CHAPTER II. _The apostle sets forth how the Gospel was brought and preached_ _to the Thessalonians, in consequence of his being persecuted at_ _Philippi_, 1, 2. _The manner in which the apostles preached, the matter of their_ _doctrine, and the tenor of their lives_, 3-11. _He exhorts them to... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Thessalonians 2:2. _SHAMEFULLY ENTREATED - AT PHILIPPI_] There Paul and Silas had been beaten with many stripes, shut up in the inner prison, and their feet made fast in the stocks. See Acts 16:23, c. and the notes there. _WITH MUCH CONTENTION._] The words εν πολλω αγωνι not only signify, _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Thessalonians 2:3. _OUR EXHORTATION_] The word παρακλησις has a very extensive meaning; it signifies not only _exhortation_ and _teaching_ in general, but also _encouragement, consolation_, and the like. When the apostles exhorted or admonished men, it was that they should turn from _evil_ t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Thessalonians 2:4. _BUT AS WE WERE ALLOWED OF GOD_] καθως δεδοκιμασμεθα. _As we were accounted worthy_ to be put in trust-as God put confidence in us, and sent us on his most especial message to mankind, _even so we speak_, keeping the dignity of our high calling continually in view; and, ac... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Thessalonians 2:5. _FLATTERING WORDS_] Though we proclaimed the _Gospel_ or glad tidings, yet we showed that without holiness none should see the Lord. _YE KNOW_] That while we preached the whole Gospel we never gave any countenance to sin. _FOR A CLOAK OF COVETOUSNESS_] We did not seek t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 6. _NOR OF MEN SOUGHT WE GLORY_] As we preached not for worldly gain, so we preached not for popular applause; we had what we sought for-the approbation of God, and the testimony of a good conscience. _WHEN WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN BURDENSOME_] They had a right to their maintenance while they devot... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _BUT WE WERE GENTLE AMONG YOU_] Far from assuming the authority which we had, we acted towards you as a tender nurse or parent does to a delicate child. We fed, counselled, cherished, and bore with you; we taught you to walk, preserved you from stumbling, and led you in a right path. Inste... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _BEING AFFECTIONATELY DESIROUS OF YOU_] We had such intense love for you that we were not only willing and forward to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ to you, but also to give our _own lives_ for your sake, _because ye were dear_, διοτι αγαπητοι ἡμιν, _because ye were beloved by us... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _YE REMEMBER - OUR LABOUR AND TRAVAIL_] From this it appears that St. Paul spent much more time at Thessalonica than is generally supposed; for the expressions in this verse denote a long continuance of a constantly exercised ministry, interrupted only by manual labour for their own support... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 10. _YE_ ARE _WITNESSES, AND GOD_ ALSO, _HOW HOLILY_] i.e., in reference to GOD; how _justly_ in reference to _men_; and _unblamably_ in reference to our _spirit_ and _conduct_, as ministers of Christ, _we behaved ourselves among you_. What a consciousness of his own integrity must St. Paul ha... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 11. _HOW WE EXHORTED_] What pastoral care is marked here! They _exhorted_-were continually teaching and instructing, the objects of their charge; this was their _general_ work. _AND COMFORTED_] They found many under trials and temptations, and those they encouraged. _AND CHARGED_] μαρτυρουμ... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 12. _THAT YE WOULD WALK WORTHY OF GOD_] That they should, in every respect, act up to their high calling, that it would not be a reproach to the God of holiness to acknowledge them as his sons and daughters. Ephesians 4:1, Ephesians 4:1; _"_Philippians 1:27_"_; and _"_Colossians 1:10_"_. _HI... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _YE RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD_] Ye received the _doctrine_ of God, not as any thing fabricated by _man_, but as coming immediately from God himself, we being only his _messengers_ to declare what he had previously revealed to us. And ye have had the fullest proof that ye have not believed i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _YE - BECAME FOLLOWERS OF THE CHURCHES OF GOD_] There is not a word here of the _Church of Rome_ being the _model_ after which the other Churches were to be formed; it had no such pre-eminence: this honour belonged to the _Churches of Judea_; it was according to _them_, not the Church at _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. 16. _WHO HATH KILLED THE LORD JESUS_, c.] What a finished but just character is this of the Jews! 1. _They slew the_ _Lord Jesus_, through the most unprincipled and fell malice. 2. They _killed their own prophets_ there was no time in which the seed of the serpent did not hate and oppose... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. 1 Thessalonians 2:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _BEING TAKEN FROM YOU FOR A SHORT TIME_] Through the persecution raised by the Jews, see Acts xvii., he was obliged to leave Thessalonica, and yield to a storm that it would have been useless for him to have withstood. _BEING TAKEN FROM YOU - IN PRESENCE, NOT IN HEART_] The apostle had co... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _EVEN I PAUL_] He had already sent Timothy and Silas to them; but he himself was anxious to see them, and had purposed this _once and again, but Satan hindered_; i.e., some _adversary_, as the word means, whether the _devil_ himself, or some of his children. There was, however, such a stor... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _FOR WHAT_ IS _OUR HOPE_] I can have no prospects from earth; I have forsaken all for the Gospel; and esteem every thing it can afford as dross and dung, that I may gain Christ. Why then should I continually labour at the risk of my life, preaching the Gospel? Is it not to get your souls s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Thessalonians 2:20. _FOR YE ARE OUR GLORY AND JOY._] Ye are the seal of our apostleship; your conversion and steadiness are a full proof that God hath sent us. Converts to Christ are our ornaments; persevering believers, our joy in the day of judgment. 1. IN the preceding chapter we have t... [ Continue Reading ]