Revelation 1:13-14
¹³And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. ¹⁴ His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

1 THESSALONIANS 1:8-10; 2:1-12

For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything ⁹ For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰ and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. Chapter2:1-12 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. ² But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. ³ For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.⁴ But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. ⁵ For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. ⁶ Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. ⁷ But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. ⁸ So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. ⁹ For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.¹⁰ You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; ¹¹ as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, ¹² that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

Vs. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything, when Paul wrote these Thessalonians were preaching and telling everyone, for from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth it is very plain that he is speaking of the gospel. And they are being very effective, the gospel is going forth not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. They spoke the word of the Lord, its beginning and its end; His life in its purity and sympathy; His death in its atoning fulness—told in man’s language. The Greek meaning is that their conversion and its circumstances were so noted that they carried the gospel through the province as if by the ringing peal of a trumpet. What had happened at Thessalonica sped its way through Greece, and carried with it the gospel, which was sounded abroad loudly, fully, distinctly, the blessed message of salvation.

Vs. 9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. The general report was about the apostle and his fellow laborers—that they had come and preached so mightily and obtained such a welcome from the citizens. Even the report in the mouth of wandering heathen was that so far from being opposed, they were teaching their astounding doctrines which they taught with a superhuman earnestness, it made a deep and wide sensation through the city, which can not be accounted for and which is not subsiding. The report was how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.

Vs. 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. What Paul is saying to the Thessalonians is that the Son of God was crucified, dead and buried but the Father raised Him from the dead, He is now in heaven, and they are to patiently wait for His Son from heaven who delivers us from the wrath to come. Our deliverance was achieved by His act of self-sacrifice which placed Him among the dead, and He the risen Redeemer is ever applying its gifts and power to His Own sheep.

Chapter2 Vs.1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. The following verses are not doctrinal, they are merely historical in nature. They contain the phrase: for you yourselves know this statement reveals the difference between the Thessalonians and those that hear what happened—they know! In a direct appeal that is emphatic, Paul calls them brethren, which is a name of endearment. What did they know, that our coming to you was not in vain.

Vs. 2-3 But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. ³ For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. Paul makes mention of the events that took place at Philippi: even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi. Spitefully treated—the treatment expressed by the verbs being an insolent and wanton outrage such as the scourging to which he had been subjected, a punishment, although he was a Roman citizen, and this was forbidden by law. But the Holy Spirit made him, and Silas bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict, the results was the salvation of many souls. Paul being assured of the truth of the gospel and the integrity of his own motives, preached the gospel everywhere and at all hazards. He had an earnest practical preaching that brought every motive to bear on those that heard, giving them every argument while working on them with every kind of appeal, in order to win souls to the gospel, our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.

Vs. 4-5 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. ⁵ For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness God is witness. Having God’s approval, we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak. Their labor was not pleasing men but God who tests our hearts. The appeal is made directly to themselves neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, their knowledge of their preaching is so complete and continuous we never used flattering words. No, nor did we have a great desire for the property of others, nor a cloak for covetousness God is witness. No greater witness!

Vs. 6-7 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. ⁷ But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. Paul is giving a negative description of his labors in preaching, he repeats what he has already said in verse 4 not as pleasing men, nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others. Regarding their physical needs, we might have made demands as apostles of Christ, instead Paul would preach during the day and at night he would be about his tent making. But the apostle continues, even though the laborer is worthy of his hire, we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

Vs. 8-9 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. ⁹ For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. Paul, Silas, and Timothy proved their statements by being cheerful and not intimidated when danger appeared, nor did they shrink back from working with their hands. It is obvious they would have given up their lives for the gospel to go forward. So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. The ninth verse gives proof of the love and affection they had for the souls they were preaching the word to. We refused to be a burden to any of you, remember our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. It appears that Paul refused to give any opportunity for the misinterpretation of the purity of his motives, he did not want arguments about his service to the Thessalonians as if he were wanting pay for his labors, so he would take nothing in compensation.

Vs. 10-12 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; ¹¹ as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, ¹² that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. Paul appeals to the Thessalonians, in the matters in which you have the necessary knowledge be a witness; my request is to God too. You are witnesses, and God also, remember how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; devoutly may be translated holily the meaning is one that is devoted to the service of God; which means their actions were and are justly or as in some translations righteously in all conscientiousness and integrity; which brings us to being blamelessly. Paul submits himself, Silas, and Timothy to their judgment and to that of God. He has no doubts that the decision given by them will have an Amen, from Him who tries the heart. Remember as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you as a father does his own children, . Paul again uses 3 words to describe his action; exhortedor strongly encouraged; comforted spoke in a manner that eased new truths he was preaching; they were all charged just as if they were Paul’s children, and he was charging them, as a father does his own children. Notice the charge, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

Catechism Question 54

Q.  Which is the second commandment?
A.  The second commandment is Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Exodus 20:4-6