‘Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you’ (NIV).
Verse 9 then turns to cite one of the ways in which Paul and his companions had given of themselves for the benefit of the Thessalonian believers. Paul evokes them to “remember… our labor and toil” which they had engaged in while simultaneously proclaiming the gospel so as not to be a “burden” to anyone. This verse can be taken quite literally, for the “toil and hardship” which Paul engaged in “night and day” refers to exhausting work.[1] From acts 18.3 we know that Paul was a tentmaker, an occupation which required much time and offered little profit.[2]
While this verse can be understood as Paul contrasting his ministry to the pagan philosophers, Paul is also concerned, as Witherington puts it, “that the gospel be freely offered and freely received.”[3] These ideas, though sometimes separated are linked quite closely. For in as much as the pagan philosophers demanded payment for their services and took advantage of their followers they were charging for the “gospel” that they were teaching. Paul however, engages in manual labor while preaching the gospel, with the primary motivation of not placing any financial burden upon the believing community of Thessalonica – consistent with the declaration he makes of his demonstration of care for the believers. As a result, his message is one that is offered in freedom and cost nothing to listen to.
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