1 Thessalonians 1:8

For from you sounded out the word of the Lord Better, hath sounded out, or resounded. The Greek word suggests a clear ringing note, "as of a trumpet" (Chrysostom); and the tense (perfect) implies no transient sound, but a continuing effect: see note on beloved, 1 Thessalonians 1:4.

"The word of the Lord" is the standing O. T. designation for God's revealed will, all that, as the Lord, He says to men. But "the Lord" is now Christin His Divine authority and glory; and this title of Christ is notably frequent in our two Epistles. Only in them is this expression applied by St Paul to the Gospel (comp. ch. 1 Thessalonians 4:15; 2 Thessalonians 3:1). Afterwards he calls it "the word of God" or "of Christ" "not men's word, but as it is in truth, God's word" (ch. 1 Thessalonians 2:13). The fullest declaration of the authorship and purport of this "word" is from the lips of St Peter, in Acts 10:36: "The word which God sent, in good tidings of peace through Jesus Christ: He is Lord of all."

1 Thessalonians 1:8 gives proof of the earnestness with which the Thessalonians had embraced the Gospel, as set forth in 1 Thessalonians 1:6. For they had so received it as to echo it far and wide. The violent persecution directed against them, failing to shake their faith, had served to advertise it.

"Truth, like a torch, the more "tis shaken shines."

not only in Macedonia and Achaia Now the two provinces are united, in contrast with the rest of the world.

but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad Lit., hath gone out: the Apostle keeps up the metaphor with which he began the sentence. Psalms 19:4, quoted also in Romans 10:18, seems to be running in his mind: "Their sound went forth into all the earth" (LXX). For the tense, see note on "hath sounded out."

The conversion of the Thessalonians, taking place under such remarkable circumstances, had made a great sensation, the news spreading even beyond the limits of Greece. [For a view of the importance of Thessalonica and its commanding geographical position, see Introd.Ch. 1.] Aquila had lately come to Corinth from Rome (Acts 18:2), and may have brought word that the news was current there. The charge of treason against Cæsar recorded in Acts 17:6-7, would almost certainly be reported in Rome. "In every place" is a natural hyperbolé, used like our everywhere, everybodyand the French tout le monde, of that which is widely and generally current. The Thessalonian believers in Christ were

"bravely furnished all abroad to fling

The wingèd shafts of truth."

With "in every place" the sentence of 1 Thessalonians 1:8 is complete; but as the writer extends his statement, it alters its shape in his mind, and the assertion with which he set out (the word … hath sounded forth) is now repeated in another way: your faith that is unto (is directed to) God, hath gone out. This mobility is characteristic of St Paul's style (see Introd.Ch. VI.). The same thing appears in a double aspect: the fame of the gospel spread by the Thessalonians and the fame of their faith in it travelled together.

"Faith towardGod" is a rare and distinct expression. It indicates the new direction, or attitudeof the heart and life, which the next verse vividly depicts. Comp. 2 Corinthians 3:4 and Philemon 1:5: "toward the Lord Jesus."

so that we need not to speak anything] Lit., have no need, a phrase used three times in this Epistle (ch. 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:1), and nowhere else by St Paul.

Read this in close connection with the next verse. It is as much as to say, "No need for us to tell the story. We hear of it from all sides; everywhere people are talking about your conversion and your brave testimony for Christ."