1, 2. ‘ Why speak however of the report of others, seeing that we can confidently appeal to your own experience as to the effective character of our ministry. For even though we were subjected to shameful contumely, as you well know, at Philippi, nevertheless we boldly declared to you the Gospel of God. Not that this boldness was our own. It came to us from God, and so upheld us in the midst of the opposition we encountered.’ 1. Αὐτοὶγὰροἴδατεκτλ.] An appeal again to the Thessalonians’ own experience (cf. 1:5), as distinguished from the report of others (αὐτοί emph.), and strengthened in the present instance by the repetition of the significant ἀδελφοί (cf. 1:4); while the resumptive γάρ refers back to 1:9a, and in meaning is almost = ‘ however.’ οὐκενὴγέγονεν] ‘ hath not been found vain’— the reference being to the essential content of the Apostles’ preaching rather than to its results. That however an enduring result was secured is proved by the perf. γέγονεν. For κενός in this sense cf. 1 Corinthians 15:10 and see Trench Syn. § 49., and for the form of the sentence by which οἴδατε claims in anticipation the subj. of γέγονεν for its object see WM. p. 781.