1 Thessalonians 2:4

“But as we were allowed of God, etc.] Or, “approved of God”; not that there were any previous fitness and worthiness in them to be ministers of the word; but such was the good will and pleasure of God, that he from all eternity chose and appointed them to this work; and in his own time by his grace called them to it, and by his gifts qualified them for it, who otherwise were unworthy of it, and insufficient for it: to be put in trust with the Gospel; which is of great worth and value, a rich treasure, and of the last importance; which to be trusted with is a very great honour; and the discharge of such a trust requires great faithfulness, and which the apostles had: even so we speak; the…”

“as--according as; even as. allowed--Greek, "We have been approved on trial," "deemed fit." This word corresponds to "God which trieth our hearts" below. This approval as to sincerity depends solely on the grace and mercy of God (Act 9:15; Co1 7:25; Co2 3:5; Ti1 1:11-12). not as pleasing--not as persons who seek to please men; characteristic of false teachers (Gal 1:10).”

“But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel - Compare 1 Timothy 1:11-12. Since there had been committed to us an office so high and holy, and so much demanding sincerity, fidelity, and honesty, we endeavored to act in all respects in conformity to the trust reposed in us. The gospel is a system of truth and sincerity, and we evinced the same. The gospel is concerned with great realities, and we did not resort to trick 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…”

“2:4 In the ancient world, those entrusted with a public office had to be tested and approved. The Thessalonians (2:3) and God served as two witnesses to the purity of Paul’s motives.”

“as we: Co1 7:25; Eph 3:8; Ti1 1:11-13 to be: Luk 12:42, Luk 16:11; Co1 4:1, Co1 4:2, Co1 9:17; Gal 2:7; Ti1 1:11, Ti1 1:12, Ti1 6:20; Ti2 1:14; Ti2 2:2; Tit 1:3 not: Co1 2:4, Co1 2:5; Co2 4:2, Co2 5:11, Co2 5:16; Gal 1:10; Eph 6:6; Col 3:22 but God: Num 27:16; Kg1 8:39; Ch1 29:17; Psa 7:9, Psa 17:3, Psa 44:21, Psa 139:1, Psa 139:2; Pro 17:3; Jer 17:10, Jer 32:19; Joh 2:24, Joh 2:25, Joh 21:17; Rom 8:27; Heb 4:13; Rev 2:23 1 Thessalonians 2:5”