1 Thessalonians 2

1 Thessalonians 2:1-20 . HIS MANNER OF PREACHING, AND THEIRS OF RECEIVING, THE GOSPEL; HIS DESIRE TO HAVE REVISITED THEM FRUSTRATED BY SATAN.

1. For--confirming 1 Thessalonians 1:9 . He discusses the manner of his fellow missionaries' preaching among them ( 1 Thessalonians 1:5 , and former part of 1 Thessalonians 2:9 ) at 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 ; and the Thessalonians' reception of the word (compare 1 Thessalonians 1:6 1 Thessalonians 1:7 , and latter part of 1 Thessalonians 2:9 ) at 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 .
yourselves--Not only do strangers report it, but you know it to be true [ALFORD] "yourselves."
not in vain--Greek, "not vain," that is, it was full of "power" ( 1 Thessalonians 1:5 ). The Greek for "was," expresses rather "hath been and is," implying the permanent and continuing character of his preaching.

2. even after that we had suffered before--at Philippi ( Acts 16:11-40 ): a circumstance which would have deterred mere natural, unspiritual men from further preaching.
shamefully entreated--ignominiously scourged ( Acts 16:22 Acts 16:23 ).
bold--( Acts 4:29 , Ephesians 6:20 ).
in our God--The ground of our boldness in speaking was the realization of God as "OUR God."
with much contention--that is, literally, as of competitors in a contest: striving earnestness ( Colossians 1:29 , 2:1 ). But here outward conflict with persecutors, rather than inward and mental, was what the missionaries had to endure ( Acts 17:5 Acts 17:6 , Philippians 1:30 ).

3. For--The ground of his "boldness" ( 1 Thessalonians 2:2 ), his freedom from all "deceit, uncleanness, and guile"; guile, before God, deceit (Greek, "imposture"), towards men (compare 2 Corinthians 1:12 , 2:17 , Ephesians 4:14 ); uncleanness, in relation to one's self (impure motives of carnal self-gratification in gain, 1 Thessalonians 2:5 ), or lust; such as actuated false teachers of the Gentiles ( Philippians 1:16 , 2 Peter 2:10 2 Peter 2:14 , Jude 1:8 , Revelation 2:14 Revelation 2:15 ). So Simon Magus and Cerinthus taught [ESTIUS].
exhortation--The Greek means "consolation" as well as "exhortation." The same Gospel which exhorts comforts. Its first lesson to each is that of peace in believing amidst outward and inward sorrows. It comforts them that mourn (compare 1 Thessalonians 2:11 , Isaiah 61:2 Isaiah 61:3 , 2 Corinthians 1:3 2 Corinthians 1:4 ).
of--springing from--having its source in--deceit, &c.