1 Thessalonians 2:3

Contextual Overview

¹ Brothers and sisters, you know that our visit to you was not a failure. ¹ For you yourselves know, brethren, that our visit to you was not in vain; ¹ For ye youre selves knowe brethren of oure entraunce in vnto you howe that it was not in vayne: ¹ For you yourselves know, brothers, our visit to you hasn't been found vain, ¹ For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our reception among you was not in vain, ¹ Brothers and sisters, you know our visit to you was not a failure. ¹ For yourselves, brothers, know our entering in to you, that it has not been found vain: ¹ For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance to you, that it was not in vain: ¹ For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. ¹ For you yourselves know, brothers, our visit to you hasn't been found vain,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

1 Thessalonians 2:5, 1 Thessalonians 2:6, 1 Thessalonians 2:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:2, Numbers 16:15, 1 Samuel 12:3, Acts 20:33, Acts 20:34, 2 Corinthians 2:17, 2 Corinthians 4:2, 2 Corinthians 4:5, 2 Corinthians 7:2, 2 Corinthians 11:13, 2 Corinthians 12:16-18, 2 Peter 1:16

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 10:19 - But Jehu Job 33:3 - the Acts 20:2 - given Romans 12:8 - exhorteth Romans 12:9 - love 1 Corinthians 14:3 - exhortation 2 Corinthians 5:11 - but 2 Corinthians 5:13 - we be beside 2 Corinthians 6:4 - in all 1 Thessalonians 4:7 - uncleanness 1 Peter 2:1 - guile

Cross-References

Genesis 2:2
And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.

Genesis 2:2
And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

Genesis 2:2
By the seventh day God finished the work he had been doing, so he rested from all his work.

Genesis 2:2
By the seventh day God finished the work that he had been doing, and he ceased on the seventh day all the work that he had been doing.

Genesis 2:2
And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

Genesis 2:2
On the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

Genesis 2:2
And by the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested (ceased) on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.

Genesis 2:2
And God fillide in the seuenthe dai his werk which he made; and he restide in the seuenthe dai fro al his werk which he hadde maad;

Genesis 2:2
and God completeth by the seventh day His work which He hath made, and ceaseth by the seventh day from all His work which He hath made.

Genesis 2:2
And by the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on that day He rested from all His work.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For our exhortation,.... Or "consolation"; for the ministry of the Gospel, which is here meant, consists of doctrines full of comfort to distressed minds, such as free justification by the righteousness of Christ, full pardon by his blood, and complete satisfaction by his sacrifice; as well as of exhortations to the exercise of grace and discharge of duty: and this was

not of deceit; or "error", was not "fallacious", as the Ethiopic version renders it; it consisted of nothing but truth, it was the word of truth, and the truth as it is in Jesus; nor did it proceed from any intention to deceive and impose on persons; it was no imposture:

nor of uncleanness; it did not spring from any impure affection for any sin, for popular applause, or worldly interest; nor did the ministers of it connive at uncleanness in others, or practise it themselves, as did the false teachers; but bore their testimony against it, both by word and example, and taught no doctrine that encouraged to it; but, on the contrary, the doctrine which is according to godliness, and which teaches men to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts:

nor in guile; as there was no deceitful design in the ministry of the word, nor anything impure and immoral in the matter of it; so there was no artifice used in the dispensing of it; it was plain and simple, without any colour and guile, without the hidden things of dishonesty, without craftiness and handling the word deceitfully; and this is a reason why the apostles preached it with so much freedom and boldness, because there was nothing false, impure, or artful in it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For our exhortation - That is, the exhortation to embrace the gospel. The word seems to be used here so as to include preaching in general. The sense is, that the means which they used to induce them to become Christians were not such as to delude them.

Was not of deceit - Was not founded on sophistry. The apostle means to say, that the Thessalonians knew that his manner of preaching was not such as was adopted by the advocates of error.

Nor of uncleanness - Not such as to lead to an impure life. It was such as to lead to holiness and purity. The apostle appeals to what they knew to be the tendency of his doctrine as an evidence that it was true. Most of the teaching of the pagan philosophers led to a life of licentiousness and corruption. The tendency of the gospel was just the reverse.Nor in guile - Not by the arts of deceit. There was no craftiness or trick, such as could not bear a severe scrutiny. No point was carried by art, cunning, or stratagem. Everything was done on the most honorable and fair principles. It is much when a man can say that he has never endeavored to accomplish anything by mere trick, craft, or cunning. Sagacity and shrewdness are always allowable in ministers as well as others; trick and cunning never. Yet stratagem often takes the place of sagacity, and trick is often miscalled shrewdness. Guile, craft, cunning. imply deception, and can never be reconciled with that entire honesty which a minister of the gospel, and all other Christians, ought to possess; see notes on 2 Corinthians 12:16; compare Psalms 32:2; Psalms 34:13; Joh 1:47; 1 Peter 2:1, 1 Peter 2:22; Revelation 14:5.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Thessalonians 2:3. Our exhortation — The word παρακλησις has a very extensive meaning; it signifies not only exhortation and teaching in general, but also encouragement, consolation, and the like. When the apostles exhorted or admonished men, it was that they should turn from evil to good, from misery to happiness, from Satan to God, and from hell to heaven. Their exhortations having this object, every word was consolatory; and as the truth which they delivered was unquestionable, therefore their ministry was a subject of the highest encouragement and joy.

Not of deceit — We did not endeavour to allure you with false pretences; we did not deceive you, nor were we deceived ourselves.

Nor of uncleanness — Such as the teachings of the Gentile philosophers were; their supreme gods were celebrated for their adulteries, fornications, uncleannesses, thefts, barbarities, and profligacies of the most odious kind. Our Gospel was pure; came from the pure and holy God; was accompanied with the influences of the Holy Spirit, and produced purity both in the hearts and lives of all that received it.

Nor in guile — We had no false pretences, and were influenced by no sinister motives.