1st Thessalonians Chapter 2 verse 3 Holy Bible

Pulpit Commentary

Pulpit CommentaryVerse 3. - For our exhortation. This word has a twofold signification, denoting both "exhortation" and "consolation;" when it refers to the moral conduct it denotes exhortation, but when it is an address to a sufferer it denotes consolation. In the gospel these two meanings are blended together. Was not of deceit. Not in the sense of guile, which would be tantological, but simply "error," without any direct evil intent; our gospel was not a delusion - we were not ourselves deceived. Nor of uncleanness; a word usually employed to denote sensuality, and in this sense the meaning is - We did not, like the heathen in their worship, give occasion to unclean practices: "We have corrupted no man" (2 Corinthians 7:2). The word, however, may be taken in a more general sense, as denoting impurity of disposition, impure motives: such as the impure desire of applause or of gain, to which the apostle afterwards alludes. Or of guile. As we were not ourselves deceived, so neither did we attempt to deceive others. The apostle did not adapt his religion, an. Mahomet, to suit the prejudices or passions of men; he did not employ any seductive or temporizing arts; but he boldly went in the face of the prevailing religions of the age, both of the Jews and of the Gentiles.

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(3) "The reason that we were able to endure so much was our consciousness of the sincerity and purity of our attention."Exhortation.--Exhortation is an attempt to make men take a particular line of action. "Our efforts to get men to act as we wish," St. Paul says, "do not spring from a desire to dupe them," etc. It is a question whether "of deceit" is the right rendering, or "of error," "all a mistake." If the latter, the argument would be that of Paley's Evidences, i.e., to deduce the truth of the revelation from the sufferings of its prophets. But the points raised in contrast, in 1Thessalonians 2:4-12, seem to preclude this meaning, which would be more likely to introduce some substantiation of the gospel truths, as in 2Peter 1:16.Of uncleanness.--It is possible that the word only means "with impure (or covetous) motives;" but it probably refers to the subtle forms of temptation which often accompany spiritual work. See, for example, the Greek of 1Timothy 1:5; also 5:1, 2; 2Timothy 3:4-7.In guile.--The preposition is changed;" nor yet by the use of tricks;" Not only were their motives sincere and pure, but their manner of dealing straightforward. . . .