For yourselves, brethren, know our visit unto you, that it was not in vain:
Read Chapter 2
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Vain. Our entrance among you was not in vain fables, or lies; our preaching was not in trifles: (Oecumenius) or rather was not without fruit. Others have spoken of it every where; but why refer you to others when yourselves know that it was every where followed by abundance of good works, faith, patience? (Estius)
I beg you, in all this recall to your mind what I believe you must never forget: “All who would live godly in Christ suffer persecution.” And with regard to this I confidently say that you would live less godly if you suffered less persecution. For let us hear what else the same teacher of the Gentiles says to his disciples. “You yourselves know, brothers, how we came to you; we did not come in vain, for we had already suffered and been shamefully treated.” My most sweet son, the holy preacher declared that his coming to the Thessalonians would have accomplished nothing if he had not been shamefully treated.… On the basis of Paul’s example be even more disciplined in the midst of adverse circumstances. In this way adversity itself may increase significantly your desire for the love of God and your earnestness in good works. Similarly, the seeds planted for a future harvest germinate more fruitfully if they are covered over with frost. Likewise fire is increased by blowing on it that it...
Great indeed were your actions also, but yet neither did we have recourse to human speech. But what he says above, that also he repeats here, that from both sides is shown what was the nature of the Preaching, from the miracles, and from the resolution of the preachers, and from the zeal and fervor of those who received it. For yourselves, he says, know our entering in unto you, that it has not been found vain, that is, that it was not according to man, nor of any common kind. For being fresh from great dangers, and deaths, and stripes, we immediately fell into dangers. But, he says, having suffered before, and been shamefully entreated; as you know, at Philippi, we waxed bold in our God. Do you see how again he refers the whole to God? To speak unto you, says he, the Gospel of God in much conflict. It is not possible to say, that there indeed we were in danger, but here we are not; yourselves also know, how great was the danger, with how much contention we were among you. Which also h...
