In his Epistle to the Thessalonians, Paul reminds them of his manner of laboring among them. 1 Thessalonians 2:1-4. He declares that he did not seek to win souls through flattery, deception, or guile. “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.” Paul rebuked and warned his converts with the faithfulness of a father to his children, while, at the same time, he cherished them as tenderly as a fond mother would her child.{LP 84.1}

I sit brev til tessalonkerne, mindede Paulus dem om sin arbejdsmetode ibland dem. 1 tessalonikerbrev 2,1-4. Han erklærede at han ikke søgte sjælevinding ved smiger, bedrag eller svig. "Men som vi af Gud er agtet værdige til at få evangeliet betroet, således taler vi ikke for at tækkes mennesker, men Gud, som prøver vore hjerter." Paulus irettesatt og advarede sine nyomvendte med en faders trofasthed for sine børn, medens han samtidig værnede varsomt om dem som en øm moder ville med sit barn.