2 Thessalonians 1:4

So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: GLORY IN YOU - `boast in your case.' Not merely do we hear others speaking of the Thessalonians' faith, but we ourselves, who might be expected to be silent on what redounds to our own praise cannot but boast of it. In Paul said their faith was so well known in various places that he and his fellow-missionaries needed not to speak of it; here he says, so abounding is their love, combined with faith and patience, that he and his fellow-missionaries themselves make it their present glorying in the various churches (now at Corinth in Achaia, to which church he wrote subsequently, boasting, in the Lord, of the faith of the Macedonian churches,...

4_So that we ourselves glory in you_. He could not have bestowed higher commendation upon them, than by saying that he sets them forward before other Churches as a pattern, for such is the meaning of those words: — _We glory in you in the presence of other Churches_. For Paul did not boast of the faith of the Thessalonians from a spirit of ambition, but inasmuch as his commendation of them might be an incitement to make it their endeavor to imitate them. He does not say, however, that he glories in their faith and love, but in their _patience _and _faith_. Hence it follows, that _patience _is the fruit and evidence of _faith_. These words ought, therefore, to be explained in this manner: — “We glory in the patience which springs from faith, and we bear witness that it eminently shines forth in you;” otherwise the context would not correspond. And, undoubtedly, there is nothing that susta...

1-4 Where there is the truth of grace, there will be an increase of it. The path of the just is as the shining light, which shines more and more unto the perfect day. And where there is the increase of grace, God must have all the glory. Where faith grows, love will abound, for faith works by love. It shows faith and patience, such as may be proposed as a pattern for others, when trials from God, and persecutions from men, quicken the exercise of those graces; for the patience and faith of which the apostle gloried, bore them up, and enabled them to endure all their tribulations....

Verse 4. _WE OURSELVES GLORY IN YOU IN THE CHURCHES OF GOD_] We hold you up as an example of what the grace of God, can produce when communicated to honest and faithful hearts. _FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND FAITH_] From Acts 17:5; Acts 17:13, and from 1 Thessalonians 2:14, we learn, that the people of Thessalonica had suffered much persecution, both from the _Jews_ and _their own_ _countrymen_; but being thoroughly convinced of the truth of the Gospel, and feeling it to be the power of God unto salvation, no persecution could turn them aside from it. And having suffered for the truth, it was precious to them. Persecution never essentially injured the genuine Church of God

SO THAT WE OURSELVES GLORY IN YOU IN THE CHURCHES OF GOD - That is, we mention your example to other churches, and glory in it, as an evidence of what the gospel is suited to do; see the notes on 1 Thessalonians 2:19; compare the notes on 2 Corinthians 9:2. FOR YOUR PATIENCE - Your patient endurance of trials. AND FAITH - Fidelity, or constancy. You have shown unwavering confidence in God in your afflictions. IN ALL YOUR PERSECUTIONS AND TRIBULATIONS THAT YE ENDURE - See the notes on 1 Thessalonians 2:14;...

EXPOSITION CONTENTS.—Paul, after the address and salutation, commences this Epistle by rendering thanks to God for the welcome intelligence he had received of the increase of the faith and love of his Thessalonian converts, so that he was enabled to boast of them throughout all the Churches of Achaia, on account of their steadfastness in the endurance of continued persecution. Their present suffering was an evidence of a future state of retribution, when the justice of God would be vindicated, and affliction would be rendered to their persecutors and rest to them the persecuted, on that great day when the Lord Jesus would appear in glory for the destruction of his enemies and the glorification of his people. The apostle expresses his constant prayer for the Thessalonians that God would enable them to walkworthy of their high vocation, so as to be made partakers of that_ _glory which wou...

SO THAT WE OURSELVES GLORY IN YOU,.... Or "of you"; for though they were the subject concerning which, yet not the object in which they gloried; the apostle elsewhere advises not to glory in men, but only in the Lord; nor was this his practice contrary to his advice, for he did not boast of these persons with respect to their carnal things; he did not glory in their flesh, nor in their riches, nor wisdom, nor strength, nor any external gift; he gloried indeed of their graces, and of the exercise and increase of them; but of these not as of themselves, or as owing to him, and his fellow ministers, but as instances of the grace of God, and for which he gives thanks to him: and besides, he did not glory of these in the presence of God, in whose presence none should glory, but IN THE CHURCHES OF GOD; the other churches in Macedonia and Achaia, as Philippi, Berea, Corinth, c. he gave thanks...

2 Thessalonians 1:1. _Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ._ All nations have their special forms of salutation, and this is the Christian's greeting to his fellow-Christians, «Grace unto you, and peace.» How much there is in this prayer! «grace» the free favor of God, the active energy of the divine power; and «peace» reconciliation to God, peace of conscience, peace with all men. My brethren, what better things could I desire for you, and what better things could you wish for your best beloved friends than these, «Grace unto you, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ?» 2 Thessalonians 1:3

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. THE REVELATION OF THE LORD JESUS FROM HEAVEN CHAPTER 1 _ 1. Salutation and thanksgiving (2 Thessalonians 1:1)_ 2. The revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven (2 Thessalonians 1:5) 3. The prayer (2 Thessalonians 1:11) 2 Thessalonians 1:1 The opening words of salutation are the same as in the first Epistle. Once more he gives thanks to God for them, because their faith increased exceedingly and love abounded, the result of an increasing faith. On account of this progress and spiritual condition he wrote, “

Introductory. Thanksgiving for the past and prayer for the future. Paul thanks God for the growing love of the Thessalonian Christians and their loyalty under persecution, and prays that they may be counted worthy of their high calling at the day of the Lord, when they will receive rest and their opponents eternal destruction. 2 THESSALONIANS 1:3. For the emphasis on faith and love, see 1 Thessalonians 1:3 *. 2 Thessalonians 1:4. persecutions: _ cf._ 1 Thessalonians 2:14....