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Future Glory | Present Trial: 1 Thess 2:3-8

1 Thessalonians 2:3-8 :: The Matter of Motives

We return today to the beginning of chapter two of Paul’s first letter to the very young Thessalonian church. In the first eight verses of the chapter, we see a brief recap of some of the context of Paul’s arrival and the birth of the church, as well as a litany of motives - both negative and positive.

The path into a study of this section of Holy Scripture is the same as any other passage. First we must determine what the original meaning was - what did this text mean for the original audience and Paul? Second, we must determine how this original meaning accurately transitions to our context, in our day, without losing any of its potency. Finally, we must focus on application and transformation.

Except for perhaps the letter to the Galatians, remember this is Paul’s earliest letter - inspired by the Holy Spirit of God and preserved for us. Yet in 2:1-8 we see the heart of Paul in a rare way. In these verses we see “one of the richest descriptions of the work of a Christian minister to be found in the New Testament.”—H. Rolston

The main topic seems clear: how motives affect the reception of the gospel. Whether Paul’s original motives, and those of his companions, for coming to Thessalonica were being called into question or not, the apostle feels pressed to clarify motivations and heart-level intentions. Even a quick reading of 2:1-8, and in fact the whole of 2:1-16, reveals a host of negative and damaging motives which Paul disparages and from which he distances his ministry, as well as a list of positive, empowering, selfless and Jesus-like motivations, which he claims. Yet the whole argument continually and consistently comes back to the gospel.

The conclusion of this section peaks with one of the most tender statements from Paul to be found anywhere in his writings, verse 8. He loves this church and gave them not only the simple and true gospel, but his very life. “The true missionary is not someone specialized in the delivery of the message but someone whose whole being, completely committed to a message which demands all, is communicated to his hearers.”—E. Best

Group Discussion Questions:
1. Open your group time by sharing what the past week has been like for you. How have you struggled? Where have you experienced wins and victories? Open with a brief time of prayer.
2. Spend just a moment reminding your group the background and story of First Thessalonians. (See Acts 17 for help)
3. Mirror reading is a bible study technique that encourages you to read into a written conversation - like Paul’s letter to the Thessalonian church - and attempt to reconstruct the unspoken questions and context that lie beneath it. While you must hold your conclusions lightly in most cases, it can be a fruitful exercise. Reading 2:1-8, what kind of scenario do you think was going on in the church after Paul left? Remember he is writing this letter perhaps just a few months after departing.
4. Where do you see or sense fear or anxiety in Paul as he writes to the Thessalonian church about the ongoing battle within their cultural context? How does this inform your stance?
5. What are the negative and false motives that Paul mentions in 2:3-6? Which is the most distasteful in your opinion? How might have Paul and his companions been accused of these?
6. How do these same motives find their way into the church or individual Christian lives today? What damage have you seen done? Share a brief story with your group.
7. What are the positive motives that Paul shares in 2:7-8? How might these motivations have been lost, forgotten or tarnished in the Thessalonian church?
8. How might these same ministry motives be adopted into your life - even if you do not serve in vocational ministry?
9. When it comes to your personal discipleship (spiritual maturity and following after Jesus), what are your top three motivations?
10. When you think of ministry, which is simply service to another in the name of Jesus, what are your top three motivations for serving others?
11. From your knowledge of the gospel accounts, what were Jesus’ motives while in His earthly ministry?
12. How easy or difficult is it to change motives? What is involved? How does one do it?
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