1 Thessalonians 2:5-7a 5For we never came with words of flattery, just as you know, nor coverup of greed, God as witness, 6nor seeking praise from people nor from you nor from others, 7though being able to be important as Christ’s apostles.
Paul continues defending the motives of Silas, Timothy, and himself when they came to Thessalonica. These two verses give the negative–what their motives were not and how they did not come. The style of writing highlights this as a vice list of the types of actions and attitudes believers should not have as they live out their faith and share the gospel. This is clear with the repeated word nor (oute).
Flattery words tickle the ear and sooth the conscience. They do not bring conviction but confirm the inherent selfish and fleshly nature of people. They make people feel good but neglect the deeper issue of the heart. God does not need entertaining and funny preachers, though humor can be an asset in speaking to people. God needs people who are willing to preach the gospel of holiness that calls people to repentance from sin.
The translation coverup for greed can have several variations. The basic idea gets to the motive for sharing the gospel. There could be some personal gain involved in ministry. This might be in the form of money (though this is rare because most ministries rely on a minimal budget) or the praise of people (more of a temptation). Behind greed is the idea of wanting more, coveting power, position, or praise.
The next phrase in verse 6 makes this even clearer. Praise from people summarizes the whole idea of selfish motives in ministry. Paul and his companions did not come to Thessalonica for personal gain but because of God’s call. This is a significant issue for all believers but especially for those who serve in the capacity of focused ministry, like pastors, missionaries, teachers, or evangelists. One of the most depleting things for a pastor is to receive blame or have people reject his or her message. That is because the pastor puts too much emphasis on receiving the praise of people. Ministry can be challenging and may require hardship. We must always examine our motives.
Paul and his companions could have appealed to their apostolic authority as Christ’s ambassadors. There were times when Paul did this in his letters, especially in a crisis situation, such as in Galatia. But this was more of an emergency type of situation where false teachers were distorting the gospel. Paul needed to make the gospel clear in those situations. There is no indicator in this letter of false teachers as such but of a general persecution of the new believers. The Thessalonians could look to Paul as an example of having the right motives. They needed to stand strong in their faith and not compromise with culture.
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