Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 7

Paul Affirms his Conduct among these Thessalonians Part 4

1 Thessalonians 2:8-9 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the Gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the Gospel of God. KJV

After the conversion of these people in Thessalonica who made up the body of believers in the Thessalonian Church, Paul immediately desired to be (to them) as a Father and Mother would be to their new born baby nurturing them spiritually in the Word of God by the Grace of God helping them develop and grow into mature faithful believers and followers of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. Just as the new Mom and Dad instantly, immediately, and even instinctly see their child as helpless and vulnerable to all sorts of danger, so did Paul see that these new babes 'in Christ' were spiritually in danger from the certain and imminent attacks spiritually that would come to them from the devil and his principalities and powers because they had been snatched from his jaws by hearing the Gospel of God making them adopted sons and daughters of God the Father (Romans 8:15), so Paul says this to them reminding them of his desire among them, "So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the Gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us." (1 Thessalonians 2:8) (KJV).

The English phrase 'being affectionately desirous' Paul uses here is translated by one Greek word himeiromai (used this one and only time in the entire New Testament) meaning (a yearning; of uncertain affinity); to long for. Therefore, we see the connection from verse 7 where Paul said, "as a nursing mother cherishes her own children", so does Paul have this same affection, yearning, and longing for these newly born believers in Jesus Christ who were delivered from eternal death in hell and the lake of fire as Paul wrote using these words to the Colossian Church, "Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified {and} made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God's holy people) in the Light. [The Father] has delivered {and} drawn us to Himself out of the control {and} the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, In Whom we have our redemption {through His blood,} [which means] the forgiveness of our sins." (Colossians 1:12-14) (Amplified Bible).

Thus, we now also understand that Paul would have protected these new beleivers (from spiritual danger) with his own life just as a Mother or Father would fight to physical death to protect the life of their son or daughter whom they love so dearly, so did Paul love these new believers in Thessalonica just as much (if not even more), just as the Apostle John  declared that we Christians should be regarding one another with these words seeing that we are depised by the world, "Do not be surprised {and} wonder, brethren, that the world detests {and} pursues you with hatred. We know that we have passed over out of death into Life by the fact that we love the brethren (our fellow Christians). He who does not love abides (remains, is held and kept continually) in [spiritual] death. Anyone who hates (abominates, detests) his brother [in Christ] is [at heart] a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding (persevering) within him. By this we come to know (progressively to recognize, to perceive, to understand) the [essential] love: that He laid down His [own] life for us; and we ought to lay [our] lives down for [those who are our] brothers [in Him]." (1 John 3:13-16) (Amplified Bible).

Paul now reminds them of how he worked for his living and did not receive resources from them free of charge as he declares with these words, "For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the Gospel of God." (1 Thessalonians 2:9) (KJV). Paul did not want these new believers to be burdened or feel imposed upon financially so soon after their conversion from worshipping idols (where they no doubt spent enormous amounts of money to appease these false gods) to now worshipping Christ, instead Paul wanted them free of any need to support him or those with him financially, but he wanted them to be without these concerns so that the Word of God would take root in them as he Paul taught it to them. Salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ does not absolve or free us from the everyday needs and necessities that are involved with this earthly life as pilgrims, we must still eat and sleep and pay our bills that we would have a home to eat and sleep in daily. With this in mind, Paul reminds them of his conduct among them of working for his own food and shelter and as he lived among them 'night and day' as he declares because he did not want to 'be chargeable' to them.

This little English phrase 'be chargeable' is translated by one Greek word epibareo meaning to be heavy upon, that is, (regarding money) to be expensive to. Instead of being a financial burden to these new believers in Thessalonica (like their worship of false gods surely was), Paul was 'labouring' night and day. This English word 'labouring' is translated by the Greek word ergazomai meaning to toil or work as a task, or occupation. The English word 'travail' is translated by the Greek word mochthos meaning to toil or work hard with difficulty; wearisome labor. Paul spent long hours teaching this 'babes in Christ' the Word of God and spent long hours working with his own hands making tents to sale to earn money for his own room and board, he probably had to travel, that is, walk to different cities to sale his tents and then return to Thessalonica to teach God's Word to the new believers, this was surely 'wearisome labor' for the Apostle seeing how his body had been often bruised, beaten, and battered by hateful unbelievers for his preraching the Gospel of God (2 Corinthians 11:23-28).

"Combined with Paul’s strength of purpose there was the sweetness and tenderness of a nurse. Self-denying labor for his own maintenance took from his eyes their needed sleep, and was another proof of his sincerity and devotion. There was no harm in receiving gifts, but Paul was most anxious to do nothing that would invalidate his testimony, or be unworthy of the Master he served. Admirable example for us all!" F. B. Meyer

"To be willing to communicate the knowledge of the Gospel was in itself a strong proof of love, even if it were attended with no self-denial or hazard in doing it. We evince a decided love for a man when we tell him of the way of salvation, and urge him to accept of it. We show strong interest for one who is in danger, when we tell him of a way of escape, or for one who is sick, when we tell him of a medicine that will restore him; but we manifest a much higher love when we tell a lost and ruined sinner of the way in which he may be saved. There is no method in which we can show so strong an interest in our fellow-men, and so much true benevolence for them, as to go to them and tell them of the way by which they may be rescued from everlasting ruin." Albert Barnes

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…