Fathers

1 Thessalonians 2

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For you yourselves know, brothers, our visit to you wasn’t in vain, but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi, we grew bold in our God to tell you the Good News of God in much conflict. For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception. But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak: not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts. For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness), nor seeking glory from men (neither from you nor from others), when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children. Even so, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you, not the Good News of God only, but also our own souls, because you had become very dear to us. For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail; for working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached to you the Good News of God. You are witnesses with God how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you who believe. As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and implored every one of you, as a father does his own children, to the end that you should walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own Kingdom and glory. For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe. For you, brothers, became imitators of the assemblies of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus; for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out, and don’t please God, and are contrary to all men, forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, to fill up their sins always. But wrath has come on them to the uttermost. But we, brothers, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence, not in heart, tried even harder to see your face with great desire, because we wanted to come to you—indeed, I, Paul, once and again—but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isn’t it even you, before our Lord Jesus at his coming? For you are our glory and our joy.

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What the Fathers say

1 Thessalonians 2:10

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

On this account he frequently addresses them as witnesses. For "ye are witnesses," he says, "and God also"; God was worthy to be believed, but this other was that which most fully assured them. For that indeed was uncertain to those who were ignorant of it; but this was without doubt to all. For do not enquire whether it was Paul who said these things. Much beyond what was necessary he gives them assurance. …

Homily on 1 Thessalonians 3 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

God is a trustworthy witness, but since people do not know whether God testifies to this, he also calls as witnesses those to whom the word is addressed. Fulfilling all that is required, for this is the meaning of "holy," in place of the expression: with the fear of God. That is, not extorting money from anyone – demanding exactions of money. Not offending and not giving occasion for stumbling. Then whereas among the unbelievers the apostle was called godless and a deceiver, a babbler and utterly senseless.

Commentary on 1 Thessalonians ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

Then when Paul says: you are witnesses, he remarks on the orthodoxy of his discourse. First, he speaks about the sanctifying influence it may have on a person's life; secondly, he shows how full of concern his teaching was (2:11). So Paul remarks: you are witnesses how holy, that is, how innocently, we conducted ourselves: "Be holy, for I am holy" (Lev. 11:44 and 19:2); and righteous toward our neighbor, as is made evident by "to live sober, upright and godly lives in this world" (Tit. …

Commentary on 1 Thessalonians ↗