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| 1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: |
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| 2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. |
Shamefully entreated – Paul and Silas' clothing was torn from them, and the command was given that they should be beaten with rods and imprisoned. R3123:1
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| 3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: |
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| 4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. |
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| 5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness: |
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| 6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. |
We might have been burdensome – The Apostle might have said you owe me, to care for my temporal necessities, but the Gospel message is not given along lines of justice, but along the lines of love and compassion. R2500:5
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| 7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: |
But we were gentle – Paul did not act as a lord or master amongst slaves or subordinates. R3130:2
The apostles issued neither bulls nor anathemas, but loving entreaties. F232
The apostles never claimed a monopoly of the teaching or of the pastoral work of the Church; nor did the Lord ever intimate that they should do so. R1524:1
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| 8 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. |
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| 9 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. |
Labor and travail – The Apostle did not belong to a paid ministry. He had a message to deliver which he appreciated so highly to spend his life in its promulgation--using for other purposes only so much of time and energy as necessary to procure necessities. R3157:6
Laboring – Working with his hands, as well as preaching and expounding the Scriptures. R3130:2
Some missed a grand opportunity when Paul needed to make tents to support himself. R733:2
He neither coveted their silver and gold, nor asked for it or their praise. R2500:5
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| 10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: |
We behaved – Paul lived an unblameable, unselfish life in their midst, giving them the Gospel, and with it his very life. R3130:2
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| 11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
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And comforted – Not harassed, threatened and upbraided. This spirit in the apostles as fathers and brethren in the Church should be a guide to all who would be sons of consolation. R3435:6
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| 12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. |
Who hath called you – The new creature is to remember that he has become a representative of God and his righteousness. "As he that hath called you is holy, so be ye holy." (1 Pet. 1:15) F91
Unto his kingdom – "Whereunto he called you by our gospel." (2 Thes. 2:14) R1419:4
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| 13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. |
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| 14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: |
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| 15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: |
Persecuted us – Largely by those who had some light, but whose light was darkness in comparison to the great light of the holy Spirit shining in and through the Lord's fully consecrated ones. R2415:2
The persecutors of the "Body," like the persecutors of the Head, are cooperating to fulfill the divine plan in a manner they little suspect. R2415:3
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| 16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. |
For the wrath – The wrath of God which entirely swallowed up the nation and left the land almost desolate, scattering the people amongst all the nations. R3292:5
If all the woes purposed of God upon the Israelites in the conclusion of their age were fulfilled, then none of those woes belong to the future. CR423:1
Is come upon them – The fire of trouble through which fleshly Israel passed when Jesus was present, has already come upon the Jewish people. A229; C300; E357
All the woes purposed of God were fulfilled. CR423:2; R5505:4
The "wrath to come" (Luke 3:7) did come upon the nation b R2564:1, 4656:4, 4172:6, 2786:4
The Jews had experienced great blessings and privileges, and these being misused brought great darkness and a terrible national judgment. R1983:2
History estimates the trouble which came upon Israel, within forty years of our Lord's utterance, as the most awful that had thus far occurred amongst men. R1702:2
After the holy Spirit coming upon the infant Church at Pentecost, had searched, sifted and winnowed out of the Jewish dispensation all the wheat, then the fire came upon the chaff. R2927:2
The curses mentioned by Moses (Deut. 28:15, 46, 49, 63-67) that wouldour Lord's day. C300
"He shall baptize you with fire" (Matt. 3:11) F445; NS21:2, 626:4
Their national sin--expiated by their punishment in the past 1,800 years, as Paul foretold. R4612:3
To the uttermost – In their complete ruin as a nation in the time of trouble at the close of the Jewish age. R2599:4
During those forty years ending the Jewish age. At the close of 70 AD the nation went to pieces. R5470:6, 5505:4, NS218:2, 305:4
They have been under that wrath and unable to reestablish themselves as a nation from that day to the present time. R2564:1
They have been cut off completely from favor. R4656:4
Divine anger burned against fleshly Israel and did continue until as a people they had suffered for their national sins. After divine wrath has burned out their national transgression, he will speak peaceably toward them. E357; R2599:4
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| 17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. |
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| 18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. |
Satan hindered us – The Apostle was a firm believer in a personal devil. R3165:6
We are sure that the Lord would overrule the machinations of Satan and cause them to work out his own glory. R5712:4
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| 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye, before our Lord Jesus Christ in his presence? |
At his coming – Greek: parousia; presence. R223:2, 2978:6, 1693:1
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| 20 For ye are our glory and joy. |
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