PAUL, AND SILVANUS, AND TIMOTHY (Παυλος κα Σιλουανος κα Τιμοθεος). Nominative absolute as customary in letters. Paul associates with himself Silvanus (Silas of Acts, spelled Σιλβανος in D and the papyri), a Jew and Roman citizen, and Timothy, son of Jewish mother and Greek father, one of Paul's co... [ Continue Reading ]
WE GIVE THANKS (ευχαριστουμεν). Late denominative verb ευχαριστεω from ευχαριστος (grateful) and that from ευ, well and χαριζομα, to show oneself kind. See χαρις in verse 1 Thessalonians 1:1. "The plural implies that all three missionaries prayed together" (Moffatt).ALWAYS (παντοτε). Late word,... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBERING (μνημονευοντες). Present active participle of old verb from adjective μνημων (mindful) and so to call to mind, to be mindful of, used either with the accusative as in 1 Thessalonians 2:9 or the genitive as here.WITHOUT CEASING (αδιαλειπτως). Double compound adverb of the _Koine_ (Po... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOWING (ειδοτες). Second perfect active participle of οιδα (ειδον), a so-called causal participle=since we know, the third participle with the principal verb ευχαριστουμεν, the Greek being fond of the circumstantial participle and lengthening sentences thereby (Robertson, _Grammar_, P. 1128).BEL... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW THAT (οτ). It is not certain whether οτ here means "because" (θυια) as in 2 Thessalonians 3:7; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Romans 8:27 or declarative οτ "how that," knowing the circumstances of your election (Lightfoot) or explanatory, as in Acts 16:3; 1 Thessalonians 2:1; 1 Corinthians 16:15; 2 Corin... [ Continue Reading ]
IMITATORS OF US AND OF THE LORD (μιμητα ημων κα του κυριου). Μιμητης (-της expresses the agent) is from μιμεομα, to imitate and that from μιμος (μιμιχ, actor). Old word, more than "followers," in the N.T. only six times (1 Thessalonians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 2:14; 1 Corinthians 4:16; 1 Corinthians... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THAT YE BECAME (ωστε γενεσθα υμας). Definite result expressed by ωστε and the infinitive γενεσθα (second aorist middle of γινομα) as is common in the _Koine_.AN ENSAMPLE (τυπον). So B D, but Aleph A C have τυπους (plural). The singular looks at the church as a whole, the plural as individuals... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM YOU HATH SOUNDED FORTH (αφ' υμων εξηχητα). Perfect passive indicative of εξηχεω, late compound verb (εξ, ηχοσ, ηχω, ηχη, our echo) to sound out of a trumpet or of thunder, to reverberate like our echo. Nowhere else in the N.T. So "from you" as a sounding board or radio transmitting station ... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THEMSELVES (αυτο). The men of Macedonia, voluntarily.REPORT (απαγγελλουσιν). Linear present active indicative, keep on reporting.WHAT MANNER OF ENTERING IN (οποιαν εισοδον). What sort of entrance, qualitative relative in an indirect question.WE HAD (εσχομεν). Second aorist active (ingr... [ Continue Reading ]
TO WAIT FOR HIS SON FROM HEAVEN (αναμενειν τον υιον αυτου εκ των ουρανων). Present infinitive, like δουλευειν, and so linear, to keep on waiting for. The hope of the second coming of Christ was real and powerful with Paul as it should be with us. It was subject to abuse then as now as Paul will h... [ Continue Reading ]