Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Thessalonians 2:6

"nor seeking glory of men, neither from you nor from others, when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ." — 1 Thessalonians 2:6 (ASV)

Nor of men sought we glory. Or praise. The love of applause was not what influenced them. (See Barnes on Colossians 1:10).

Neither of you, nor of others. Nowhere has this been our object. The love of fame is not what has influenced us.

The particular idea in this verse seems to be that, though they had uncommon advantages as the apostles of Christ for setting up a dominion or securing an ascendancy over others, they had not availed themselves of it. As an apostle of Christ, appointed by him to found churches and endowed with the power of working miracles, Paul had every advantage for securing authority over others and turning it to the purposes of ambition or gain.

When we might have been burdensome. The margin reads, "or, used authority." Some understand this as meaning that they might have demanded support by virtue of their being apostles. Others, like Calvin, and as stated in the margin, believe they might have used authority and governed them entirely in that manner, exacting unqualified obedience.

The Greek properly refers to what is weighty—en barei—heavy, burdensome. Anything that weighs down or oppresses—such as a burden, sorrow, or authority—would fit the sense of the Greek. It seems probable from the context that the apostle did not refer exclusively to either authority or support, but may have included both.

In their circumstances, it might have been somewhat burdensome for them to have maintained him and his fellow laborers, though as an apostle he might have required it (Compare to 1 Corinthians 9:8–15). Rather than be oppressive in this respect, he had chosen to forgo his right and maintain himself by his own labor.

As an apostle, he also might have exerted his authority and used his great office to place himself at the head of churches and give them laws. But he chose to do nothing that would be a burden. He treated them with the gentleness with which a nurse cherishes her children (1 Thessalonians 2:7), or a father his sons (1 Thessalonians 2:11), and employed only the arts of persuasion. (Compare to Barnes on 2 Corinthians 12:13, 2 Corinthians 12:14, 2 Corinthians 12:15, and 2 Corinthians 12:16).

As the apostles of Christ. Though the writer uses the word apostles here in the plural, it is not certain that he means to apply it to Silas and Timothy. He often uses the plural when he refers to himself only. Although Silas and Timothy are joined with him in this epistle (1 Thessalonians 1:1), it is evident that he writes the letter as if he were alone and that they had no part in the composition or the instructions.

Timothy and Silas are associated with him merely for salutation or kind remembrance. That this is so is apparent from chapter 3. In 1 Thessalonians 3:1, Paul also uses the plural term: When we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone. In 1 Thessalonians 2:5, he says, For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith? Neither Silas nor Timothy were apostles in the strict and proper sense, and there is no evidence that they had the authority that Paul here says might have been exerted by an apostle of Christ.

1. "been burdensome" "used authority"