Like a Nursing Mother: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results.

Paul remembered those weeks in Thessalonica. The synagogue. The marketplace. The homes that opened. The faces that believed.

Not without results. Despite the brevity. Despite the opposition. Despite the forced departure. Results had come.

We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.

Philippi was fresh when they arrived. The beating. The imprisonment. The public humiliation. Paul still bore the welts.

Treated outrageously. Hubris—insulted, shamed. And yet we dared. Parresiasasthai—spoke boldly, spoke freely. In the face of strong opposition. Agon—struggle, contest. Thessalonica had its own opposition, but the missionaries spoke anyway.

For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.

The defense began. False teachers abounded. Traveling philosophers used rhetoric for profit. Paul differentiated himself.

Not from error—the message was true. Not from impure motives—the heart was clean. Not trying to trick—no deceit, no manipulation.

On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.

Approved by God. Dokimazo—tested and found genuine. Entrusted with the gospel. A sacred trust. A stewardship.

Not trying to please people. The message wasn't crafted for popularity. But God. God was the audience. Who tests our hearts. Present tense. Continuous examination. God saw the motives.

You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness.

Never used flattery. Logos kolakeias—words of flattery. The manipulative praise that served the flatterer's agenda. Paul didn't use it.

Nor did we put on a mask. Prophasis—pretext, cloak. To cover up greed. Pleonexia. Some teachers were in it for money. Paul wasn't.

God is our witness. The final court of appeal. God saw what humans couldn't.

We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority.

Not looking for praise. Doxa—glory, honor. Not from you—the Thessalonians. Not from anyone else.

We could have asserted our authority. The right was real. Apostles of Christ. Weight. Gravitas. But we didn't.

Instead, we were like young children among you.

Young children. Nepioi. Gentle. Unassuming. Not asserting authority but serving humbly.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you.

The image shifted. A nursing mother. Trophos—one who nourishes. The most tender image. The most intimate care. Mother and infant.

So we cared for you. Not commanded. Not dominated. Cared.

Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.

We loved you. Eudokeo—delighted in, took pleasure in. So much—the intensity was real.

Delighted to share. Not just the gospel—though that was primary. But our lives. Heautōn psuchas—our own souls, our very selves. Complete giving. Nothing held back.

Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.

They would remember. The long hours in the workshop. Making tents by lamplight. Night and day.

In order not to be a burden. Financial independence. Paul wouldn't take their money. He worked for his bread. While preaching the gospel. Ministry and manual labor. Both. Daily.

You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.

You are witnesses. They had seen. God is witness. He had seen what they hadn't.

Holy. Righteous. Blameless. Three terms. Devout in worship. Just in dealings. Above accusation.

Among you who believed. The community of faith had watched Paul's life.

For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children.

The image shifted again. A father. Each of you—individual attention. Not mass instruction but personal engagement.

As a father deals with his own children. Not orphans. Not strangers' children. His own children. Personal investment. Parental authority tempered by parental love.

Encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

Three verbs. Encouraging—parakaleo—calling alongside, summoning courage. Comforting—paramutheomai—consoling, speaking gently. Urging—marturomai—witnessing, solemnly charging.

To live lives worthy of God. Axios—matching, corresponding. Lives that fit who God is.

Who calls you into his kingdom and glory. The calling. The destination. Kingdom and glory. This is what they were saved for.

Paul remembered those weeks. The synagogue debates. The household conversations. The workplace evangelism. The nightly tent-making.

A nursing mother. A caring father. Both images. Tenderness and training. Nourishment and urging.

The Thessalonians had grown so quickly.

And Paul loved them like children.

His own children in the faith.