brought
them back to their ancestral promised land, and he will reconcile them—as a
nation—back to himself. “Pray for the peace [wholeness] of Jerusalem, for they
shall prosper that love thee.”
[3] Paul said he would be all things to all
people that by any means some should be saved. It is a fearful thing to forbid
anyone to preach the gospel of Christ, that they might be saved. Jesus spoke of
the religious leadership of his day, saying they were not going in to the Kingdom
of God themselves and they prevented those that would. What we see, today, is
that [since 1987] those influenced by the Council for Biblical Manhood and
Womanhood (CBMW) forbid women to preach the Everlasting Gospel to men, that
they might be saved. But women need not fear their edicts or censure. Women as
well as men need fear only God. Jesus commanded all Christians to go into all
the world and preach the gospel. Joel prophesied that God’s daughters as well
as his sons would do this. Just as the early Jewish Christians defied Jewish
leadership and preached Christ anyway, so women should defy anti-Christ, male-headship,
teaching and preach Christ anyway.
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