For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
Paul's appeal to the Thessalonians was sincere in both message and conduct, free from deception, moral impurity, and trickery or guile. It was not an effort to win people through flattery, deception, or guile, but an appeal free from corrupt and impure motives. He sought to win converts through honest and faithful labor rather than through flattery or trickery.
He spoke as one permitted by God to be entrusted with the gospel, aiming to please God rather than people. God tests and examines the hearts of His messengers, and sincere messengers speak to please Him who does so. That aim to please God who tries the heart, rather than people, defined the boldness of the preaching despite opposition and discouragement.
That boldness followed prior suffering and shameful treatment, yet the entrance to the Thessalonians was not in vain but was marked by boldness in God to speak the gospel with much conflict and contention. At the same time he refused to be burdensome as an apostle of Christ, and was gentle as a nursing mother cherishes her children. Sincerity therefore means using no flattering words at any time, no cloak for covetousness and greed, and seeking no glory, praise, or gain from people, but serving with gentleness.
Everyone who preaches the gospel must make this freedom from deceit, uncleanness, and guile his own experience, being Christlike at home and abroad, in health and in sickness, amid the world and in the sanctuary. This requires learning from the Master, being imbued with His Spirit, and being clothed with Christ's righteousness. It requires bringing solid timbers into the structure of the work, doing good work thoroughly and binding it off even if less preaching is accomplished, rather than merely ministering as an acceptable speaker. Such faithful and pure labor is written in the heavenly record and will be rewarded when Christ comes to give every person according to his works, and it gives a hope that does not lead to shame.
Paul's appeal to the Thessalonians was sincere in both message and conduct, free from deception, moral impurity, and trickery or guile. It was not an effort to win people through flattery, deception, or guile, but an appeal free from corrupt and impure motives. He sought to win converts through honest and faithful labor rather than through flattery or trickery.
He spoke as one permitted by God to be entrusted with the gospel, aiming to please God rather than people. God tests and examines the hearts of His messengers, and sincere messengers speak to please Him who does so. That aim to please God who tries the heart, rather than people, defined the boldness of the preaching despite opposition and discouragement.
That boldness followed prior suffering and shameful treatment, yet the entrance to the Thessalonians was not in vain but was marked by boldness in God to speak the gospel with much conflict and contention. At the same time he refused to be burdensome as an apostle of Christ, and was gentle as a nursing mother cherishes her children. Sincerity therefore means using no flattering words at any time, no cloak for covetousness and greed, and seeking no glory, praise, or gain from people, but serving with gentleness.
Everyone who preaches the gospel must make this freedom from deceit, uncleanness, and guile his own experience, being Christlike at home and abroad, in health and in sickness, amid the world and in the sanctuary. This requires learning from the Master, being imbued with His Spirit, and being clothed with Christ's righteousness. It requires bringing solid timbers into the structure of the work, doing good work thoroughly and binding it off even if less preaching is accomplished, rather than merely ministering as an acceptable speaker. Such faithful and pure labor is written in the heavenly record and will be rewarded when Christ comes to give every person according to his works, and it gives a hope that does not lead to shame.