1 Thessalonians 2:11 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

Navigator

1 Thessalonians 2:11

Comments

Verse 10 seems to give the foundation of holiness; verse 11 gives the spirit of the evangelist, their disposition, you might say. This is challenging and interesting. Of course, the apostle Paul has in mind ideal fathers. A father does not speak over the heads of his children. There is the household, of boys, girls, maybe a few, maybe many. But if there is correction to be done or encouragement to be given, the father speaks to them.The word ‘exhorted’ is from the verb to call near. You were appealed to and implored and persuaded. You were comforted, encouraged, consoled. And you were charged. Tyndale translates that rather wonderfully – besought. It is an old-fashioned word. How we exhorted, comforted, pleaded with, implored, besought you. Every one of you, every condition, every situation. When we preach the gospel, we have to try to preach to every kind of sinner, every condition. Of course, we are not speaking to everybody one by one, but the preacher must bear in mind: Have I addressed the wilful rebel? Have I addressed the confused mind that needs convincing? Have I addressed this kind of rebel against God, that kind of rebel against God? The arguments are all there in the Scripture. ‘I must speak to all sorts and conditions of men and women’, he said to himself. ‘I must appeal to every hindrance, every kind of unbelief, every hesitation, and reason and persuade.’ So we are seeing first of all a picture of the preaching. And of course, also it was translated into personal ministry.

Application

In the same way the preacher should speak to the people. He is trying to reach people. He is not just giving an exposition. He is of course expounding the Scripture. He must do that, but he is not just speaking as though there was a glass bubble around the pulpit, and as long as we explain it all and unfold it all, that is all that is to be done. No, there are people there, and the people must feel that it is for them, and it must be applied to them. And they must be in mind and all their conditions and circumstances must be helped and comforted and addressed. So there must be a connection. Some preachers do not get it and their congregations never feel that they are in mind, that their needs are being met, that their circumstances are being considered and helped.

What are we like as fathers with our children? In verse 7, the apostle Paul has already said, ‘We were gentle among you, even as a nurse.’ He has in mind a mother, a nursing mother, and now he has got the father as an example. Do fathers take sufficient interest in their children? It is no good a father, or a mother come to that, being a good reprover if you have not first of all been a good friend, if you do not follow the interests of your children. Not in an overbearing way, not crushing their spirit, not taking over their life, but nevertheless taking an interest, and a close interest and even a responsibility. And if it is not done on the positive side with friendship and with encouragement, you have got no currency with which to give effective reproof, else all one does is stir up resentment and hostility. Even in a pagan society among the Thessalonians, Paul could assume that many typical fathers were interested in their children and concerned for their children.

Questions

Outline

Purpose

Introduction

1 Thessalonians 2:11 Commentary and Bible Study