In 1 Thessalonians 2:1-4, Paul reaffirms his motivation for his ministry in Thessalonica. He emphasizes this reality both in a negative way as well as a positive way. Negatively, he is not like the false teachers who do what they do in a sphere, or motivation, of deceit and are characterized by error and uncleanness (v.3). It is interesting that the prepositions in this verse (ek/ex) signify that Paul indicates the condition of his motivation. His exhortation is not “from error”. That is, it does not come from a source that is error. The word ‘error’ is plano which indicates a wandering from the truth. Paul is saying that his exhortation is not from a heart that has wandered from the truth. Next, he says that their exhortation is not “from impurity”. This word is also used in 1 Thessalonians 4:7 to refer to sexual immorality, which is called ‘uncleanness’. The word indicates a filth associated with a life that is bent on sexual perversion. Just as today, most false teachers are characterized, whether public or private, by a certain filth that comes from some sexual deviation. Paul indicates that he is not like that. Third, he writes that their exhortation is not “by way of deceit”. Here, ek/ex is not used but the preposition ‘en’ which indicates a total sphere of operation. That is, his consummate motivation, his ultimate goal, is not to deceive but rather speak the truth.
On the positive side, he simply states that their hearts have been tested by God, and He continually proves them (indicated by the present participle “but God who is examining our hearts’) down deep in their souls. God has purged these men, Paul, Silas, and Timothy, in the depths of their hearts and have found them faithful. How? It would seem that the place where the testing occurred would have been the Antioch church, from which they were sent initially (Acts 13:1ff). Their faithful teaching there over time indicates a faithfulness to the proclamation of God’s gospel. This seems to be the second aspect of the wonderful results of conversions in Thessalonica. The power of the gospel (1:5) spoken accurately by a proven man whose heart has been purged of deceit results in God using that man for fruitful ministry. In either case, God is glorified as it is His gospel and the vessel is His work of pruning (cf. John 15:2). Therefore, the ministry is really of God. To Him alone be all the glory (Ephesians 3:20-21)!
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