11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.” (1 Thessalonians 2:11–12 (ESV)
Paul, Silas and Timothy previously compared themselves to a nursing mother when describing their relationship with the Thessalonian Church (I Thess. 2:7-8). They then compared themselves to a father with his children. What do the Scriptures say about fathers? Here is but a brief sampling.
Psalm 103:13 (ESV)– “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.”
Proverbs 4:20–27 (ESV) – “20 My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. 23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. 24 Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. 25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. 27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”
Proverbs 17:21(ESV) – “He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.”
Proverbs 23:24 (ESV) – “The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.”
Ephesians 6:4 (ESV) – “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
Hebrews 12:7–11 (ESV) – 7 “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
Paul listed three characteristics of godly natural and spiritual fathers. They exhort, encourage and charge their children. What did the apostle mean?
To exhort (παρακαλοῦντες; parakalountes) is a present, active participle. It means to urge and implore. The word admonish is used in some translations to carry the idea of corrective instruction and challenge.
To encourage (παραμυθούμενοι; paramythoumenoi) is a present, middle participle. It also to comfort and console. This characteristic of a father is necessary when children are hurting: either physically, mentally or emotionally.
To charge (μαρτυρόμενοι; martyromenoi) is a present, middle participle. It means to call to witness, and to solemnly affirm.
The pronoun “you” after each participle is repetitive. It is not a superfluous repetition but emphasizes the missionary’s ministry to both the collective congregation along with individual believers.
“They had admonished them so they would act freely, encouraged them so that they would act gladly, and testified so that they would act reverently,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.
“They had dealt with each one of them, having done individual pastoral work among them. They had also dealt with all of them as a group, addressing them collectively, teaching them, explaining the Word of God to them, and exhorting them to accept it by faith and to live in accordance with it. They had figured the immaturity of these people, and had loved them dearly. Both of these ideas, immaturity and love, are implied in the term children.”
Paul, Silas and Timothy did all these things so the Thessalonian believers in Christ would live in a manner worthy of the Lord. This thought from in the New Testament parallels the Old Testament psalmist’s thoughts in Psalm One. The principle of Scripture interpreting Scripture applies.
This worthy walk is due to God’s sovereign call, or invitation, into the kingdom of God. It is because of this sovereign, gracious and efficacious call that believers in Christ are to give God all the glory.
“Exhorted . . . encouraged . . . charged. Paul used these three words to describe his fatherly relationship with the Thessalonians since they were his children in the faith. They emphasized the personal touch of a loving father (cf. 1 Cor. 4:14–15). his own kingdom and glory. This speaks of the sphere of eternal salvation (cf. Col. 1:13–14) culminating in the splendor of heaven,” explains Dr, John MacArthur.
“Paul clearly refers to moral instruction— “a manner worthy of God.” God’s Word commands parents, particularly fathers, to make sure that children learn the Scriptures, especially its eternally valid moral principles (Deut. 6:6–7; Prov. 1:8–9; Eph. 6:4),” states Dr. R.C. Sproul.
“Second, given that Paul ministered in Thessalonica for only three weeks or so, this moral teaching was delivered at roughly the same time as or immediately after his preaching the gospel (Acts 17:1–4). Moral instruction could not be delayed but had to take place right away, which shows that the Christian ethic is inseparable from the Christian gospel. Lose one, and the other will disappear as well.”
“Third, Paul indicates that living the Christian ethic is “worthy of God” (1 Thess. 2:12). Essentially, the Apostle means that believers must live in such a way that it can rightly be said of them that they belong to God. In other words, our conduct must reflect the character of God Himself,” concludes Dr. Sproul.
How may we accomplish this worthy walk? It is a cooperative effort between each believer in Christ and God the Holy Spirit. 12 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure,” (Philippians 2:12–13 ESV).
As we seek to pursue a holy life, let us remember God is working in us; not only to desire holiness but also to pursue it for the Lord’s honor, glory and praise. May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
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