2:1 For {1} yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
(1) That which he mentioned before briefly concerning his apostleship, he handles now more at large, and to that end and purpose which we spoke of.
2:1 Paul's Ministry at Thessalonica
SUMMARY OF I THESSALONIANS 2:
How the Gospel Was Brought to Thessalonica. The Manner of Paul's Preaching. His Manner of Life. His Exhortation. Their Persecutions. His Desire to Return to Comfort Them.
Our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain. The existence of the flourishing church, where none had before existed, was proof of that fact.
2:1 What was proposed, 1Thess 1:5,6, is now more largely treated of: concerning Paul and his fellowlabourers, 1Th 2:1 - 12; concerning the Thessalonians, 1Th 2:13 - 16.
2:1-6 The apostle had no wordly design in his preaching. Suffering in a good cause should sharpen holy resolution. The gospel of Christ at first met with much opposition; and it was preached with contention, with striving in preaching, and against opposition. And as the matter of the apostle's exhortation was true and pure, the manner of his speaking was without guile. The gospel of Christ is designed for mortifying corrupt affections, and that men may be brought under the power of faith. This is the great motive to sincerity, to consider that God not only sees all we do, but knows our thoughts afar off, and searches the heart. And it is from this God who trieth our hearts, that we must receive our reward. The evidences of the apostle's sincerity were, that he avoided flattery and covetousness. He avoided ambition and vain-glory.
