_Salutation_ 1 Thessalonians 1:1. The omission of the official title _Apostle_ can scarcely be accounted for by supposing that Paul had not yet assumed it, but is due to the affection subsisting between him and his Thessalonian converts, which did not require that he should urge his apostolic autho... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Thessalonians 1:2. WE. This probably refers, as in 1Th 2:18, 1 Thessalonians 3:1, to Paul himself. GIVE THANKS TO GOD. So Paul begins most of his Epistles, but here the causes of thankfulness are more fully enlarged upon. He welcomes the tidings brought him by Timothy, and subjects him to no cyn... [ Continue Reading ]
_Paul thankfully acknowledges the Genuineness and Striking Characteristics of the Conversion of the Thessalonians_ It is merely for convenience' sake the first three Chapter s are divided. They really form one paragraph or section. Throughout them Paul is seeking to give utterance to the same genera... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Thessalonians 1:3. WORK OF FAITH, _i.e._ that which faith does or effects; its fruit or product. Every living thing, plant or animal, has its specific product or work, its thing to do. That which faith does is to make us ‘walk worthy of God who hath called us unto His kingdom and glory' (chap. 1 T... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Thessalonians 1:4-5. KNOWING YOUR ELECTION, a further reason for his thanksgiving. Paul knew that God had chosen as well as called those to whom he writes. He knows this by the following sign: that OUR GOSPEL CAME NOT UNTO YOU IN WORD ONLY, etc.; his call seemed to carry with it power to move them... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Thessalonians 1:6. AND YE BECAME FOLLOWERS [IMITATORS] OF US. They had seen in Paul proof that the word was God's word, and they themselves became imitators of Paul, so giving proof that the word of God worked effectually in them also. The point of resemblance between himself and them which had ch... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Thessalonians 1:7. YE BECAME AN ENSAMPLE. The whole congregation is regarded as a unit; the word being in the singular, according to the Vatican MS. ‘The true followers became themselves in turn patterns for others.' ALL THAT BELIEVE, _i.e._ all the believers, whether their conversion preceded o... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Thessalonians 1:8. FOR. Paul proceeds to confirm and amplify the assertion of 1 Thessalonians 1:7. HATH SOUNDED OUT THE WORD OF THE LORD. The word rendered _sounded out_ is used in Sir 40:13, with the added definition ‘Like a great thunder.' The word of the Lord, or the Gospel, was received by t... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Thessalonians 1:9. FOR THEY THEMSELVES, _i.e._ the inhabitants of the various places he visited, and who might have been expected to be unacquainted with Paul and his mission and past career; these persons to whom he intended to introduce himself, themselves related to him his ministry and mode of... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Thessalonians 1:10. TO WAIT FOR HIS SON FROM HEAVEN. The second coming of our Lord was one of the most important and familiar topics, both in His own teaching and in that of His apostles. The expectation of this coming was inculcated as the proper attitude for a Christian; the hope of it enabled t... [ Continue Reading ]