Analysis Of The Chapter The principal subjects embraced in this chapter are the following: I. A statement of the conduct of Paul and his fellow-laborers when they first preached the gospel at Thessalonica; 1 Thessalonians 2:1. In this statement, the apostle specifies particularly the following thi... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YOURSELVES, BRETHREN, KNOW OUR ENTRANCE IN UNTO YOU - notes, 1 Thessalonians 1:9. Paul appeals to themselves for proof that they had not come among them as impostors. They had had a full opportunity to see them, and to know what influenced them. Paul frequently appeals to his own life, and to wh... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT EVEN AFTER THAT WE HAD SUFFERED BEFORE - Before we came among you. AND WERE SHAMEFULLY ENTREATED, AS YE KNOW, AT PHILIPPI - Acts 16:19 ff. By being beaten and cast into prison. The shame of the treatment consisted in the fact that it was wholly undeserved; that it was contrary to the laws; and... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR OUR EXHORTATION - That is, the exhortation to embrace the gospel. The word seems to be used here so as to include preaching in general. The sense is, that the means which they used to induce them to become Christians were not such as to delude them. WAS NOT OF DECEIT - Was not founded on sophis... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT AS WE WERE ALLOWED OF GOD TO BE PUT IN TRUST WITH THE GOSPEL - Compare 1 Timothy 1:11. Since there had been committed to us an office so high and holy, and so much demanding sincerity, fidelity, and honesty, we endeavored to act in all respects in conformity to the trust reposed in us. The gospe... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR NEITHER AT ANY TIME USED WE FLATTERING WORDS - see the Job 31:21 notes; and on 2 Corinthians 2:17 note. The word here rendered “flattering” - κολακείας kolakeias - occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. The meaning is, that the apostle did not deal in the language of adulation; he did not pr... [ Continue Reading ]
NOR OF MEN SOUGHT WE GLORY - Or praise. The love of applause was not that which influenced them; see the notes on Colossians 1:10. NEITHER OF YOU, NOR YET OF OTHERS - Nowhere has this been our object The love of fame is not that which has influenced us. The particular idea in this verse seems to be... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WE WERE GENTLE AMONG YOU - Instead of using authority, we used only the most kind and gentle methods to win you and to promote your peace and order. The word here rendered “nurse,” may mean any one who nurses a child, whether a mother or another person. It seems here to refer to a mother (compar... [ Continue Reading ]
SO, BEING AFFECTIONATELY DESIROUS OF YOU - The word here rendered “being affectionately desirous” - ὁμειρομενοι homeiromenoi - occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means to “long after, to have a strong affection for.” The sense here is, that Paul was so strongly attached to them that he wo... [ Continue Reading ]
YE REMEMBER, BRETHREN, OUR LABOUR - Doubtless in the occupation of a tent-maker; Acts 20:34 note; 1 Corinthians 4:12 note. AND TRAVAIL - see the notes on 2 Corinthians 11:27. The word means “wearisome labor.” FOR LABOURING NIGHT AND DAY - That is, when he was not engaged in preaching the gospel. H... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ARE WITNESSES - They had a full opportunity of knowing his manner of life. AND GOD ALSO - See the notes on ver 5. HOW HOLILY - Piously - observing all the duties of religion. AND JUSTLY - In our contact with people. I did them no wrong. AND UNBLAMEABLY - This seems to refer to his duties both... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW WE EXHORTED - That is, to a holy life. AND COMFORTED - In the times of affliction. AND CHARGED - Greek, “testified.” The word testify is used here in the sense of protesting, or making an earnest and solemn appeal. They came as witnesses from God of the truth of religion, and of the importance... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT YE WOULD WALK WORTHY OF GOD ... - That you would live in such a manner as would honor God, who has chosen you to be his friends; notes, Ephesians 4:1. A child “walks worthy of a parent” when he lives in such way as to reflect honor on that parent for the method in which he has trained him; when... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THIS CAUSE ALSO THANK WE GOD - In addition to the reasons for thankfulness already suggested, the apostle here refers to the fact that they received the truth, when it was preached, in such a way as to show that they fully believed it to be the word of God. NOT AS THE WORD OF MEN - Not of human... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YE, BRETHREN, BECAME FOLLOWERS OF THE CHURCHES OF GOD WHICH IN JUDEA ARE IN CHRIST JESUS - Which are united to the Lord Jesus, or which are founded on his truth: that is, which are true churches. Of those churches they became “imitators” - μιμηταὶ mimētai - to wit, in their sufferings. This do... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO BOTH KILLED THE LORD JESUS - see the notes on Acts 2:23. The meaning here is, that it was characteristic of the Jews to be engaged in the work of persecution, and that they should not regard it as strange that they who had put their own Messiah to death, and slain the prophets, should now be fou... [ Continue Reading ]
FORBIDDING US TO SPEAK TO THE GENTILES - see Acts 17:5, Acts 17:13. No particular instance is mentioned in the life of Paul previous to this, when they had formally commanded him not to preach to the pagan, but no one can doubt that this was one of the leading points of difference between him and th... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WE, BRETHREN, BEING TAKEN FROM YOU - There is more implied in the Greek word here rendered, “being taken from you “ - ἀπορφανισθέντες aporphanisthentes - than appears from our translation. It properly has relation to the condition of an orphan (compare notes on John 14:18), or one who is berea... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE WE WOULD HAVE COME UNTO YOU, EVEN I PAUL - The phrase “even I Paul,” seems to be used by way of emphasis. He had a special desire to go himself. He had sent Timothy to them 1 Thessalonians 3:2, 1 Thessalonians 3:5, and perhaps, some might have been disposed to allege that Paul was afraid t... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHAT IS OUR HOPE - That is, “I had a strong desire to see you; to assist you; to enjoy your friendship; for you are my hope and joy, and my absence does not arise from a want of affection.” The meaning, when he says that they were his “hope,” is, that their conversion and salvation was one of th... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YE ARE OUR GLORY AND JOY - The meaning is, that the source of happiness to a minister of the gospel in the day of judgment will be the conversion and salvation of souls. The object of the apostle in dwelling on this in a manner so tender and affectionate is, to show them that his leaving them, a... [ Continue Reading ]