Peter Barnes: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 (Part 1)
SERMON NOTES: PAUL AS A TRUE PASTOR
Paul writes 1 Thessalonians, and he seems vulnerable to criticism after the events of Acts 17:1-10. In verse 1 Paul may have meant that he was not empty of results (F. F. Bruce, NIV, Jerusalem Bible, J. B. Phillips, GNB, NEB). J. B. Lightfoot says that Paul means that he was not empty of purpose; William Hendriksen says that he was not empty-handed. Jeffrey Weima and Leon Morris say he was ‘not insincere’. The ESV says Paul’s ministry was ‘not in vain’.
- We must be bold.
– 2:2. He is referring back to what happened in Philippi (Acts 16:19-24).
– Eph.6:18-20; Acts 4:29; 2 Tim.1:7.
- We must be faithful.
– 2:3-4. What are some of the temptations in ministry? Error, impurity, and deception.
– we are not to be offensive – 1 Cor.10:32-33. We are not to be unpleasant, but some things are not negotiable – Gal.1:9-10.
- We must be genuine before God and man.
– 2:5-6. This develops the previous point.
(b) Flattery is not encouragement. Note Mark 2:17. There is a conviction of sin which does not flatter our egos at all.
(b) Nor was Paul after their money. 2 Cor.12:14. Paul says that as an apostle he had the right to make demands, but he did not.
(c) Paul was not seeking glory (or honour or prestige; the NIV has ‘praise’) from men either – John 5:40-41, 44.
– Paul gives us an insight into what it means to be a pastor, and what it means to be a Christian who proclaims or exhorts the gospel.