section ii The Apostle's Conduct at Thessalonica. Ch. 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 _Analysis_. The ministry of Paul and his colleagues at Thessalonica had been unmistakably genuine, 1 Thessalonians 2:1. This appeared (1) by _their boldness_in the conflict amid which their work began, 1 Thessalonians 2:2;... [ Continue Reading ]
_For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you_ ENTERING IN (R.V.), same word as in ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:9; see note. And the "For" of this verse is parallel to the "for" of ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:9: what "_they_themselves (other people, strangers in different places) report of us" is conf... [ Continue Reading ]
_but even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi_ More exactly, HAVING SUFFERED BEFORE, AND BEEN SHAMEFULLY ENTREATED (R. V.), or THOUGH WE HAD ALREADY SUFFERED AND WERE SHAMEFULLY TREATED AT PHILIPPI. "Entreated" is older English for _treated_, as... [ Continue Reading ]
_For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile_ Read ERROR for _deceit_; and supply the Greek ellipsis by IS NOT (R. V.) rather than _was not_. The Apostle is setting forth the habit and spirit of his ministry: "We behaved in this fearless way at Thessalonica, for our minis... [ Continue Reading ]
_but as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak_ Again the A.V. misses the force of the Greek perfect: better, AS WE HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY GOD TO BE ENTRUSTED. "Allow" in older English bears the stronger sense of _accept, approve_(comp. Romans 14:22), but even so... [ Continue Reading ]
_For neither at any time used we flattering words_ WERE WE FOUND USING WORDS OF FLATTERY (R. V.: same verb as in 1 Thessalonians 2:1, "_found_vain"); or, DID WE FALL INTO THE USE OF FLATTERING SPEECH. "Found" might suggest _detection_, which is not in the Apostle's mind. Lit., WORD OF FLATTERY, refe... [ Continue Reading ]
_nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others_ This clause continues 1 Thessalonians 2:5, and is so construed in the R. V.: NOR (were we found) SEEKING GLORY OF MEN, NEITHER FROM YOU, NOR FROM OTHERS. "_Of_men" points to the general source of such "glory," indicating its character;... [ Continue Reading ]
_But we were gentle among you_ Lit., and more graphically, IN THE MIDST OF YOU (R. V.); also, WERE FOUNT GENTLE same verb as in 1 Thessalonians 2:1, and ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:5 (_shewed ourselves toward you_, R. V.). Instead of _gentle_, BABES is the reading of "most of the ancient authorities" (R.... [ Continue Reading ]
_so being affectionately desirous of you_ R. V., EVEN SO. The rare and peculiar Greek verb (one word) rendered "being affectionately desirous" implies the _fondness_of a mother's love YEARNING OVER YOU. With this mother-like affection, he continues, WE WERE WELL PLEASED TO IMPART UNTO YOU, NOT THE... [ Continue Reading ]
_For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail_ In ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 (see note) the Apostle spoke with thankfulness of his readers" "labour of love;" this laborious spirit they had learnt from himself: comp. 2 Thessalonians 3:8-9, where it appears that to some of them his example was a rep... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye are witnesses, and God_also] In 1 Thessalonians 2:5 the witness of man and of God (to the outward and inward respectively) were distinguished; here they are combined: YOU ARE WITNESSES, AND SO IS GOD. _how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe_ R. V. more... [ Continue Reading ]
_as you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father_doth _his children_ The R. V. recasts the verse, restoring the order and emphasis of the Apostle's words: HOW WE DEALT WITH EACH ONE OF YOU, AS A FATHER WITH HIS OWN CHILDREN, EXHORTING YOU, AND ENCOURAGING YOU, AND... [ Continue Reading ]
_that ye would walk worthy of God_ Better, IN ORDER THAT YE SHOULD, and WORTHILY (R. V.) "Walk" is the common Hebrew and O.T. figure for the conduct of life. It was _God's_message the apostles of Christ had brought to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 2:2_; 1 Thessalonians 2:9_); "unto _God_, the... [ Continue Reading ]
_For this cause also thank we God without ceasing_ Revised reading: AND FOR THIS CAUSE WE ALSO, &c. The Apostle has already given thanks for the Christian worth of the Thessalonians (ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:2 ff.); his thanksgiving is renewed when he considers that this is _the fruit of his own and hi... [ Continue Reading ]
section iii Jewish Persecutors of the Church. Ch. 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 This short paragraph is of peculiar interest. The Apostle was at the time exposed in his Gentile mission to the bitterest persecution from the unbelieving Jews, as we gather from the contemporary narrative of Acts 16-18. And... [ Continue Reading ]
_For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus Followers_should be IMITATORS (R. V.), just as in ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:6: imitators of the apostles and of their Lord, the Thessalonians were imitating the Judæan Churches, and in the same respect, viz. in... [ Continue Reading ]
_who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets_ Revised reading, simply THE PROPHETS. Christ represented His death as the culmination of the murders of the ancient prophets (Luke 11:47-52; Luke 13:31-33; Luke 20:9-16); St Stephen had said the same thing in Paul's hearing, with poignant for... [ Continue Reading ]
_forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved_ R. V., MAY BE SAVED. As much as to say: "These Jews, if they had their way, would prevent us speaking a single word to you about the Gospel; they would willingly see all the Gentiles perish!" This stamped them as enemies of the human... [ Continue Reading ]
_But we, brethren, being taken from you_ BEREAVED OF YOU (R. V.), or TORN AWAY FROM YOU; lit., _orphaned_a word employed in Greek with some latitude the very strongest expression the Apostle could find, occurring only here in the N.T. _for a short time_ Lit., SEASON OF AN HOUR, as we say, "an hour'... [ Continue Reading ]
section iv St Paul's Present Relations to the Thessalonians. Ch. 1 Thessalonians 2:17 to 1 Thessalonians 3:13 The Apostle had been drawn aside in the last paragraph, by a sudden and characteristic burst of feeling, from the main purpose of his letter. To this he now returns. 1 Thessalonians 2:17 m... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore we would have come unto you_ The true reading is BECAUSE not "wherefore," due probably to a misunderstanding of the following verb, which is not removed by the rendering of the R. V., "because we _would fain_have come." This but repeats the "great desire" just expressed; whereas the Greek... [ Continue Reading ]
_For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing_?] Not _rejoicing_, but GLORYING (R. V.), or BOASTING. "Crown of glorying" is a Hebrew idiom (Isaiah 62:3; Proverbs 16:31, &c.); it is the crown which expresses one's exultation, not the king's "diadem" (as in Revelation 19:12), but the wreath of... [ Continue Reading ]
_For ye are our glory and joy_ Or: YEA, VERILY, YOU ARE OUR GLORY AND JOY (Ellicott). Emphasis rests both on "ye" and "are." This delight was not matter of hope alone (1 Thessalonians 2:19), but of present _fact_. See ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-4, and 1 Thessalonians 3:9: "The joy wherewith we rejoice... [ Continue Reading ]