SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:3
Porque nuestra exhortacin no fue de error, ni de inmundicia, ni por engao;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 2:3
Verse 3. Our exhortation] The word paraklhsiv has a very extensive meaning; it signifies not only exhortation and teaching in general, but also encouragement, consolation, and the like. When the apostles exhorted or admonished men, it was that they should turn from evil to good, from misery to happiness, from Satan to God, and from hell to heaven. Their exhortations having this object, every word was consolatory; and as the truth which they delivered was unquestionable, therefore their ministry was a subject of the highest encouragement and joy. Not of deceit] We did not endeavour to allure you with false pretences; we did not deceive you, nor were we deceived ourselves.
Nor of uncleanness] Such as the teachings of the Gentile philosophers were; their supreme gods were celebrated for their adulteries, fornications, uncleannesses, thefts, barbarities, and profligacies of the most odious kind.
Our Gospel was pure; came from the pure and holy God; was accompanied with the influences of the Holy Spirit, and produced purity both in the hearts and lives of all that received it.
Nor in guile] We had no false pretences, and were influenced by no sinister motives.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 3. For our exhortation , etc.] Or consolation; for the ministry of the Gospel, which is here meant, consists of doctrines full of comfort to distressed minds, such as free justification by the righteousness of Christ, full pardon by his blood, and complete satisfaction by his sacrifice; as well as of exhortations to the exercise of grace and discharge of duty: and this was not of deceit ; or error, was not fallacious, as the Ethiopic version renders it; it consisted of nothing but truth, it was the word of truth, and the truth as it is in Jesus; nor did it proceed from any intention to deceive and impose on persons; it was no imposture: nor of uncleanness ; it did not spring from any impure affection for any sin, for popular applause, or worldly interest; nor did the ministers of it connive at uncleanness in others, or practise it themselves, as did the false teachers; but bore their testimony against it, both by word and example, and taught no doctrine that encouraged to it; but, on the contrary, the doctrine which is according to godliness, and which teaches men to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts: nor in guile ; as there was no deceitful design in the ministry of the word, nor anything impure and immoral in the matter of it; so there was no artifice used in the dispensing of it; it was plain and simple, without any colour and guile, without the hidden things of dishonesty, without craftiness and handling the word deceitfully; and this is a reason why the apostles preached it with so much freedom and boldness, because there was nothing false, impure, or artful in it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - The apostle had no wordly design in his preaching. Suffering in a goo cause should sharpen holy resolution. The gospel of Christ at first me with much opposition; and it was preached with contention, with striving in preaching, and against opposition. And as the matter of the apostle's exhortation was true and pure, the manner of his speaking wa without guile. The gospel of Christ is designed for mortifying corrup affections, and that men may be brought under the power of faith. Thi is the great motive to sincerity, to consider that God not only see all we do, but knows our thoughts afar off, and searches the heart. An it is from this God who trieth our hearts, that we must receive ou reward. The evidences of the apostle's sincerity were, that he avoide flattery and covetousness. He avoided ambition and vain-glory.
Greek Textus Receptus
η 3588 γαρ 1063 παρακλησις 3874 ημων 2257 ουκ 3756 εκ 1537 πλανης 4106 ουδε 3761 εξ 1537 ακαθαρσιας 167 ουτε 3777 εν 1722 δολω 1388
Vincent's NT Word Studies
3. Exhortation (paraklhsiv). See on Luke vi. 24 and 1 Cor. xiv. 3. Exhortation or counsel is Paul's usual sense.
Of deceit (ek planhv). Better, of error. It may imply deceit as accompanying or causing error, but it does not occur in the sense of deceit. Our exhortation did not proceed from any false teaching which we had ourselves received. We were guided by "the spirit of truth"; See 1 John iv. 6, and comp. 2 Pet. i. 16.
Of uncleanness (ex akaqarsiav). "Akaqarsia in Matt. xxiii. 27 of the corruption of the sepulchre. Elsewhere in N.T. of sensual impurity. See Rom. i. 24; 2 Cor. xii. 21; Eph. iv. 19. Here in the sense of impurity on the side of sordidness. 17 In Eph. iv. 19, Paul speaks of working uncleanness (akaqarsian) in a spirit of selfish desire (pleonexia) which is the spirit of covetousness. In Eph. v. 3, uncleanness and covetousness are closely associated. Paul means that his exhortation did not proceed from greed for gain or lust for power.
In guile (en dolw). While uncleanness expresses impure purpose or motive, guile has reference to improper means; plausible but insincere methods of winning converts; suppression of the truth; "huckstering the word of God" (see on 2 Cor. ii. 17); adulterating it for purposes of gain or popularity.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
2:3 {Exhortation} (paraklesis). Persuasive discourse, calling to one's side, for admonition, encouragement, or comfort. {Not of error} (ouk ek planes). this word is same as planaw, to lead astray (#2Ti 3:13) like Latin _errare_. Passive idea of {error} here rather than deceit. That is seen in {nor in guile} (oude en dolwi) from delw, to catch with bait. Paul is keenly sensitive against charges against the correctness of his message and the purity of his life. {Nor of uncleanness} (oude ex akaqarsias). " this disclaimer, startling as it may seem, was not unneeded amidst the impurities consecrated by the religions of the day" (Lightfoot). There was no necessary connection in the popular mind between religion and morals. The ecstatic initiations in some of the popular religions were grossly sensual.
