(Deuteronomy 4:2 [KJV]) Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I
command you.
(Proverbs 30:5, 6 [KJV]) Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
(Isaiah 28:10 [KJV])
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
(Isaiah 28:13 [KJV])
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
(2 Peter 1:20 [KJV])
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
All of the studies, book or topical, found here, are done with research with mainly two things: The KING JAMES BIBLE and a plain old, 1828 Webster's Dictionary. Why? Outside of actually studying secular and Jewish history, archaeology, one needs nothing more. You do not need foreign, dead languages that no one speaks, lexicons, concordances or commentaries, because they differ not only with one another and with the KING JAMES BIBLE, but they create division, confusion, debate, and unbelief. We do not need them. That Word of God written and preserved for us in our own language is supposed to be enough, like the Old Testament was for the Jews, and the New Testament for the early Christians in Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, German, etc. There are studies within as tangents on words, subjects found within the two testaments, as to broaden the scope of the study, to learn more, deeper truths. This is not an intellectual site with PhDs, theologians, and no worldly wisdom.. Check everything out, everything. Not just here, but with everything you read and see and hear. Be Bereans:
(Acts 17:11 [KJV])
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Always research for yourself, use all of the context, and never privately interpret!
1 Thessalonians Chapter 2: THE PERSECUTION FOR THE GOSPEL AND THE REWARDS OF FELLOWSHIP
(1 Thessalonians 2:1-2 [AKJV/PCE])
For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
Paul is telling them that he has a clear conscience about the work they did among them, preaching the Gospel, not being a money burden, gently but firmly, honestly, openly, under attack, under strife, under contention (literally fighting), under persecution
So at Philippi, so at Thesalonica, as every place from Jerusalem outward to the Gentiles, intense persecution and martyrdom, so much that many thought that this was The Great Tribulation, still future 2,000 plus years after this time
(1 Thessalonians 2:3-4 [AKJV/PCE])
For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
The Gospel is not the same as any single other religion by man ever invented, what the world believes, what the world wants to hear
Religion says man is good and can work his way to God via his works, some even teaching that man eventually becomes God
All other beliefs are religious guile, masquerading as being from God
The Gospel says man is fallen, wicked, evil, cannot save himself and that one Man, the man from God Who is God came to save mankind from his sins, because man cannot save himself
(1 Thessalonians 2:5 [AKJV/PCE])
For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
All other beliefs and religious systems like to tell people what they want to hear (flatter), by saying we can be good enough to get to heave on our own, something people want to hear
God's Word via The Gospel says the exact opposite and is alone, unique in that
(1 Thessalonians 2:6-7 [AKJV/PCE])
Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
Many religions of this world, especially today Roman Catholicism and Islam, which did not exist at the time of this writing, are violent ones when they are in a dominant area, killing many, many Christians, others, then as now
This was a gentle entrance, firm, preaching truth, no heroes, no slaughterings, no forceful thrusting upon anyone the Gospel, as it is either believe or not, accept or reject, get saved or not, free will exercised, the preachers only offering as Jesus did, Come unto Me", now saying "Come unto Jesus"
(1 Thessalonians 2:8 [AKJV/PCE])
So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
Paul cared for all, as evidenced by his missionary trips, over long distances, on horseback, camelback, walking, all over Asia Minor, Europe, North Africa, etc.
They gave the Gospel, planted churches, raised up leaders to take over when they left, moved on to the next area
(1 Thessalonians 2:9 [AKJV/PCE])
For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
Paul was a tentmaker, supporting his own ministry by his own industry
(Acts 18:1-3 [AKJV/PCE])
After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
(1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 [AKJV/PCE])
Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
This was all done openly, a completely transparent, fully accountable, honest, self-sustaining ministry done before their eyes, because they did not want this to reflect badly on the LORD Jesus Christ
For themselves, they already knew that they themselves were going to face resistance from within and without the churches, persecution from the Jews and the Romans, possible imprisonment, beatings, even the martyrdom of death for doing the work of God, so that was a given
That was not their concern; it was about the LORD and the people they preached and ministered to, as all ministry should be, no self glory, no personal gain, rewards in heaven, eyes on the prize, hands to the plow, not looking back, one aim, one goal, to save souls
(1 Thessalonians 2:13 [AKJV/PCE])
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
One either takes the Word of God as the Word of God, or thinks it is the words of men, or takes it as the Word of God and rejectes it anyways, or takes it as the Word of God and, worse, wants it to say what they want it to say and deliberately corrupts it, orally and, as Paul himself experienced, literally rewriting it, causing the doctrines of men to enter into it, infiltrate and permeate
(2 Corinthians 2:17 [AKJV/PCE])
For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
(1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 [AKJV/PCE])
For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
The persecution from the Jews in Israel was now going on with the Gentiles getting the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire, "their own countrymen"
In the human realm, the Jews killed their Messiah, the lesson being for all of us that mankind does not want to, nor think he needs to, be saved, and anyone thinking they need salvation should be persecuted, up to the point of death
As the Gospel spread outward (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8), so followed the persecution
Anyone Who comes as the Messiah, the Savior to save them should likewise be killed, because, like all mankind, they think that "do not need to be saved", because they "are working their way to salvation"
(1 Thessalonians 2:17 [AKJV/PCE])
But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
When the apostles poured their lives into the disciples they made, they left behind a part of themselves, over careful study, breaking of bread, mutual pains and times shared, tears cried, doctrines taught
While one cannot be in every place at the same time and, while the distances walking, on horseback, on mules was and is always great, arduous, slow and long, they did it, and knew it would take time to do it again
s much as one would want to have fellowship, distance prevents that a lot
(1 Thessalonians 2:18 [AKJV/PCE])
Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
The enemy at work tries to stop ministry, always, but think about this. That one sentence, that one verse, has been in God's Word to teach us all that lesson now for 2,000 years, so that we can understand the workings of God, and that part the enemy could not stop
There is no actual hindrance in the end of the work of God, only temporary
(1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 [AKJV/PCE])
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.
Seeing people get saved, seeing them learn to walk with Jesus Christ, getting to be in fellowship with them, knowing that one raised up leaders for them, knowing one day they get a crown of life, that rewards are coming and will not be hindered
That is our reason to joy in the LORD, to glory in the LORD, reason to have joy
