1 Thessalonians 2:2
But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
a. NLT: You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition.
b. NIV: We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.
c. YLT: but having both suffered before, and having been injuriously treated (as ye have known) in Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the good news of God in much conflict,
d. Amplified Bible Classic: But though we had already suffered and been outrageously treated at Philippi, as you know, yet in [the strength of] our God we summoned courage to proclaim to you unfalteringly the good news (the Gospel) with earnest contention and much conflict and great opposition.
e. Worrell Translation: But, having suffered before, and having been shamefully treated, as ye know, in Philippi, we grew bold in our God to speak to you the Gospel of God in much conflict.
f. Wuest Translation: But although we had previously suffered and had been mistreated in an arrogant and spiteful manner as you know well in Philippi, we became bold in our God to speak to you the good news of God in the midst of much conflict.
1. “But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as you know at Philippi…”
a. But [Strong: 235 alla al-lah' neuter plural of 243; properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations):--and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.]
b. even [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]
c. [after that we had] suffered before [Strong: 4310 propascho prop-as'-kho from 4253 and 3958; to undergo hardship previously:--suffer before.] [Thayers: to suffer before.]
d. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]
e. were shamefully entreated [5195 hubrizo hoo-brid'-zo from 5196; to exercise violence, i.e. abuse:--use despitefully, reproach, entreat shamefully (spitefully).] [Thayer’s: to be insolent, to behave insolently, wantonly, outrageously, to act insolently and shamefully towards one, to treat shamefully.]
f. as [Strong: 2531 kathos kath-oce' from 2596 and 5613; just (or inasmuch) as, that:--according to, (according, even) as, how, when.]
g. ye know [Strong: 1492 eido i'-do a primary verb; used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent 3700 and 3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know:--be aware, behold, X can (+ not tell), consider, (have) know(-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wish, wot.]
h. at [Strong: 1722 en en a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]
i. Philippi [Strong: 5375 Philippoi fil'-ip-poy plural of 5376; Philippi, a place in Macedonia:--Philippi.]
1). At Philippi Paul cast a devil out of a slave girl, and her masters realizing that their money maker was gone brought Paul and Silas before the city leaders and brought outrageous charges against them. The magistrates/city leaders without so much as a trial or a fair hearing, commanded Paul and Silas to be beaten and thrown in jail.
a). Acts 16:19-24 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
16:20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
16:21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
16:22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them
16:23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
16:24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
2). The next day the magistrates decided to let Paul and Silas go. Everything is fine now just let the men go. Paul though being rightfully upset, wanted the magistrates to know they had really broken the law by beating and condemning Roman citizens without a trial. Paul demanded that the magistrate themselves come and let them go.
a). Acts 16:35-40 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
16:36 And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.
16:37 But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
16:38 And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
16:39 And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.
16:40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
2. “…we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.”
a. we were bold [Strong: 3955 parrhesiazomai par-hray-see-ad'-zom-ahee middle voice from 3954; to be frank in utterance, or confident in spirit and demeanor:--be (wax) bold, (preach, speak) boldly.] [Thayer’s: to use freedom in speaking, be free spoken, to grow confident, have boldness, show assurance, assume a bold bearing.]
b. in [Strong: 1722 en en a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]
c. our [Strong: 2257 hemon hay-mone' genitive case plural of 1473; of (or from) us:--our (company), us, we.]
d. God [Strong: 2316 f uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).]
e. to speak [Strong: 2980 laleo lal-eh'-o a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. utter words:--preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter.]
f. unto [Strong: 4314 pros pros a strengthened form of 4253; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated):--about, according to , against, among, at, because of, before, between, (where-)by, for, X at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), X together, to (you) -ward, unto, with(-in). In the comparative case, it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at.]
g. 5209 humas hoo-mas' accusative case of 5210; you (as the objective of a verb or preposition):--ye, you (+ -ward), your (+ own).]
h. the gospel [Strong: 2098 euaggelion yoo-ang-ghel'-ee-on from the same as 2097; a good message, i.e. the gospel:--gospel.]
i. of God [Strong: 2316 f uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).]
j. with [Strong: 1722 en en a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]
k. contention [Strong: 73 agon ag-one' from 71; properly, a place of assembly (as if led), i.e. (by implication) a contest (held there); figuratively, an effort or anxiety:--conflict, contention, fight, race.] [Thayer’s: an assembly, a place of assembly: especially an assembly met to see games, the place of contest, the arena or stadium, the assembly of the Greeks at their national games, hence the contest for a prize at their games, generally, any struggle or contest, a battle, an action at law, trial.]
1). The Greek word ‘agon’ is where we get the English word agony. The definitions given by Thayer fit almost perfectly the Scriptural account of what happened to Paul and Silas in Thessalonica.
a). Acts 17:1-10 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
17:2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
17:3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
17:4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
17:5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
17:6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
17:7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
17:8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
17:9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
17:10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
2). Paul is saying here that even after they were outrageously treated in Philippe, it in no way intimidated him from preaching the gospel boldly at Thessalonica . We must remember that the Philippian church expanded because of the opposition that satan provided. 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 gives a list of satanic efforts to stop or hinder the gospel, of which the episodes in Philippi and Thessalonica are included. Nevertheless, Paul preached boldly knowing that God was going to work in the midst of it all to bring forth fruit and glory.
