Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 8

Paul Affirms his Conduct among these Thessalonians Part 5

1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory. KJV

Paul did not have to speak on his own behalf, he reminds these new believers in Thessalonica of how he behaved during the time he spent with them. How long this was is not exactly known, however, it must have been (in my opinion) in excess of a year or so because Paul would not have spent such time in tent making if he were there only a few months. Remember when he left Thessalonica and preached the Gospel of Grace in Corinth, Dr. Luke did document for us that Paul stayed there or continued there a year and six month teaching the Word of God to them (Acts 18:11). This I believe to have been the custom of the Apostle Paul when deep seated or deep rooted idol worshipping Gentile people in long standing idol worship were converted to the One True God via the Gospel message. Therefore, here we find Paul putting into the memory of these Thessalonian believers his conduct among them as he says, "Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:" (1 Thessalonians 2:10) (KJV). Not only were they literal witnesses of his conduct, character, and concern for them, but God the Father (who sees and knows everything) was witness to the motives of the Apostle Paul which could not be seen by the Thessalonian people. Paul was not some huskster or peddler of smooth talk in order to swindle these people out of their goods like the false prophets of his day were (this is why he took no money from them to authenticate his sincerity concerning only their eternal souls).

Paul declares three distinctive, distinguishing, and describing characteristics that motivated his behavior among these new believers in Thessalonica. The first mark of his conduct among them was that he lived 'holily' and this English word is translated by the Greek word hosios meaning properly right (by intrinsic or divine character). The second mark of Paul's conduct among these new believers in Thessalonica was that he lived 'justly' and this English word is translated by the Greek word dikaios meaning equitably (in character and in actions); by implication innocently and righteously. The third mark of Paul's conduct among these new believers in the Thessalonian Church was that he lived 'unblameably' and this English word is translated by the Greek word amemptos meaning faultlessly: Therefore, we see that Paul is here reminding them that he lived with sanctity among them void or absent of covetousness he lived equitably in their midst not with greed for their material goods, but he kept himself innocent of doing them harm or hurt physically, spiritually, or emotionally and that he was blameless among them, that is, being free from guilt of doing them wrong and being blamed for such actions just as he declared before Felix when the Jews had accused and charged him with Sedition (an illegal action inciting resistance to lawful authority and tending to cause the disruption or overthrow of the government).

Paul said, "And when the governor had beckoned to Paul to speak, he answered: Because I know that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I find it easier to make my defense {and} do it cheerfully {and} with good courage. As you can readily verify, it is not more than twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem to worship; And neither in the temple nor in the synagogues nor in the city did they find me disputing with anybody or bringing together a seditious crowd. Neither can they present argument {or} evidence to prove to you what they now bring against me. But this I confess to you, however, that in accordance with the Way [of the Lord], which they call a [heretical, division-producing] sect, I worship (serve) the God of our fathers, still persuaded of the truth of {and} believing in {and} placing full confidence in everything laid down in the Law [of Moses] {or} written in the prophets; Having [the same] hope in God which these themselves hold {and} look for, that there is to be a resurrection both of the righteous and the unrighteous (the just and the unjust). Therefore I always exercise {and} discipline myself [mortifying my body, deadening my carnal affections, bodily appetites, and worldly desires, endeavoring in all respects] to have a clear (unshaken, blameless) conscience, void of offense toward God and toward men." (Acts 24:10-16) (Amplified Bible).

Note: "Paul could say of himself and his conduct among these Thessalonian believers exactly what the Prophet Samuel said at King Saul's Coronation, 'Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and Saul His anointed. Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded or oppressed? Or from whose hand have I received any bribe to blind my eyes? Tell me and I will restore it to you. And they said, You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man's hand. And Samuel said to them, The Lord is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.' (1 Samuel 12:3-5) (Amplified Bible)." Paul reverts back to his analogy of a parent with their children, only this time he compares his care and concern for their spiritual well being in this manner, "As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children" (1 Thessalonians 2:11) (KJV). Paul (just as an earthly Father would do) 'exhorted' and this English word is translated by the Greek word parakaleo meaning to call near, that is, invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation): to spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts.

Paul was not just their teacher of the Word of God and the one who brought to them the Gospel of God, but Paul was their 'Spiritual Father' and just as any good earthly Father would do and be with their children, Paul was always encouraging these new believers and cheering them on in their new faith in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. Paul's comforting and charging these Thessalonian believers was all a part of his constant, continual, and consistent exhortation to them in their persecutions by non-believers and their grief of losing loved ones just as any good earthly Father would be and do concerning his children just as he wrote about his care and concern for the Corinthian believers with these words, "I do not write this to shame you, but to warn {and} counsel you as my beloved children. After all, though you should have ten thousand teachers (guides to direct you) in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the glad tidings (the Gospel). So I urge {and} implore you, be imitators of me. For this very cause I sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and trustworthy child in the Lord, who will recall to your minds my methods of proceeding {and} course of conduct {and} way of life in Christ, such as I teach everywhere in each of the Churches." (1 Corinthians 4:14-17) (Amplified Bible). Note: "By exhorting, we are moved to do a thing willingly; by comforting, to do it joyfully; by charging, to do it carefully." (John Wesley).

All of this Paul has brought to their remembrance for this one reason that they and we today who believe, "That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory." (1 Thessalonians 2:12) (KJV). The little English phrase 'would walk' is translated by one Greek word peripateo meaning figuratively to live, deport oneself, follow (as a companion or one bound by vows to a religion or life of worship or service): The English word 'worthy' is translated by the Greek word axios meaning appropriately: - as becometh, after a godly sort. In other words, Paul has brought back to their memory and detailed for them his conduct in their presence in order that they would be imitators of him as he follows Christ Jesus our Lord so that they/we would be pleasing to Him and not grieving Him with their/our sin and disobedience, for it is He (Christ) who has called us to an holy calling as Paul reminded brother Timothy with these words, "[For it is He] Who delivered {and} saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy {and} leading to holiness [to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness]; [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of {and} to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago]." (2 Timothy 1:9) (Amplified Bible).

"The current or present kingdom of God is that of 'grace' that is given or supplied to every one of us redeemed believers in Jesus Christ that empowers us to live life down here on the earth differently than before we received or encounterd the 'grace of God' (it does not mean or produce perfection here and now, but it does produce a walking or living in a new way and new direction of life)." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

"Piously - observing all the duties of religion. In our contact with people. I did them no wrong. This seems to refer to his duties both to God and man. In reference to all those duties no one could bring a charge against him. Every duty was faithfully performed. This is not a claim to absolute perfection, but it is a claim to consistency of character, and to faithfulness in duty, which every Christian should be enabled to make. Every man professing religion should so live as to be able to appeal to all who have had an opportunity of knowing him, as witnesses that he was consistent and faithful, and that there was nothing which could be laid to his charge." Albert Barnes

"What is our great Gospel privilege - that God has called us to His kingdom and glory. The Gospel calls us into the kingdom and state of grace here and unto the kingdom and state of glory hereafter, to heaven and happiness as our end and to holiness as the way to that end. What is our great Gospel duty - that we walk worthy of God, that the temper of our minds and tenour of our lives be answerable to this call and suitable to this privilege. We should accommodate ourselves to the intention and design of the Gospel, and live suitably to our profession and privileges, our hopes and expectations, as becomes those who are called with such a high and holy calling." Matthew Henry

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…