FOR YOURSELVES KNOW (αυτο γαρ οιδατε). This explanatory γαρ takes up in verses 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 the allusion in 1 Thessalonians 1:9 about the "report" concerning the entrance (εισοδον, way in, εισ, οδον),UNTO YOU (την προς υμας). Note repeated article to sharpen the point. This proleptic... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HAVING SUFFERED BEFORE (αλλα προπαθοντες). Strong adversative αλλα, antithesis to κενη. Appeal to his personal experiences in Thessalonica known to them ( AS YE KNOW , καθως οιδατε). Second aorist active participle of προπασχω, old compound verb, but here alone in the N.T. The force of προ- ... [ Continue Reading ]
EXHORTATION (παρακλησις). Persuasive discourse, calling to one's side, for admonition, encouragement, or comfort.NOT OF ERROR (ουκ εκ πλανης). This word is same as πλαναω, to lead astray (2 Timothy 3:13) like Latin _errare_. Passive idea ofERROR here rather than deceit. That is seen inNOR IN... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT EVEN AS WE HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY GOD (αλλα καθως δεδοκιμασμεθα υπο του θεου). Perfect passive indicative of δοκιμαζω, old verb to put to the test, but here the tense for completed state means tested and proved and so approved by God. Paul here claims the call of God for his ministry and the s... [ Continue Reading ]
USING WORDS OF FLATTERY (εν λογω κολακειας). Literally,IN SPEECH OF FLATTERY OR FAWNING . Old word, only here in N.T., from κολακς, a flatterer. An Epicurean, Philodemus, wrote a work Περ Κολακειας (Concerning Flattery). Milligan (_Vocabulary_, etc.) speaks of "the selfish conduct of too many o... [ Continue Reading ]
NOR SEEKING GLORY OF MEN (ουτε ζητουντες εξ ανθρωπων δοξαν). "Upon the repudiation of covetousness follows naturally the repudiation of worldly ambition" (Milligan). See Acts 20:19; 2 Corinthians 4:5; Ephesians 4:2. This third disclaimer is as strong as the other two. Paul and his associates had... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WE WERE GENTLE IN THE MIDST OF YOU (αλλα εγενηθημεν νηπιο εν μεσω υμων). Note εγενηθημεν (became), not ημεθα (were). This rendering follows ηπιο instead of νηπιο (Aleph B D C Vulg. Boh.) which is clearly correct, though Dibelius, Moffatt, Ellicott, Weiss prefer ηπιο as making better sense. Di... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN SO, BEING AFFECTIONATELY DESIROUS OF YOU (ουτως ομειρομενο υμων). Clearly the correct text rather than ιμειρομενο from ιμειρω, old verb to long for. But the verb ομειρομα (Westcott and Hort _om_., smooth breathing) occurs nowhere else except MSS. in Job 3:21; Psalms 62:2 (Symmachus) and the... [ Continue Reading ]
TRAVAIL (μοχθον). Old word for difficult labour, harder than κοπος (toil). In the N.T. only here, 2 Thessalonians 3:8; 2 Corinthians 11:27. Note accusative case here though genitive with μνημονευω in 1 Thessalonians 1:3.NIGHT AND DAY (νυκτος κα ημερας). Genitive case, both by day and by night,... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW HOLILY AND RIGHTEOUSLY AND UNBLAMEABLY (ως οσιως κα δικαιως κα αμεμπτως). Paul calls the Thessalonians and God as witnesses (μαρτυρες) to his life toward you the believers (υμιν τοις πιστευουσιν) dative of personal interest. He employs three common adverbs that show how holily toward God and... [ Continue Reading ]
AS A FATHER WITH HIS OWN CHILDREN (ως πατηρ τεκνα εαυτου). Change from the figure of the mother-nurse in verse 1 Thessalonians 2:7. There is ellipse of a principal verb with the participles παρακαλουντεσ, παραμυθουμενοι, μαρτυρουμενο. Lightfoot suggests ενουθετουμεν (we admonished) or εγενηθημεν... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE END THAT (εις το). Final use of εις and the articular infinitive, common idiom in the papyri and Paul uses εις to and the infinitive fifty times (see again in 1 Thessalonians 3:2), some final, some sub-final, some result (Robertson, _Grammar_, pp. 989-91).WALK WORTHILY OF GOD (περιπατειν... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FOR THIS CAUSE WE ALSO (κα δια τουτο κα ημεις). Note κα twice. We as well as you are grateful for the way the gospel was received in Thessalonica.WITHOUT CEASING (αδιαλειπτως). Late adverb for which see on 1 Thessalonians 1:2 and for ευχαριστουμεν see on 1 Thessalonians 1:2.THE WORD OF THE... [ Continue Reading ]
IMITATORS OF THE CHURCHES OF GOD WHICH ARE IN JUDEA (μιμητα των εκκλησιων του θεου των ουσων εν τη Ιουδαια). On μιμητα see on 1 Thessalonians 1:5. "This passage, implying an affectionate admiration of the Jewish churches on the part of St. Paul, and thus entirely bearing out the impression produc... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO BOTH KILLED THE LORD JESUS AND THE PROPHETS (των κα τον Κυριον αποκτειναντων Ιησουν κα τους προφητας). First aorist active participle of αποκτεινω. Vivid justification of his praise of the churches in Judea. The Jews killed the prophets before the Lord Jesus who reminded them of their guilt ... [ Continue Reading ]
FORBIDDING US (κωλυοντων ημας). Explanatory participle of the idea in εναντιων. They show their hostility to Paul at every turn. Right here in Corinth, where Paul is when he writes, they had already shown venomous hostility toward Paul as Luke makes plain (Acts 18:6). They not simply oppose his w... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING BEREAVED OF YOU (απορφανισθεντες αφ' υμων). First aorist passive participle of the rare compound verb (απορφανιζω, in Aeschylus, but nowhere else in N.T.). Literally,BEING ORPHANED FROM YOU (αφ' υμων, ablative case). Paul changes the figure again (τροφος or mother nurse in verse 1 Thessal... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE (διοτ). As in 1 Thessalonians 2:8.WE WOULD FAIN HAVE COME TO YOU (ηθελησαμεν ελθειν προς υμας). First aorist active indicative of θελω. Literally,WE DESIRED TO COME TO YOU. I PAUL (εγω μεν Παυλος). Clear example of literary plural ηθελεσαμεν with singular pronoun εγω. Paul uses his own... [ Continue Reading ]
CROWN OF GLORYING (στεφανος καυχησεως). When a king or conqueror came on a visit he was given a chaplet of glorying. Paul is answering the insinuation that he did not really wish to come.AT HIS COMING (εν τη αυτου παρουσια). This word παρουσια is untechnical (just _presence_ from παρειμ) in 2 Th... [ Continue Reading ]