THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. _Chronological Notes relative to this Epistle._ -Year of the Constantinopolitan era of the world, or that used by the Byzantine historians, 5560. -Year of the Alexandrian era of the world, 5554. -Year of the Antiochian era of the world,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Thessalonians 1:2. _WE GIVE THANKS_] See Philippians 1:3; Philippians 1:4, and Colossians 1:3; where the same forms of speech are used.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Thessalonians 1:3. _YOUR WORK OF FAITH_] This verse contains a very high character of the believers at Thessalonica. They had FAITH, not _speculative_ and _indolent_, but _true, sound_, and _operative_; their _faith worked_. They had LOVE, not that _gazed_ at and became enamoured of the per... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Thessalonians 1:4. _KNOWING - YOUR ELECTION OF GOD._] Being assured, from the doctrine which I have delivered to you, and which God has confirmed by various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, that he has _chosen_ and _called_ the Gentiles to the same privileges to which he _chose_ and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Thessalonians 1:5. _FOR OUR GOSPEL_] That is, the glad tidings of salvation by Jesus Christ, and of your being elected to enjoy all the privileges to which the Jews were called, without being obliged to submit to circumcision, or fulfil the rites and ceremonies of the Mosaic law. _CAME NOT... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 6. _YE BECAME FOLLOWERS OF US_] Ye became _imitators_, μιμηται, of us-ye believed the same truths, walked in the same way, and minded the same thing; knowing that our doctrine was of the Lord, and that the way in which we walked was prescribed by himself, and that he also suffered the contradi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _YE WERE ENSAMPLES_] τοπους. _Types, models_, or _patterns_; according to which all the Churches in Macedonia and Achaia formed both their _creed_ and their _conduct_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _FROM YOU SOUNDED OUT_] As Thessalonica vas very conveniently situated for traffic, many merchants from thence traded through Macedonia, Achaia, and different parts of Greece. By these, the fame of the Thessalonians having received the doctrine of the Gospel was doubtless carried far and wi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _HOW YE TURNED TO GOD FROM IDOLS_] This could not be spoken either of the _Jews_ or of the _devout persons_, but of the _heathen Greeks_, and of such it appears that the majority of the Church was formed. See what is said on this subject in the _preface_ to this epistle. _TO SERVE THE LIVI... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Thessalonians 1:10. _AND TO WAIT FOR HIS SON FROM HEAVEN_] To _expect_ a _future state_ of _glory_, and _resurrection_ of the body, according to the Gospel doctrine, after the example of Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead, and ascended unto heaven, ever to appear in the presence of G... [ Continue Reading ]