1 Thessalonians 2:6-7 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the Apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: KJV
Paul continues to bring into the believers at Thessalonica remembrance of his conduct when he was present with them by saying, "Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the Apostles of Christ." (1 Thesalonians 2:6) (KJV). Paul was never an ambitious man desiring personal success and achievement who sought after glory or praise for himself, but his praise was always for our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and it was His Glory Paul sought to be made known among believers and unbelievers alike. The English word 'glory' is translated by the Greek word doxa meaning (literally or figuratively, objectively or subjectively) to obtain honour, or praise, or worship. In other words, Paul was not of importance or significance, but the person whom he preached about was of utmost importance and significance to every sinner on the earth because He (Jesus) died on the Cross of Calvary for every individual person's sins as if they were the only human being alive on planet earth just as Paul declared to the believers in Corinth with these words, "For what we preach is not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves [merely] as your servants (slaves) for Jesus' sake. For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forth] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty {and} glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of {Jesus} Christ (the Messiah). However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur {and} exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves." (2 Corinthians 4:5-7) (Amplified Bible).
Paul discovered early on (after his conversion) that the words he preached and the words he wrote were not coming from his great earthly mind or intellect, that is, his own knowledge and intellectual ability, but it was God the Holy Spirit who spoke and wrote through him just as He had done hundreds and even thousands of years before Paul through men like Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others, for the same God who energized these great men of the Bible, was now working out His Will through the Apostle Paul and what great blasphemy and pride would it be for Paul to declare himself to be some great man, he was nothing but a lump of clay in the Potter's hands just as Isaiah spoke with these words, "Yet, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our Potter, and we all are the work of Your hand." (Isaiah 64:8) (Amplified Bible) and likewise just as Jeremiah spoke with these words, "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does? says the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel." (Jeremiah 18:6) (Amplified Bible). As an Apostle of Jesus Christ, Paul had authority directly from our Lord Jesus to receive whatever he wanted and needed materially from the Churches in order to live upon, but Paul used not this authority, but instead worked at his profession or skill of tent making to earn money in order that he would never be regarded as a charlatan, that is, a flamboyant deceiver who attracts followers with tricks or jokes being a covetous man using his position and authority to enrich himself at the expense of others, but Paul did just the opposite of this as he declared to the brethren of Ephesus when he departed from them for the last time when he said to them, "I coveted no man's silver or gold or [costly] garments. You yourselves know personally that these hands ministered to my own needs and those [of the persons] who were with me. In everything I have pointed out to you [by example] that, by working diligently in this manner, we ought to assist the weak, being mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, It is more blessed (makes one happier and more to be envied) to give than to receive." (Acts 20:33-35) (Amplified Bible).
Remebering these words of our Lord Jesus made Paul conduct himself in the following manner when he was among these Thessalonians, "But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:" (Thessalonians 2:7) (KJV). Paul was not like some today who are in the hierarchy of many Church Denominations Priests, Bishops, Elders, Deacons, etc, who think nothing of demanding from those under them regardless of the circumstances and when their demands are not met exactly imposing harsh penalties, hard or even impossible to bear. Paul had the authority of an Apostle, but he had the heart or inner man of just another humble undeserving brother 'in Christ' and so he conducted himself always with this in mind as we recall his gratefulness of even being forgiven by our Lord Jesus when he said these words to brother Timothy, "The saying is sure {and} true and worthy of full {and} universal acceptance, that Christ Jesus (the Messiah) came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost." (1 Timothy 1:15) (Amplified Bible). Because Paul saw himself as the worst sinner on the planet, it was utter foolishness for him to act in any pompous, pontifical, or portentous way with other forgiven sinners, that is, puffed up or proud or high and mighty as if he were somehow better than others because he was chosen by God/Jesus to be an Apostle.
There was never any bowing to Paul when he entered a room or kissing his ring or any sort of outward worship of him (for he was just a brother in Christ like any other) as we recall how he and Barnabas immediately corrected the people in Lystra after our Lord Jesus healed a crippled man through Paul as documented by Dr. Luke, "Now at Lystra a man sat who found it impossible to use his feet, for he was a cripple from birth and had never walked. He was listening to Paul as he talked, and [Paul] gazing intently at him and observing that he had faith to be healed, Shouted at him, saying, Stand erect on your feet! And he leaped up and walked. And the crowds, when they saw what Paul had done, lifted up their voices, shouting in the Lycaonian language, The gods have come down to us in human form! They called Barnabas Zeus, and they called Paul, because he led in the discourse, Hermes [god of speech]. And the priest of Zeus, whose [temple] was at the entrance of the town, brought bulls and garlands to the [city's] gates and wanted to join the people in offering sacrifice. But when the Apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothing and dashed out among the crowd, shouting, Men, why are you doing this? We also are [only] human beings, of nature like your own, and we bring you the good news (Gospel) that you should turn away from these foolish {and} vain things to the living God, Who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything that they contain." (Acts 14:8-15) (Amplified Bible). Paul was among the Thessalonians as a Mother would be with her children nourishing and nurturing helping them to grow in their faith in Christ and teaching them the Word of God that they might grow up thereby into spiritual maturity. It was never the desire of Paul to take from them their material goods, but his desire was to give to them his knowledge and understanding of God's Word that they would be enriched spiritually for many years to come.
"Paul was no seducer or deceiver seeking to make himself wealthy by fleecing or duping people to send or give him money for a prophecy over their lives or to give them a prayer hankerchief that would bring them physical healing in return for them giving him money for his ministry, but Paul was just a sinner so grateful for his redemption and forgiveness by Christ that he wanted everyone to know this great lover of the souls of men Christ Jesus our Lord as he did and so he went about declaring the Gospel of Grace and teaching the unadulterated Word of God and nothing else." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
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…
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