2:6a
Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else: Paul continued to describe how he and his companions preached and behaved, and he contrasted this with the behavior of the teachers who traveled from place to place. In the Greek world, such wandering teachers flattered their hearers to get money from them and to cause their hearers to honor them.
2:6b
In some Greek manuscripts, this part of 2:6 actually begins 2:7. Many English versions also begin 2:7 here. You should follow the English or national language version that is most popular in your area.
as apostles of Christ: Paul was making it clear that he and his companions were apostles, that is, that Jesus Christ had authorized them to teach and explain what Jesus taught.
we had authority to demand it: The Greek here literally says “we could have been with weight.” There are two ways in which scholars interpret this idiom:
(1) It means that Paul and his companions could have said how important they were and insisted that the Thessalonians respect their authority.
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, 2011 edition, New Century Version, God’s Word, SSA, New Jerusalem Bible; possibly NET Bible, Revised English Bible)
(2) It means that Paul and his companions could have used their authority as apostles to burden the Thessalonians with all sorts of demands, for example, they could have insisted that the Thessalonians give them food and lodging. This would agree with 2:9c where a related verb is used.
(New International Version (2011 Revision), Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), King James Version)
It is recommended that you follow the first interpretation (1), as many commentators support it and it provides the best contrast with the next verse. Paul was saying that, instead of using their authority over the Thessalonians, he and his companions behaved gently toward them.
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