1 Thessalonians 2:3-6 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

For our exhortation That is, our preaching, a part being put for the whole; was not of deceit With a design to seduce or corrupt any one by false doctrine; or, we preach not a lie, but the truth of God; nor of uncleanness Tending to encourage men in their impure course of life; nor in guile To procure esteem or any worldly advantage to ourselves, under pretence of aiming at the glory of God. In this verse, and in those that follow to 1 Thessalonians 2:12, “the apostle delineates his own character, and the character of his assistants as teachers, on purpose to make the Thessalonians sensible that they had nothing in common with impostors, who are always found to use the mean, vicious practices, which the Christian teachers in this passage disclaimed.” But as we were allowed Δεδοκιμασμεθα, were approved, of God; to be intrusted with the gospel That most invaluable treasure; even so we speak That is, preach; not as pleasing men After the manner of impostors, accommodating our doctrine to their tastes and prejudices; but God, who trieth our hearts It is our constant endeavour to secure his approbation. And what stronger proof can be given of our not preaching with guile? Neither used we flattering words To insinuate ourselves into your affections: this ye know; nor a cloak of covetousness A pretence of piety to promote the schemes of covetousness; of this God is witness. Macknight reads, with a cloak over covetousness; justly observing, that covetousness is never used as a cloak to cover any thing, but needs a cover to conceal itself. The apostle calls men to witness an open fact; God, the secret intentions of the heart: in a point of a mixed nature, (1 Thessalonians 2:10,) he appeals both to God and man. Flattery and covetousness were vices to which the teachers of philosophy, in ancient times, were remarkably addicted. And they are vices which, more or less, enter into the character of all impostors, who, as the apostle observes, (Romans 16:18,) by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. Nor Instead of seeking to acquire power or riches by preaching; of men sought we glory That is, popularity, honour, and applause; neither of you, nor yet of others Among whom we laboured and conversed. Nay, we did not seek so much as the respect of a suitable maintenance; when we might have been burdensome That is, might have claimed support; as the apostles of Christ Who had authorized us to take from our hearers what was necessary for our subsistence, but we maintained ourselves by the labour of our own hands. He refers to the right they had of being maintained at the charge of those to whom they ministered. See 1 Corinthians 9:6-14; 1 Timothy 5:18. But he was acting now on the same maxims at Corinth, (from whence he wrote this epistle,) by which he had governed himself at Thessalonica. See Acts 18:3.