Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Ver. 1. _In God our Father, and the Lord, &c._] As God is in his people of a truth,1 Corinthians 14:25, so are they in God; and as Christ is at God's right hand, so is the Church at... [ Continue Reading ]
Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Ver. 2. _Grace be to you, &c._] _See Trapp on "_ 1Co 1:3 _"_ And the Lord Jesus Christ] Who is both the fountain, John 1:16, and the conduit, John 1:17; for of his fulness we have all received grace for grace. Grace, that is... [ Continue Reading ]
We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; Ver. 3. _We are bound to thank God_] Duty is a debt, and a good heart is not well till it have discharged it. As he th... [ Continue Reading ]
So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Ver. 4. _For your patience and faith_] Faith patienteth the heart, by putting the head into heaven beforehand, and giving a man a glimpse of future glory. F... [ Continue Reading ]
_Which is_ a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: Ver. 5. _Which is a manifest token_] ενδειγμα, _indigitatio._ The saints' sufferings here are an ocular demonstration of a future judgment, wherein all their... [ Continue Reading ]
Seeing _it is_ a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; Ver. 6. _To recompense tribulation_] To trouble these troublers of Israel, and that throughout all eternity, because they would be always troubling God's people if they might; as it is said of the scorpion... [ Continue Reading ]
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, Ver. 7. _Rest with us_] As Noah's ark, after much tossing, rested upon the mountains of Ararat; as the ark of the covenant, formerly transportative, was at length settled in Solomon's... [ Continue Reading ]
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Ver. 8. _In flaming fire_] Natural fire, 2 Peter 3:6,7, whereby the elements shall melt like scalding lead upon the wicked, while they give account with all the world on a flaming fire... [ Continue Reading ]
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; Ver. 9. _Who shall be punished_] Here is the pain of sense, of eternity, of extremity. _ From the presence_] Here is the pain of loss, which is of the two the greater. _ And from the... [ Continue Reading ]
When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. Ver. 10. _To be glorified_] This is the chief end of his coming, like as he reprobateth some that his mercy in electing others may the more appear... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of _this_ calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of _his_ goodness, and the work of faith with power: Ver. 11. _The work of faith with power_] Without which power neither the goodness of God, nor the good pleasure of his... [ Continue Reading ]
That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Ver. 12. _That the name of our Lord_] It is much for the honour of the saints that Christ shall account himself glorified in their glory. Neither is it for the... [ Continue Reading ]