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"God is witness."

Text: 1 Thessalonians 2:5

A LIST OF THINGS AVOIDED

Paul was very careful to maintain a very high level of integrity in ministry. There was a list of things he determined that he would avoid.

“For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know,
nor a cloak for covetousness- God is witness.
Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others,
when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.”

1 Thessalonians 2:5-6

1. “God is witness”

a) This was a solemn declaration.

b) God was called upon as a witness.

2. “Apostles of Christ”

a) Paul was conscious that he was an apostle of Christ.

i) He had to defend his apostleship from time to time.

ii) He wrote about how God vindicated his apostleship through signs (2 Corinthians 12:12).

b) He had been singled out and set aside to be the apostle to the Gentiles.

c) The phrase “apostles of Christ”:-

i) It may be used in a strict technical sense referring to a special band of servants of God who were called “apostles”.

ii) It may also be used generally to describe people who were sent out as missionaries (like Paul and his team).

iii) In this context Paul was referring to the latter.

3. Things avoided:-

a) No flattering words.

b) Not as a cloak of covetousness.

c) Not seeking glory from men.

i) Not from the Thessalonians.

ii) Nor from anyone else.

d) No demands made as apostles of Christ.

i) Paul never took advantage of the rights and privileges accorded to apostles.

ii) He preferred to waive his rights (1 Corinthians 9:15-18).