Deeper Reflection
PAUL PREACHED THE GOSPEL AT PHILIPPI AND PLANTED a church there before going to Thessalonica. At Philippi, Paul and Silas “suffered and were shamefully treated” (v.2). They suffered both injury and insult from people who opposed them for preaching the Gospel. They were being “dragged” to the magistrates, who “tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods”, and they were inflicted with “many blows” before they were thrown into prison, with their feet fastened in the stocks (Acts 16:19-24). It was an extremely painful and humiliating experience, being flogged naked in public and imprisoned, and without trial.⁵⁹ Paul was “shamefully treated”, but he was “not ashamed of the gospel” (cf. Rom 1:16). Instead, the shameful suffering resulted in “boldness” in preaching the Gospel in Thessalonica (v.2). To speak in “boldness” means “to speak freely, openly and fearlessly”, with “outspokenness, frankness and plainness of speech”, and “so with courage”⁶⁰. Paul preached the Gospel with “boldness” in two spheres. Firstly, “in the face of strong opposition” (v.2, NIV), and more importantly, “in our God” (v.2) – that is, in the presence of God. And this is God’s empowering presence that gives the boldness (cf. Acts 4:29-31). “If we have boldness before God in what we do for Him, it is a small thing to be brave towards mere humans in carrying on God’s work.”⁶¹

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⁵⁹ John R. W. Stott, Thessalonians, 48 ⁶⁰ John R. W. Stott, Thessalonians, 47 ⁶¹ G. K. Beale, 65