1 Thessalonians 1:7

So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. YE WERE - `Ye became [ genesthai (G1096)]. ENSAMPLES. So 'Aleph (') A C G g, read. B Delta f, Vulgate, 'ensample' (singular), the whole church being regarded as one. The Macedonian church of Philippi was the only one in Europe converted before the Thessalonians (Acts 16:12, etc.; 1 Thessalonians 2:2). Therefore he means their past conduct is an ensample to all believers now; of whom he specifies those "in Macedonia and Achaia," because he was there since the conversion of the Thessalonians, and was now at Corinth in Achaia. "Macedonia" then comprised the whole northern portion of...

7_So that ye were_. Here we have another amplification — that they had stirred up even believers by their example; for it is a great thing to get so decidedly the start of those who had entered upon the course before us, as to furnish assistance to them for prosecuting their course. _Typus _(the word made use of by Paul) is employed by the Greeks in the same sense as _Exemplar _ is among the Latins, and _Patron _ among the French. He says, then, that the courage of the Thessalonians had been so illustrious, that other believers had borrowed from them a rule of constancy. I preferred, however, to render it _patterns_, that I might not needlessly make any change upon the Greek phrase made use of by Paul; and farther, because the plural number expresses, in my opinion, something more than if he had said that that Church as a body had been set forward for imitation, for the meaning is, that...

6-10 When careless, ignorant, and immoral persons are turned from their carnal pursuits and connexions, to believe in and obey the Lord Jesus, to live soberly, righteously, and godly, the matter speaks for itself. The believers under the Old Testament waited for the coming of the Messiah, and believers now wait for his second coming. He is yet to come. And God had raised him from the dead, which is a full assurance unto all men that he will come to judgment. He came to purchase salvation, and will, when he comes again, bring salvation with him, full and final deliverance from that wrath which is yet to come. Let all, without delay, flee from the wrath to come, and seek refuge in Christ and his salvation....

Verse 7. _YE WERE ENSAMPLES_] τοπους. _Types, models_, or _patterns_; according to which all the Churches in Macedonia and Achaia formed both their _creed_ and their _conduct_....

SO THAT YE WERE ENSAMPLES TO ALL THAT BELIEVE - Examples in reference to the firmness with which you embraced the gospel, the fidelity with which you adhered to it in trials, and the zeal which you showed in spreading it abroad. These things are specified in the previous and subsequent verses as characterizing their piety. The word here rendered “ensamples” - τύπον tupon, singular - is that from which the word type is derived. It properly denotes anything caused or produced by the means of “blows” (from τύπτω tuptō), and hence a mark, print, or impression, made by a stamp or die; and then a resemblance, figure, pattern, exemplar - a model after which anything is made. This is the meaning here. They became, as it were, a model or pattern after which the piety of others should be moulded, or showed what the piety of others ought to be.

EXPOSITION CONTENTS.—Paul, after the address and salutation, testifies that he renders constant thanks to God for the Thessalonians, calling to remembrance their faith, love, and hope, being assured of their election. He expresses his joy in their cordial reception of the gospel and the Christian character which they exhibited, being examples to all believers in Macedonia and Achaia. He mentions the favorable report which he had of their conversion to God from idols, and of their waiting for the advent of Christ. 1 THESSALONIANS 1:1 PAUL. He does not call himself "an apostle," not because the Thessalonians were newly converted (Chrysostom), or from tenderness to Silvanus who was not an apostle (Estius), or because his apostolic authority was not yet recognized (Jowett), or because he had merely commenc

SO THAT YE WERE ENSAMPLES TO ALL THAT BELIEVE,.... They were not only followers of Christ and his apostles, whom they took for examples of faith, holiness, courage, meekness, and patience; but they were patterns of good works; and of suffering afflictions to other believers, even to all that knew them, or heard of them, particularly IN MACEDONIA; as at Philippi and other places: though the Gospel was first preached there, and they had received it, and a Gospel church state was formed there; yet these were more forward in the exercise of grace and discharge of duty, and were even ensamples to them to copy after; so the first are sometimes last, and the last first: AND ACHAIA; another part of Greece, the metropolis of which was Corinth, where there also was a very considerable church; but these saints at Thessalonica set them an example in many things, and particularly in acts of benefic...

1 Thessalonians 1:1. _Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ._ Paul is very full of Christ. His heart is full of love to God our Father, and, therefore, it is that twice over in as many lines he mentions both names. He uses no vain repetitions, as the heathen do; but his inmost soul is taken up with communion with the Father and with the Son; and so in one single verse he twice gives us their names. 1 Thessalonians 1:2. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in ou

1 THESSALONIANS 1:7 tu,pon It is more likely that copyists would have altered the singular number tu,pon (B D* 6 33 81 104 181 424c 442 1311 1739 1908 2005 itd, r vg syrp, pal copsa, bo, fay arm eth arab) to the plural tu,pouj (a A C Fgr G K L P Y most minuscules itg syrh _al_) in order to agree with u`ma/j than vice versa. The reading tu,poj in Dc is a scribal error....

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS THE CHURCH OF THE THESSALONIANS AND ITS BLESSED CONDITION CHAPTER 1 _ 1. Greetings and thanksgiving 1 Thessalonians 1:1)_ 2. The gospel and its blessed fruits 1 Thessalonians 1:5) 3. The blessed condition of the Church 1 Thessalonians 1:8) 1 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, Silvanus and Timotheus were known to the Thessalonians, for they had been with them, and were the instruments of God used in bringing the gospel to them. He does not speak of himself as an apostle. In nine of his Epistles, Paul uses his title as