1 Thessalonians 2:10 – Upright, Just, and Blameless

10 You are witnesses, and God, how benignly and justly and blamelessly we became to you who are believing,

Once again Paul calls upon witnesses. First the Thessalonians themselves: “you are witnesses,” but he immediately adds: “and God.” We encountered that combination earlier as well. The Thessalonians knew how Paul and his coworkers had conducted themselves among them; God, moreover, knew their hearts (verse 4). Their conduct could therefore stand the light of scrutiny both before people and before God.

Paul then uses a powerful threefold expression: “benignly and justly and blamelessly.” For “benignly” the Greek has hosiōs, related to hosios, which Paul also uses in Titus 1:8. It is not the usual word for “holy.” Here it conveys well the idea of being upright, whole, and of one piece. “Justly” indicates that their conduct was right, while “blamelessly” means that nothing could legitimately be held against their behavior.

In this way Paul actually summarizes what he has set out from verse 3 onward. No deception, uncleanness, or guile; no flattery or pretext for greed; no seeking glory from people. He had not even made use of his right to support. And all of this took place “to you who are believing.” Others could hear about it, but they had experienced it at close range and could establish it with their own eyes.

The message and the messengers were of one piece: upright, just, and blameless!

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