The apostle stressed repeatedly their entrance toward the believers (1 Thes. 1:5, 9). This shows that their manner of life played a great role in infusing the gospel into the new converts. It was not only what they said but what they were.

See note Phil. 1:1^1c.

This was the apostles' experience of God in enjoying Him as their boldness in the struggle for the gospel.

Deception refers to the goal, uncleanness to the motive, and guile to the means. All three are of and by the subtle and deceiving devil.

God's entrusting depends on His approval, which comes out of His testing. The apostles were first tested and approved by God and then were entrusted by Him with the gospel. Hence, their speaking, the preaching of the gospel, was not of themselves to please men but of God to please Him. He proved, examined, and tested their hearts continually (Psa. 26:2; 139:23-24).

Or, pretense, cloak. To have any pretext for covetousness is to peddle or adulterate the word of God (2 Cor. 2:17; 4:2). It is also to pretend to be godly for the sake of gain (1 Tim. 6:5; Titus 1:11; 2 Pet. 2:3).

To seek glory from men is a real temptation to every Christian worker. Many have been devoured and spoiled by this matter.

Or, asserted authority. Lit., been able to be in weight; i.e., been burdensome (cf. v. 9; 1 Cor. 9:4-12). To assert authority, dignity, or right in Christian work damages that work. The Lord Jesus, while on earth, gave up His dignity (John 13:4-5), and the apostle preferred not to use his right (1 Cor. 9:12).

In some instances the Greek word means a mother; hence, a nursing mother (cf. Gal. 4:19).

Cherishing, which includes nourishing, indicates care that is more tender than mere nourishing. See note Eph. 5:29^1a.

Being affectionately fond of, affectionately desirous of, like a nursing mother affectionately interested in her child, whom she nourishes and cherishes. This was what the apostles did with new believers. See note 1 Thes. 2:17³.

To live a clean and upright life, as portrayed in vv. 3-6 and 10, and to love the new converts, even by giving our own souls to them, as described in vv. 7-9, 11, are the prerequisites for infusing them with the salvation conveyed in the gospel that we preach.

See note Luke 1:75^1a. Holy refers to conduct toward God, righteous to conduct toward men, and blameless to conduct toward all — God, men, and Satan.

The apostle was strong in stressing what or how they were (1 Thes. 1:5), because what they were opened the way to bring their new converts into God's full salvation.

In cherishing the believers as their own children, the apostles considered themselves a nursing mother; in exhorting the believers, a father.

Or, entreating.

God's calling is according to His selection and follows His selection (1 Thes. 1:4).

As worshippers of idols (1 Thes. 1:9), the believers were in the kingdom of Satan (Matt. 12:26). Now, through the salvation in Christ they were called, and they have believed into the kingdom of God, which is the sphere in which they can worship and enjoy God under the divine ruling with the view of entering into God's glory.

God's glory goes with His kingdom. See note Matt. 6:13^4d.

Lit., the word of hearing of God from us.

The word received by the believers was from the apostles, but it was of God. Its source, its origin, was God and not the apostles.

Since the word of God is living and operative (Heb. 4:12), it operates in the believing ones.

The apostle taught the same thing in all the churches (1 Cor. 4:17; 7:17; 11:16), indicating that all the churches should bear the same testimony of Jesus. Hence, the churches are all lampstands of the same kind (Rev. 1:9, 20).

Lit., to the end; hence, to the uttermost.

This word implies that the apostles considered the new converts precious and dear to them. Paul likened their departure from them to a bereavement, a loss that they suffered through missing them.

Lit., the season of an hour.

This is the apostles' yearning over the new converts (v. 8).

Because the apostles were carrying out the will of God, Satan frustrated them.

Gk. parousia, meaning presence, as in 1 Thes. 3:13 and 1 Thes. 4:15. The Lord's coming is His presence. In this light these two early Epistles were written. Every chapter of the first Epistle ends with the Lord's coming back.

Since the apostles were the believers' nursing mother and exhorting father (vv. 7, 11), the believers, as the apostles' children, were their glory and joy.