II. (1) FOR YOURSELVES BRETHREN, KNOW. — The writers’ purpose is practical, not didactic; they there-fore animate their converts with the stirring memories of their conversion. “We need not go to these foreign witnesses for the tale of how we came to you; for _you_ recollect it as if it were yester... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN AFTER “what was enough to have scared others” (Bengel). Such men were not likely to be “vain.” The marks of their ill-treatment at Philippi were fresh upon them at Thessalonica (_as ye know_). See Acts 16 and Acts 17:1. IN OUR GOD. — These words give the ground of their boldness — “in reliance... [ Continue Reading ]
“The reason that we were able to endure so much was our consciousness of the sincerity and purity of our attention.” EXHORTATION. — Exhortation is an attempt to make men take a particular line of action. “_Our_ efforts to get men to act as we wish,” St. Paul says, “do not spring from a desire to du... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE ALLOWED. — Rather, _have been,_ and in 1 Thessalonians 2:3 _is,_ not “was.” St. Paul is arguing from his habitual practice. “But we speak after the manner of men who remember that God Himself has tried them, and has been satisfied to entrust the gospel to them, making it our business to please,... [ Continue Reading ]
AT ANY TIME. — Not only during the stay at Thessalonica, but neither at Thessalonica nor elsewhere, as the next verse shows. But as the Thessalonians can only be appealed to as evidence for their own experience, the writers therefore call God Himself to witness. At the same time, the absence of flat... [ Continue Reading ]
GLORY — _i.e., recognition of our splendid position,_ as in the phrase “giving glory to God,” _i.e., “_recognising Him for what He is,” John 5:44. (Comp. John 12:43; Romans 2:29; 1 Corinthians 4:5.) BEEN BURDENSOME. — The marginal reading is on the whole preferable. The original is, _might have been... [ Continue Reading ]
AMONG YOU. — Rather, _in the midst of you,_ making the gentleness still more marked. “Her,” in the Greek emphatically _her own._ The contrast is drawn between the charlatan, licentious, sophistical, fawning, greedy, vainglorious teachers, to whom Greeks were well accustomed, and the Apostles, sittin... [ Continue Reading ]
SO means hero _even so,_ confirming the simile, and is not to be taken in the sense of “therefore.” NOT THE GOSPEL OF GOD ONLY. — The gospel was, as it were, the milk given to the young converts; but the nursing mothers were ready to let them draw their very life away, so dearly did they love them.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR. — As in 1 Thessalonians 2:1, the general principles of the foregoing verses are supported by facts which the Thessalonians will remember. If the word attaches itself to any particular phrase, it is to “impart our own souls,” “we were ready to die for you; indeed, you remember how we worked ours... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ARE WITNESSES. — Abruptly, without conjunction, the writers add a summary description of their conduct at Thessalonica; before, they had dwelt on details, now, on the broad characteristics. As in 1 Thessalonians 2:5, _God_ is appealed to, because the readers could only judge of the outward propri... [ Continue Reading ]
AS (emphatic):” _we_ lived holily — just (in fact) as you remember we tried to induce each one of _you_ to live.” EVERY ONE, — Now they appeal to the _individual_ recollection of the Thessalonians. It gives us an incidental glimpse of the apostolic method, — which was, to deal with individual souls... [ Continue Reading ]
HATH CALLED. — The right reading is, _was calling,_ which has been altered because of the slight theological difficulty, on the analogy of Galatians 1:6, etc. The call is not simply a momentary act, but a _continual_ beckoning upwards, until the privileges offered are actually attained. The Thessalo... [ Continue Reading ]
The first part of this chapter draws attention to the _Apostles’_ part in the conversion of Thessalonica. From this point (roughly speaking) to the end of 1 Thessalonians 3, the action of the _converts_ is the chief subject. This verse differs from the original in several particulars of more or les... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YE. — “The effectual power of this word upon you is shown in your joining the Church in spite of such difficulties.” FOLLOWERS. — Better, _imitators._ The churches of Judæa are probably selected for example, not only as being the oldest and best-organised churches, but the most afflicted, both... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO BOTH KILLED. — A tremendous invective against the Jews, the purpose of which is (1) to show the deep sympathy of St. Paul with the persecuted Thessalonians, and his indignation against the persecutors; (2) to make them see still more deeply the value of their faith by the efforts made to keep it... [ Continue Reading ]
FORBIDDING US TO SPEAK TO THE GENTILES. — The Apostle indicates the special way in which their contrariety showed itself. TO FILL UP. — Literally, _unto the filling up._ Not exactly their _intention_ in forbidding, but, the end to which such conduct was steadily (“alway”) tending. (Again comp. Acts... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WE, BRETHREN. — Now comes a change of subject: no longer the memories of the time when St. Paul was among them, but his hopes and fears about them since he left. “But while you were being persecuted by these reprobate Jews, we, who were driven away from you, were longing to come back to see whe... [ Continue Reading ]
WE WOULD. — Not merely a conditional tense, but “we were ready to come — meant to come.” EVEN I PAUL. — Rather, _that is to say, I; Paul,_ not as if it were a great thing that one like _him_ should have such a wish, but showing that Silas and Timothy had not shared his intention. Why had they not? T... [ Continue Reading ]
“We were most anxious to come and stablish you for we should lose all our hope and joy and honours if Christ should come and we should have lost you.” OUR HOPE — _i.e.,_ the object on which our hopes are centered. CROWN OF REJOICING. — Or, _of boasting;_ “crown that we are proud to wear,” like vic... [ Continue Reading ]