HIS MANNER OF PREACHING, AND THEIRS OF RECEIVING, THE GOSPEL; HIS DESIRE TO HAVE REVISITED THEM FRUSTRATED BY SATAN. (1Th. 2:1-20) For--confirming Th1 1:9. He discusses the manner of his fellow missionaries' preaching among them (Th1 1:5, and former part of Th1 2:9) at Th1 2:1-12; and the Thessalonians' reception of the word (compare Th1 1:6-7, and latter part of Th1 2:9) at Th1 2:13-16. yourselves--Not only do strangers report it, but you know it to be true [ALFORD] "yourselves." not in vain--Greek, "not vain," that is, it was full of "power" (Th1 1:5). The Greek for "was," expresses rather "hath been and is," implying the permanent and continuing character of his preaching.