Chapter 2
V1-2 These two verses are narrated in Acts 16:12-40.The persecution borne upon them in beatings, imprisonment and utmost humiliation, did not impede Paul and his retinue from zealously preaching to the Thessalonians, in a city which also contained malcontents, hell-bent on quashing their endeavours through violent reprisal cf Pro 28:1. No matter how much antagonism may be wrought upon the truth of the gospel being preached, Elohim will ensure that the bearer of this good news is emboldened by His Holy Spirit and be victorious in transmitting the message.
V3-4 ‘plane’ translated ‘deceit’ is Greek for error, or wrong opinion relative to morals or religion. The Torah is the only set of laws related to morality in the Bible. Akarthasia/uncleanness in the Greek Old Testament Septuagint Bible used by Yeshua Himself, relates specifically to impurity caused by the breaking of Torah e.g. in Leviticus chapter 5, where akarthasia is used gratuitously as the direct Greek translation of the Hebrew word tumah, which means religious impurity. ‘Dolos’ translated ‘guile’, is Greek for deceit. It is a sad state of affairs that these three words describe the condition of the churches of today, led by pastors bereft of biblical truth, peddling and regurgitating the nearly 2000-year old lie that Yeshua did away with Torah.
Paul categorically states here as he does multiple times in his epistles, that he preached nothing short of unchanging biblical Torah truth, entrusted him by Elohim Himself, even to the chagrin of Judaizers and idol worshippers within the region of Thessalonica cf 2 Cor 4:2. To preach otherwise would be opposition to Messiah Himself cf Gal 1:9-10.
V5-6 Paul additionally did not twist the preaching of the gospel for self-gain of fame and riches cf Acts 20:33-35; Tit 1:7. The prosperity gospel which has become the order of the day, has been beyond burdensome to its bewitched congregants, who fatten the pockets of avaricious men, masquerading as men of the cloth at the pulpit. Worse still, these megachurches compete with one another to see which is wealthiest in material, as the wolves in sheep’s clothing flex their riches owning the latest private jets, largest mansions, most expensive cars, at the expense of their deluded church members who bankroll their ostentatious lifestyles. This corruption of the word is contrary to scripture cf 2 Cor 2:17; Jn 5:41,45.
V7 Pastors and preachers are instead supposed to look after the flock of Messiah as they would their own children. Trophos translated nurse is lost in translation. It rather means a nourisher, that is to say one who feeds her children Thalpo translated ‘cherisheth’ is Greek for ‘keeps warm’. Nurses and parents do not, and should not rob their children, nor feed them false doctrine. Preachers and pastors are obliged to nourish their congregants with Torah/gospel truth and to look out for their welfare. It is not the congregant’s duty to enrich the preacher, as has become the norm in mainstream churchianity.
V8-9 It would be interesting to see if prosperity gospel preachers of today would be prepared to lay their lives on the line in the face of persecution from external forces, such as is found in some radical communist and Muslim nations, where Christianity is outlawed, and carries the death sentence. We live in a world where selfishness prevails especially from the pulpit, and very little gospel is preached cf 1 Jn 3:16. To lead a church without such a mentality of being prepared to die for the flock of Messiah, is spiritually futile and self-defeating, even running the risk of being denied salvation and entry into Yehovah’s kingdom at the end of one’s life on this earth cf Phil 2:16-17.
V10-12 This witness is narrated in Acts 171-10,13-14. Paul had both Elohim and the believers in Thessalonica as witnesses of how he had lived:
a. Holy life-defined by upholding Torah cf Lev 20:7-8,26
b. Just life-defined by upholding Torah in faith, not in one’s own righteousness, but that of Yeshua’s Holy Spirit dwelling in their hearts to uphold Torah cf Hab 2:4; Rom 1:17-18, Eze 36:26-27.
c. Blameless-unblemished, living sinless lives, that is to say to not transgress Torah 1 John 3:4. Such as behave in this manner, of keeping Yehovah’s Torah, walk worthy of Elohim, and shall partake of His kingdom and glory cf 1 Jn 2:3-6.
V13 cf Acts 13:48 It is the Holy Spirit who convicts the heart unto belief. We were all predestined to be in the image of Yeshua and ultimately enter the kingdom of Elohim, as Hades was created for the devil and his angels cf Rom 8:29; Matt 25:41. However, of mankind who is predestined to be conformed to the image of Yeshua the Son of Yehovah, not all answer the call of Yehovah. As a consequence, of the many called few are chosen. This is purely through freewill to choose or reject Yehovah, which qualifies the love of Yehovah, to be an Elohim, who does not coerce any being into worshipping Him, despite the evidential consequences of rejecting Him. Once a heart is accepting of the call, the Holy Spirit replaces that stony heart with one of flesh, amenable to accepting His Torah in Spirit and in truth.
The word which is Yeshua Himself Jn 1:1, is a stumbling block, foolishness, or wisdom, depending on the condition of the recipient’s heart. This word may either be accepted as the words of men (a stumbling block to one who depends on his self-righteousness to attempt keeping Torah), or foolishness to the atheist who is self-consumed in futile human intelligence and hence be rejected cf 1 Cor 1:22-23. To the heart that accepts the Word, the Holy Spirit floods it with wisdom and supernatural power, effectively working in the believer. It is important for self-professed Christians to do some introspection and see where they stand. A powerless, non-Spirit filled soul, claiming to be a Christian, most likely would be in the camp of those accepting the word/gospel as that of men; whereas a spirit- filled soul, exhibiting the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit is a true believer.
V14 Despite Paul having compared himself to a nursing mother and a comforting exhorting father, he still considered the members of the ecclesia in Thessalonica as brethren, of which we all are in Yeshua cf Heb 2:11-12. The Thessalonians had suffered the same wrath of the antagonists to the gospel from their kinsmen, as had the Jewish believers in Judea itself, suffered at the hands of unbelieving Jews. Yeshua had indeed prophesied the divisive nature of the gospel cf Matt 10:34-36. Again, the word mimetes/imitators is used to describe the Christian conduct of the Thessalonians, which paralleled that of the Torah-abiding Jewish believers in Judea, further refuting claims that the Gentiles no longer needed to follow Torah.
Any true believer will inevitably suffer ridicule, rejection, persecution and even death for what false believers and the world would consider radical and worthy of reprimand. In modern day Christendom, nothing riles up so-called believers more than the notion of Torah never having been abolished. We are very few in this world who still abide by this truth, and we are to hold fast if we are to allow this small glimmer of light left in the world to continue shining.
V15 This is irrefutable proof that it was the Jews who were ultimately responsible for Yeshua’s death, not Pilate, nor the Romans, who were mere instruments manipulated by them to bring about His demise cf Acts 2:22-23; 7:52; Rev 1:7. To this day, those calling themselves Jews, whether fake or not, who practise Talmudic Judaism, have a rabid hatred for Yeshua. In the end days only 144 000 Israelites shall be found worthy to enter His kingdom. Millions of the Israelites shall perish and be cast into the lake of fire.
V16 Paul himself before his conversion, had been one of these very people whose agenda was to thwart and extinguish the spread of the gospel of Yeshua. I personally have been spoken over and shut down on innumerable occasions whenever I have attempted to preach the true, Torah-based message of the gospel. The Judaizers believed in Torah, but according to self-works of righteousness and through the traditions of their fathers, the Pharisees, scribes and Sadducees, that is to say Talmudic Judaism, which does not accept Yeshua as the Messiah.
The new extreme created by the host of hell in the first few centuries and more pronounced in our day, was the acceptance of a westernized, Caucasian Jesus as the Messiah. This never-judging Jesus apparently abolished Torah altogether, and introduced pagan holidays to replace the Feasts of Yehovah, and allowed all manner of sin to be acceptable, under the falsehood of all sins being equal and capable of infinite instances of forgiveness. This latter belief has been solidified in the devastatingly infernal lie of the ‘once saved always saved’ doctrine. Both camps of Judaizers and new age Christianity have an insipid hatred for the gospel preached by the apostles in the first century, of which my commentaries have hopefully resurrected in your mind, dear beloved.
V17 The word ‘aporphanizo’ translated ‘being taken’ is better translated as being ‘bereaved of a parent’ that is to say the Thessalonian ecclesia were made orphans once their parent Paul was taken away from them. However, it was only in bodily presence, as Satan cannot forcefully take away our soul nor spirit in our heart cf Matt 10:28; Rom 8:38-39. If anything, by physically separating believers, Satan inevitably and unwittingly causes them to grow stronger in love and longing for one another, much to his loss.
V18 The uproar in Acts chapter 17, and subsequent departure from Thessalonica, coupled with his banishing from Berea, were the hallmarks of the resistance from Satan’s forces working through evil men. Satan would later bring about the imprisonment and ultimate murderous death of Paul for having persevered with the gospel message.
V19 -20 This is exemplary of a preacher’s attitude towards his congregation. He should endeavour to find hope, glory and joy in the eternal security of the flock of Yeshua, rather than hornswoggle them out of their money for his own material gain. Furthermore, eternal rejoicing and heavenly crowns shall be distributed to those true saints who win souls for Messiah, at the bema seat judgement of 2 Cor 5:10. Various crowns, 5 types in total shall be distributed:
a. Crown of life Jm 1:12
b. Incorruptible crown 1 Cor 9:25
c. Crown of righteousness 2 Tim 4:8
d. Crown of glory 1 Pet 5:4
e. Crown of rejoicing 1 Thess 2:19; Phil 4:1