1 THESSALONIANS 2:4 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.”
But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts — apostolic authority rests on divine approval and commission; Paul does not serve the crowd but answers to the God who examines (dokimazō) all human interiority. The asymmetry is absolute: pleasing God precludes merely pleasing humans.
Church Fathers on 1 Thessalonians 2:4
Do you see that, as I said, from their perseverance he makes a proof that the Preaching is divine? For, if it were not so, if it were a deceit, we should not have endured so many dangers, which allowed us not even to take breath. You were in tribulation, we were in tribulation. What then was it? Unless somewhat of things future had excited us, unless we had been persuaded that there is a good hope, we should not have been filled with the more alacrity by suffering. For who…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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