3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.” (I Thessalonians 2:3–4 (ESV)
“Throughout church history, preachers who have left a lasting impact upon the church and their generation have always been known for their strong, biblical preaching. God’s work is to be done God’s way if it is to know God’s blessing. This necessitates the centrality and primacy of biblical preaching in the church. If we are to see another Reformation, Puritan era, or Great Awakening, then we must see a return to expository preaching in the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul commanded Timothy to “Preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2). In this present hour, we must see again preaching that is biblical, preaching that is authoritative, and preaching, quite frankly, that is dominant,” wrote one preacher about his craft and God’s calling to preach.
In writing to the Thessalonian church, the Apostle Paul explained it was the Lord working through him, Silas and Timothy to boldly declare the gospel of God to them (I Thess. 2:1-2). Therefore, their preaching was biblical, authoritative and effectual because it was obedience to God driven and not pleasing to the audience driven. Paul previously stated the gospel came to the Thessalonians not only in word, referring to what the missionaries said, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction (I Thess. 1:5).
“The Apostle defends his ministry because some people were criticizing his work in the hearing of the Thessalonians. To understand why some Thessalonian Christians might listen to these criticisms, we need to consider the first-century religious context of the Thessalonians,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
“In that era, many would-be philosophers and leaders of new religions traveled from city to city, seeking to gain an audience. Some of these individuals believed what they were teaching, but others were charlatans who sought to take advantage of men and women for their own financial gain. Although Paul preached the gospel of the one true God, it was easy for his opponents to accuse him of exploiting his students just as other teachers did.”
Paul used two words in today’s text when referring to his preaching the gospel of God. The first was the word appeal (παράκλησις; paraklesis), which means to encourage, comfort and to earnestly plead.
“The noun and the verb appeal (παράκλησις, παρακαλέω related to παράκλητος; see N.T.C. on John 14:16), basically a calling to one’s side, can have various meanings: appeal or entreat(y), exhort(ation), encourage(ment), comfort. The exact meaning depends on the context in each instance,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.
“Here appeal or entreaty (cf. the use of the verb in 2 Cor. 5:20), fits as well as any. It was the message by means of which the missionaries, clothed with authority from God and with yearning sympathy, had pleaded with the hearers to forsake their wicked ways and to turn to God in Christ.”
Paul stated this appeal to repent of sin and to turn to God in Christ did not come from error (πλάνης; planes) by self-deluded imposters, from impurity or immorality (ἀκαθαρσίας; akatharsias), or any attempt to deceive (δόλῳ; dolo) or to trick, to be cunning or treacherous.
Rather, the motivation to preach the Word of God (2 Tim. 4:1-5) was because all three men, note the personal pronouns “our” and “we,” were God approved (δεδοκιμάσμεθα; dedokimasmetha). God examined them and judged them to be good.
Good for what? God judged them worthy to be entrusted (πιστευθῆναι; pisteuthenai), or faithful, committed, and dependable with the gospel. This a holy trust. This is a sacred trust. This is an important trust.
Paul then used a second word; speak (λαλοῦμεν; laloumen). This refers to presently and actively communicating to individuals. What Paul and his companions spoke was the gospel. The goal was not to please men but to please God. To please (ἀρέσκοντες; areskontes) in this context means to make God happy and not people. This is the overall goal of preaching.
It is God who tests (δοκιμάζοντι; dokimazonti) and examines the preacher’s heart to see if it is genuinely committed to preach the Word. The Lord does this presently and actively.
The good news that comes from God, had been the objective source of Paul’s appeal to the Thessalonians. These three official ambassadors had been approved by God and therefore stand approved (the perfect of abiding result of a verb which in the present tense means to test; perfect tense, to have been tested, here: with favorable results; hence, approved,” continues Dr. Henriksen. “For the divine approbation entrusting Paul, Silas, and Timothy with the gospel of salvation, the following passages come into consideration: Acts 9:15; 13:1–4; 15:40; 16:1, 2; 1 Tim. 1:2, 12, 18; 6:12, 20; 2 Tim. 1:5, 13, 14.”
“Now it was in strict accordance with God’s directive, that these missionaries were always telling (note present continuative) the good news. Hence, their message was not an error, but truth springing from the highest source. And the motive in bringing it was not selfish—for instance, pleasing men in order to gain favor; cf. Gal. 1:10—but most commendable: pleasing God (cf. 4:1; 2 Thess. 2:4), the One before whom nothing is hid, and who tests our hearts (see Jer. 17:10; then 11:20; Ps. 7:9; Ps. 139). The human eye cannot discern the inner motive of his fellowman, whether good or bad; hence, Paul, as it were, appeals to God’s omniscience,” concludes Dr. Hendriksen.
Do we seek to share the gospel of God to people with the goal of making them happy or God? Who ultimately are believers in Christ to please? May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a God pleasing day.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 