_CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ 1 Thessalonians 2:1. OUR ENTRANCE IN … WAS NOT IN VAIN.—The word for “vain” here is the same as that in the first half of “ceno-taph.” The entrance into Thessalonica, we might say colloquially, “had something in it.” 1 Thessalonians 2:2. SUFFERED BEFORE.—Previously... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ 1 Thessalonians 2:3. FOR OUR EXHORTATION.—The word reminds us of Christ’s word, “I will send you another Advocate”—“Paraclete.” Our advocacy of the gospel of Christ was not born of error. WAS NOT OF DECEIT, NOR UNCLEANNESS, NOR GUILE.—Perhaps we might paraphrase thu... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ 1 Thessalonians 2:7. BUT WE WERE GENTLE.—R.V. margin says, “Most ancient authorities read babes.” Origen and Augustine interpret this to mean, “Like a nurse amongst her children, talking in baby language to the babes” (_Ibid._). AS A NURSE CHERISHETH HER CHILDREN.—T... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ 1 Thessalonians 2:9. LABOUR AND TRAVAIL.—The same words occur together at 2 Corinthians 11:27. The former is used some twenty times, the latter only three in the New Testament. One marks the fatigue of the work, “the lassitude or weariness which follows on this strai... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ 1 Thessalonians 2:13. THE WORD OF GOD WHICH YE HEARD OF US.—R.V. “the word of the message, even the word of God.” The preposition “_from_ us” is “properly used in relation to objects which come from the _neighbourhood_ of a person—out of his _sphere_” (_Winer_); but... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ 1 Thessalonians 2:14. BECAME FOLLOWERS.—R.V. “imitators.” The usual meaning of imitators hardly seems to obtain in full strength here. We cannot think the Thessalonians consciously copied the Judean Christians, to do which they would have had the superfluous task of... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ 1 Thessalonians 2:15. WHO BOTH KILLED.—The New Testament form of the verb is always compound—as we should say, “killed off.” A tragic contrast to what might have been expected is set forth in our Lord’s parable. “It may be they will _reverence_ My Son.” … They cast H... [ Continue Reading ]
_CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ 1 Thessalonians 2:17. BEING TAKEN FROM YOU.—R.V. “bereaved of you.” St. Paul, absent from Thessalonica, feels like a parent who has lost a child, and regards them as children who feel the loss of a parent (see John 14:18). 1 Thessalonians 2:18. BUT SATAN HINDERED U... [ Continue Reading ]