Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Thessalonians 2:4

"but even as we have been approved of God to be intrusted with the gospel, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God who proveth our hearts." — 1 Thessalonians 2:4 (ASV)

But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel. (Compare to 1 Timothy 1:11–12).

Since an office so high and holy, and so much demanding sincerity, fidelity, and honesty, had been committed to us, we endeavored to act in all respects in conformity with the trust reposed in us. The gospel is a system of truth and sincerity, and we demonstrated the same.

The gospel is concerned with great realities, and we did not resort to trickery and illusion. The office of the ministry is most responsible, and we acted in view of the great account which we must render. The meaning is that Paul had such a sense of the truth, reality, and importance of the gospel, and of his responsibility, as effectively kept him from anything like craft or cunning in preaching it.

An effective restraint from mere management and trickery will always be found in a deep conviction of the truth and importance of religion. Artifice and cunning are the usual accompaniments of a bad cause; and, when adopted by a minister of the gospel, they will usually, when detected, leave the impression that he feels that he is engaged in such a cause. If an object cannot be secured by sincerity and straightforward dealing, it is not desirable that it should be secured at all.

Even so we speak. We do so in accordance with the nature of the gospel, with the truth and sincerity that such a cause demands.

Not as pleasing men. That is, not in the manner of impostors, who make it their object to please men. The apostle's meaning is that he did not aim to teach doctrines that would flatter people, win their applause, or gratify their passions or fancy. We are not to suppose that he desired to offend people, or that he regarded their esteem as of no value, or that he was indifferent whether they were pleased or displeased. Rather, the direct object of his preaching was not to please them; it was to declare the truth and to obtain the approval of God, whatever people might think of it.

(See the notes on Galatians 1:10).

Which trieth our hearts. It is often said to be an attribute of God that he tries or searches the hearts of people (1 Chronicles 28:9; 1 Chronicles 29:17; Jeremiah 11:20; Jeremiah 17:10; Psalms 11:4; Romans 8:27).

The meaning here is that the apostle had a deep conviction of the truth that God knew all his motives and that all would be revealed on the last day.