A Not in Vain Entrance 1 Thessalonians 2:1

Paul the apostle reminded the church members in Thessalonica about the manner in which he came into their city and the way they “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God”. He also referred to the way the were “waiting” “for his Son from heaven” whom Paul declared God “raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come”. In chapter two and verse one of his letter, Paul once again refers to the manner in which he came unto the church in Thessalonica and emphasizes it was “not in vain” where we read:

For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:

The verse begins, “For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you,...” Paul began with the word, “For” which means “because, since, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, therefore and verily” “yourselves” which refers to the church members “brethren” or “fellow believers united by bond or affection” “know our entrance in” which means “perceive and see the manner or way they came” “unto you” or “towards, with, at and in regard to the church members”. Paul began this chapter by once again referring to the manner in which he came unto them in the first place.

The verse goes on to say, “...that it was not in vain:” Paul continued, “that it was not” or “did not become, begin or come into existence” “in vain” which means “in emptiness, without a gift, empty handed, with nothingness, fruitless, without effect and destitute of spiritual wealth”. In other words, when Paul came into the city of Thessalonica and shared the gospel, the effect was not empty or fruitless, but was impelling and efficacious.

When we think through Paul's words in the beginning of this second chapter, we should remember the chapters and verses were not originally in these letters. They were inserted to aid us in finding different places within the books of the Bible, so the flow of Paul's thought from the first chapter should be kept in mind. Paul referred to their faith in Jesus, their expectancy of His return and the promise that they would be delivered from the “wrath to come”. All of these were already within and noted among the church members of Thessalonica, and the very fact they were should demonstrate how “effective” Paul's ministry was among them. For a new and inexperienced fellowship, this church contained maturity that demonstrated the lack of vainness from Paul's entrance. If Paul were here today, would he declare the same among us? Would he state that his entrance unto us through his letters was “not in vain”? In an interesting way, Paul has made his “entrance” in our lives through his letters, and our question should be, “have they had their effect on us or are they in vain?” May the Lord Jesus make His entrance into our lives through the apostle Paul as impelling and efficacious as it was with the Thessalonians.

Next time Paul shares how he and his entourage were “bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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