INTRODUCTION TO 1 THESSALONIANS 2 The apostle in this chapter gives a further account of his ministry among the Thessalonians, of the nature, manner, and success of it, and of his regard to them, and conduct and conversation when with them; and commends their readiness in receiving the Gospel, and... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YOURSELVES, BRETHREN, KNOW OUR ENTRANCE IN UNTO YOU,.... The apostle having observed in 1 Thessalonians 1:9 that those persons to whom the report of the Gospel being preached at Thessalonica, and the success of it there was made, showed everywhere both what manner of entrance he and his fellow m... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT EVEN AFTER THAT WE HAD SUFFERED BEFORE,.... Before they came to Thessalonica, which they would not have done, had their ministry been a light and empty one in itself, and unprofitable to others; and especially had this been the case, they would never have rashly engaged in it again, and exposed... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR OUR EXHORTATION,.... Or "consolation"; for the ministry of the Gospel, which is here meant, consists of doctrines full of comfort to distressed minds, such as free justification by the righteousness of Christ, full pardon by his blood, and complete satisfaction by his sacrifice; as well as of ex... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT AS WE WERE ALLOWED OF GOD,.... Or, "approved of God"; not that there were any previous fitness and worthiness in them to be ministers of the word; but such was the good will and pleasure of God, that he from all eternity chose and appointed them to this work; and in his own time by his grace cal... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR NEITHER AT ANY TIME USED WE FLATTERING WORDS,.... To introduce them into the affections, and gain the esteem and good will of men; they did not in their ministry deliver such things as flattered men with a good opinion of themselves: they did not preach up the purity of human nature, but on the... [ Continue Reading ]
NOR OF MEN SOUGHT WE GLORY,.... Honour, esteem, and popular applause; for though there is an honour that is due to the faithful ministers of the word, who are highly to be esteemed for their works' sake, and as ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God; and especially there was an ho... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WE WERE GENTLE AMONG YOU,.... Meek and humble, mild and moderate; not using severity, or carrying it in a haughty imperious manner; assuming power and dominion, lording it over God's heritage, and commanding persons to do homage and honour to them, and forcing themselves upon them, and obliging... [ Continue Reading ]
SO BEING AFFECTIONATELY DESIROUS OF YOU,.... Not of theirs but them; not of glory from them, nor a maintenance by them, but of their spiritual and eternal welfare; were as fond of them as a nursing mother is of her children, who, when absent from them but ever so little a while, longs to see them; s... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YE REMEMBER BRETHREN, OUR LABOUR AND TRAVAIL,.... The great pains they took, even to weariness. The Vulgate Latin version renders the last word, "weariness"; and the Arabic version, "anxiety"; and the Ethiopic version, "affliction"; it is to be understood both of corporeal and spiritual labour,... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ARE WITNESSES, AND GOD ALSO,.... Not so much to what goes before as to what follows after, relating to their holy walk and conversation among them, the more open part of which they were witness of; and for the more secret part God is appealed to, who is acquainted with the springs of actions, as... [ Continue Reading ]
AS YOU KNOW,.... This is added to the end of the last verse in the Arabic version, and which begins this verse thus, "as one of you, and as a father comforting his sons, so we", c. but for what is said in the former verse, an appeal is made both to God and to the Thessalonians, so that there is no n... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT YE WOULD WALK WORTHY OF GOD,.... In imitation of him; not of his perfections, which are inimitable, but of his works; and these not of his power and wisdom, but those of kindness and beneficence, and of righteousness and holiness; and in conformity to his revealed will, which is good, perfect,... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THIS CAUSE ALSO THANK WE GOD WITHOUT CEASING,.... As for their election of God, 1 Thessalonians 1:4 so for their effectual calling by his grace, to his kingdom and glory, just now mentioned, as well as for their reception of the word of God as such, hereafter expressed; since their having it and... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YE, BRETHREN, BECAME FOLLOWERS OF THE CHURCHES OF GOD,.... As of the Lord and of the apostle, 1 Thessalonians 1:6 so of the churches of God that were before them, who were gathered out of the world by the grace of God; and who were united in the fear of God, and assembled together for his worshi... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO BOTH KILLED THE LORD JESUS,.... For though Pilate condemned him to death, and the Roman soldiers executed the sentence, yet it was through the malice and envy of the Jews that he was delivered to him, who brought charges against him, and insisted upon the crucifixion of him; and who are therefor... [ Continue Reading ]
FORBIDDING US TO SPEAK TO THE GENTILES, THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED,.... Speaking or preaching the Gospel is the ordinary means of saving souls, or of acquainting them with the way of salvation, the necessity of it, and of the application of it to them, and with this end and view it is preached: now th... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WE, BRETHREN, BEING TAKEN FROM YOU,.... Here more properly should begin the third chapter, in which the apostle having before observed the manner of his entrance among these people, the nature of his ministry, the reception the word of God met with among them, and the powerful effect it had upon... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE WE WOULD HAVE COME UNTO YOU,.... They not only had a will, and purposed in themselves, and entered into some resolutions to come unto them, but endeavoured to put them into execution: EVEN I PAUL: as well as Silas and Timothy; the latter of which had been with them, and the others had as... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHAT IS OUR HOPE, OR JOY,.... The apostle here gives a reason why they were so concerned at parting with the Thessalonians, and were so desirous of seeing them again, and attempted it so often, cause they were their "hope"; not the foundation of it, which was Christ; nor the thing hoped for, whi... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YE ARE OUR GLORY AND JOY. Or "our joy", as the Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions read; this is a repetition, and a confirmation of what is before said; and signifies that these saints were then the glory of the apostles, being the seals of their ministry; and whom they gloried of and rejoice... [ Continue Reading ]