SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:1
¶ Porque, hermanos, vosotros mismos sabis que nuestra entrada a vosotros no fue vana,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 2:1
Verse 1. Our entrance in unto you] His first coming to preach the Gospel was particularly owned of the Lord, many of them having been converted under his ministry. This consideration gave him a right to deliver all the following exhortations.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you , etc.] The apostle having observed in ( 1 Thessalonians 1:9) that those persons to whom the report of the Gospel being preached at Thessalonica, and the success of it there was made, showed everywhere both what manner of entrance he and his fellow ministers had in that place, and the conversion of many souls there; he enlarges upon the latter, and here reassumes the former, and appeals to the Thessalonians themselves, who must know full well, and better than others, what an entrance it was; and which is to be understood not merely of a corporeal entrance into their city and synagogue, but of their coming among them, by the preaching of the Gospel, as the ministers of the word and ambassadors of Christ: that it was not in vain ; it was not a vain show with outward pomp and splendour, as the public entrances of ambassadors into cities usually are; but with great meanness, poverty, reproach, and persecution, having been lately beaten and ill used at Philippi; nor was it with great swelling words of vanity, with the enticing words of man's wisdom, to tickle the ear, please the fancy, and work upon the passions of natural men, in which manner the false teachers came: but the apostle came not with deceit and guile, with flattering words or a cloak of covetousness, or with a view to vain glory and worldly advantage; nor was the message they came with, from the King of kings, a vain, light, empty, and trifling one; but solid and substantial, and of the greatest importance; the doctrine they taught was not comparable to chaff and wind; it was not corrupt philosophy and vain deceit, the traditions and commandments of men, but sound doctrine, the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ: nor was it fruitless and without effect; the word did not return void and empty; but was powerful and efficacious to the conversion of many souls. Christ was with them both to assist them in their ministry, and to bless it to the salvation of men; nor was their coming to Thessalonica an human scheme, a rash enterprise, engaged in on their own heads, on a slight and empty foundation; but upon good and solid grounds, by divine direction and counsel; (see Acts 16:9,10).
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
αυτοι 846 γαρ 1063 οιδατε 1492 5758 αδελφοι 80 την 3588 εισοδον 1529 ημων 2257 την 3588 προς 4314 υμας 5209 οτι 3754 ου 3756 κενη 2756 γεγονεν 1096 5754
Vincent's NT Word Studies
1. Was not in vain (ou kenh gegonen). More accurately, hath not proved vain. Kenh is empty. Mataia, also rendered vain, is fruitless.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
2:1 {For yourselves know} (autoi gar oidate). this explanatory gar takes up in verses #1-12 the allusion in #1:9 about the "report" concerning the entrance (eisodon, way in, eis, hodon), {unto you} (ten pros humas). Note repeated article to sharpen the point. this proleptic accusative is common enough. It is expanded by the epexegetic use of the hoti clause {that it hath not been found vain} (hoti ou kene gegonen). Literally, {that it has not become empty}. Second perfect active (completed state) of ginomai. Every pastor watches wishfully to see what will be the outcome of his work. Bengel says: _Non inanis, sed plena virtutis_. Cf. #1:5. kenos is hollow, empty, while mataios is fruitless, ineffective. In #1Co 15:14,17 Paul speaks of kenon to kerugma ({empty the preaching}) and mataia he pistis ({vain the faith}). One easily leads to the other.
