I Thessalonians: Sharing the Gospel; Sharing Ourselves.

⁷ But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. ⁸ So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us” (1 Thessalonians 2:7–8 (ESV)

How do you view ministry? How does your pastor view ministry? In other words, how are believers in Christ to view serving other believers in Christ, or unbelievers for that matter? Is it a task, a toil, and a tiresome tyranny to people who love to take advantage of the individual’s good will? Do we like to minister and serve when it is convenient and hate it when it interferes with our plans and enjoyments?

Admittedly, there are too many horror stories of unkind churches who abominably treated their pastor(s), and unkind pastors who abominably treated their parishioners. There is enough blame to go around.

How are pastors and churches to treat each other? The Apostle Peter wrote this in his first epistle.

“So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: ² shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; ³ not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. ⁴ And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. ⁵ Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:1–5 (ESV)

This text was examined in our initial series of blogs in 2017. I encourage you to access those essays for your enjoyment and edification. What I find interesting is Peter’s words parallel the Apostle Paul’s, in his first letter the Thessalonian church. This should not surprise us because ultimately the Holy Spirit is the author of Scripture (2 Peter 1:20-21).   

In their ministry to the Thessalonians, Paul, Silas and Timothy were gentle (ἤπιοι; epioi) like infant children to the Thessalonians. They were also like a nursing mother (τροφὸς; trophos) meaning to feed and to rear her children. They viewed believers in the church as their own children. Taking care of them (θάλπῃ; thalpe) means they spiritually fostered and cherished each believer in Christ.

They were affectionately desirous of them. Affectionately desirous (ὁμειρόμενοι; homeiromenoi) refers to a present and personal caring and a desire to be in the company of certain individuals. This was Paul and his companion’s perspective toward this church.   

They were also ready to share with them. This included not only the gospel of Jesus Christ but also their own lives. No sacrifice was too great. No task too small. This was because this group of believers were very dear to these three men.

“Paul and his companions dearly loved the church at Thessalonica. They were ready to share not only the gospel but even their own selves—they were ready to go above and beyond for the Thessalonians’ sake,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.”

“Paul says they were as gentle with the Thessalonians as a nursing mother is with her own children (vv. 7–8). In the ancient world, nursing mothers were often hired to feed the children of other people. A tender bond frequently developed between a wet nurse and the child she was paid to care for, but it could not compare to her love for her own children. Paul and his coworkers had such love for the Thessalonians, giving us a model for ministers.” 

“Paul may have had in mind Moses’ portrayal of himself as a nursing mother to Israel (cf. Num. 11:12). He used the same tender picture with the Corinthians (cf. 2 Cor. 12:14–15) and the Galatians (cf. Gal. 4:19). Paul’s affection for the Thessalonians was like that felt by a mother willing to sacrifice her life for her child, as was Christ who was willing to give up his own life for those who would be born again into the family of God (cf. Matt. 20:28),” states Dr. John MacArthur.

Do we as pastors view our congregations in this matter. Do we as parishioners prompt this type of response in our pastors? May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!