{"id":4189,"date":"2013-01-30T03:30:33","date_gmt":"2013-01-30T11:30:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ministryofgrace.org\/blog\/?p=4189"},"modified":"2013-01-29T22:17:44","modified_gmt":"2013-01-30T06:17:44","slug":"2-thessalonians-39-christ-like-selflessness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ministryofgrace.org\/test\/2-thessalonians-39-christ-like-selflessness\/","title":{"rendered":"2 Thessalonians 3:9 – Christ-like Selflessness"},"content":{"rendered":"

not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Truth to Learn<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Our love for others is shown in what we sacrifice for them.<\/p>\n

Behind the Words<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

“Authority<\/span>” is translated from the Greek noun exousia<\/em><\/span>, which is derived from the verb exesti<\/em><\/span>, meaning “it is permissible.” Thus, exousia<\/em> <\/span>refers to “permission, authority, or the power to do something.”<\/p>\n

The word translated “make<\/span>” is a form of did\u014dmi<\/em><\/span>, meaning “to give something of one’s one accord,” that is “to freely give a gift.” It is expressed here in the subjunctive mood, indicating the possibility or probability of giving. So, literally, Paul is saying “that we might freely give ourselves as an example …”<\/p>\n

“Example<\/span>” is from the Greek word tupos<\/em><\/span>, from which we get our English word “type.” It refers to an object that is struck with a blow to produce a specific mark or impression. In common usage it refers to an example that is to be followed or imitated.<\/p>\n

The words “should follow<\/span>” are from the verb mimeomai<\/em><\/span>, which we saw back in verse seven, meaning “to imitate” or “to follow as an example.” This word is also expressed in the subjunctive mood, indicating possibility or probability.<\/p>\n

Meaning Explained<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

As we learned in yesterday’s verse, like every other faithful preacher of God’s word the Apostle Paul had the right to receive compensation from those to whom he ministered. However, he didn’t receive anything from the people in Thessalonica because he didn’t want to be a burden to them. Here he tells us that he also wanted to be an example of what it means to sacrifice for the good of others.<\/p>\n

He taught the Galatians:<\/p>\n

Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches. <\/span>(Galatians 6:6<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n

And to the Corinthians, he said:<\/p>\n

Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat<\/span> of the things<\/em><\/span> of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of <\/span>the offerings of<\/em><\/span> the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. <\/span>(1 Corinthians 9:13-14<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, Paul had another lesson to teach the Thessalonians (and us). If we are to become more like Christ, we need to be willing to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of others. Paul did not take any type of compensation from the Thessalonians, not because he didn’t deserve it, but because he was showing his own Christ-likeness by sacrificing himself for their sakes. And, he was not behaving this way just to please God; he was giving them (and us) an example that we can observe and mimic. Here’s what he said to the Philippians:<\/p>\n

… but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.<\/span> (Philippians 2:3b, 4<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n

Application<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Christian walk is all about love. Not just the love we have for God, but also the love we have (and show) for others. Are you willing to sacrifice for God? Are you willing to sacrifice for the sake of other Christians? That’s what Paul did.<\/p>\n

In God's service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/div>\n
\n
\n

\"\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. Truth to Learn Our love for others is shown in what we sacrifice for them. Behind the Words “Authority” is translated from the Greek noun exousia, which is derived from the verb exesti, meaning “it is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[2981,1611,39,1957,2976,2982,2977,2579],"class_list":["post-4189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-authority","tag-didomi","tag-example","tag-exousia","tag-follow","tag-make","tag-mimeomai","tag-tupos"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pd5geA-15z","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ministryofgrace.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4189","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ministryofgrace.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ministryofgrace.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ministryofgrace.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ministryofgrace.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4189"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ministryofgrace.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4189\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4194,"href":"https:\/\/ministryofgrace.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4189\/revisions\/4194"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ministryofgrace.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4189"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ministryofgrace.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4189"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ministryofgrace.org\/test\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}