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1 Thessalonians 2:5
5 For [gar] neither [oute] at any time [pote] used we [ginomai] flattering [kolakeia] words [en], [logos] as [kathos] ye know, [eido] nor [oute] a cloke [en] [prophasis] of covetousness; [pleonexia] God [theos] is witness: [martus]
6 Nor [oute] of [ek] men [anthropos] sought [zeteo] we glory, [doxa] neither [oute] of [apo] you, [humon] nor [oute] yet of [apo] others, [allos] when we might [dunamai] have been [einai] burdensome [en], [baros] as [hos] the apostles [apostolos] of Christ. [Christos] KJV-Interlinear
5 For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed — God is witness — 6 nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority. NASB
The Word of God presents truth, not superficial appeasements. The Word of God presents reality, not pretenses.
The Word of God comes from the author and creator and sustainer of the universe, not some celebrity or politician who happens to be popular or starved for attention, and therefore presumes an ‘all knowing’ attitude.
The word of God comes from God who is real life and power and intellect, and is presented to vessels of dust. That means you and me.
Dust rates next to, if not below, nothing.
God is not a genie. God is eternal life and eternal happiness and supports those attributes through doctrine.
Somewhere along the way, people get the idea that they are in full control over their life and future, and despite strong evidence of a limited lifespan, strong evidence of death, strong evidence of limited knowledge in most all areas of science and life, people seem to think that they can still come up with better solutions, on their own, for themselves and for others.
Despite mans limitations, there are many who will seek to take advantage over others through flattery, through deceit, through outright lies. There are those who believe through their own superior intellect, talent, or dynamic abilities, that they can lead the masses into whatever direction they choose.
Likewise, there are those who presume that they can mandate or direct the activities of the masses, simply because they represent truth (their own version of truth), with full disregard of God, who is really the sovereign over everything.
Man was placed on this earth courtesy of Gods grace. Man was placed on this earth for the sole purpose of entering into heaven and living with God forever.
Man was never placed on this earth so that he could gain rule over the universe of his own accord. Wasn’t it Satan who wanted to be like the most high? And is humanity acting any different?
Gods knowledge and wisdom is vast to beyond infinite. Mans knowledge can’t even put a tiny scratch on that body of knowledge. Everything that mans learns, reveals the greater vastness of that which he does not know.
And yet despite the vastness of life, the vastness of reality, the vastness of truth, and the overwhelming proof of them all and more, people live in a world of pretense, demanding proof, demanding evidence, demanding signs, presuming that they possess the right of a critic or second guessing.
People require entertainment. People hear what they want to hear and believe whatever will give them those things they desire most, or those things that fit into their chosen lifestyle.
And so Paul, does not presume to possess authority over anyone, does not presume to entertain anyone in order to gain their attention or following, even though doctrine possesses inherent authority over all.
Life is a serious matter, and while people live in a fog of self-persuasion by self appointed expertise, the very things that they demand (truth, evidence, proof), which are all around them, they go out of their way to ignore, through their sin nature driven pursuits.
In order to advance, lies must have entertainment, flattery, deceit, ambiguity. Doctrine uses none of these approaches. Doctrine does not force, entice, or entrap, and therefore is not as fun as the sin nature demands.
The world will use a vast number of hustles and methods to gain the attention and following of the masses, all of which end in disaster and total loss for all.
Doctrine uses only the words of truth, and through truth, is able to funnel an abundance of blessings and eternal rewards to the person who actually listens.
