The Gospel and its Preachers
J. Cumming, D. D. 1 Thessalonians 2:3-6 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:… I. THE GOSPEL. 1. It belongs to God; hence it is denominated, "the Gospel of God." He indeed was its author; and because He is good, He bestows His gospel on men for their good. 2. It claims universal acceptance. If it is not received in the love of it, there is no other gospel for mankind; it is the only star by which men can navigate the sea of life, and securely gain the shores of eternity. 3. It is benedictive in its influence. II. THE PREACHERS OF THE GOSPEL. 1. They were men and not angels. Angels know nothing experimentally of human failings and regrets — human difficulties and trials, therefore are incompetent to preach the gospel. It must be preached by such men as Paul and Silas — "men of like passions with ourselves." They are on the same footing with the Thessalonians and all of humankind. 2. They were holy men. In the Divine order of things the blessing of conversion precedes the call to the ministry as surely as the morning star precedes the orb of day. In other words — men are not preachers first and then true Christians, but true Christians and then preachers. 3. They were sincere and bold. They had suffered acutely for the gospel at Philippi, had been shamefully ill-treated by its citizens; but many waters could neither quench their love for the gospel nor for the souls the gospel could save. So they preached it at Thessalonica with the same burning zeal they had done at Philippi. (J. Cumming, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: WEB: For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception.