1 Thessalonians 2:4-7 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
4 But as we were allowed of God, that the Gospel should be committed unto us, so we speak, not as they that please men, but God, which approveth our hearts:5 Neither yet did we ever use flattering words, as ye know, nor colored covetousness, God is record.
6 Neither sought we praise of men, neither of you, nor of others, when we might have been chargeable, as the Apostles of Christ.
7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children.
GNV – Study notes (paraphrased) “ He makes us able and does not find them able” God takes the castoffs, the hurting, the downtrodden of this world and lifts them upwards unto Himself, instilling them the Holy Spirit that they might preach the Gospel of Christ without fear, and without guile.
R.P. Woitowitz
“We proclaimed the Gospel or glad tidings, yet we showed that without holiness none should see the Lord. Ye know - That while we preached the whole Gospel we never gave any countenance to sin.
For a cloak of covetousness - We did
not seek temporal emolument; nor did we preach the Gospel for a cloak
to our covetousness: God is witness that we did not; we sought you,
not yours. Hear this, ye that preach the Gospel! Can ye call God to
witness that in preaching it ye have no end in view by your ministry
but his glory in the salvation of souls? Or do ye enter into the
priesthood for a morsel of bread, or for what is ominously and
impiously called a living, a benefice? In better days your place and
office were called a cure of souls; what care have you for the souls
of them by whose labors you are in general more than sufficiently
supported? Is it your study, your earnest labor, to bring sinners to
God; to preach among your heathen parishioners the unsearchable
riches of Christ?
But I should speak to the thousands who have no parishes, but who have their chapels, their congregations, pew and seat rents, etc., etc. Is it for the sake of these that ye have entered or continue in the Gospel ministry? Is God witness that, in all these things, ye have no cloak of covetousness? Happy is the man who can say so, whether he has the provision which the law of the land allows him, or whether he lives on the free-will offerings of the people.
The faithful laborer is worthy of his hire; for the ox that treads out the corn should not be muzzled; and they that preach the Gospel should live, not riot, by the Gospel. But woe to that man who enters into the labor for the sake of the hire! he knows not Christ; and how can he preach him?” Adam Clarke
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