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Sect. VIII.

II, T I M O T H Y.

3.

Ch. IV.

Ver. 6.

For the libation is already poured out upon my head ', and the time of my departure is near.

I am the more earnest, my dear friend, in these exhortations to diligence and fidehty, as I am very apprehensive that my season of service is drawing rapidly to a conclusion, when I shall no longer be able to assist you either by my advice or ray exam- ple. My time of life, and my situation as a prisoner waiting for the judgement of the emperor, lead me to expect that my residence here will be but of short duration. I see the preparations made to offer me up. The libation is already poured upon the vic- tim's head. I stand before the altar : and in a few short months, or perhaps weeks, the sacrifice will

' Tor the libation, &c.] TjSrj {rtfEvJojU-aj. " For the libation is already poured out upon my devoted head." Harwood ; who observes, that " it is a sacrifical term ; that the apostle alludes to the libation that was poured on the victim before it was sacri- ficed." " '^TTsv^ca, proprie libo : vinicm effundo victimce in ho- norem Dei. Metaphorice, paulatim absuraor, 2 Tim. iv. G. Jam enim., omnes vires mece sensim minuuntur et absumtmtiir." Schleus- ner. " Jam nunc aspergor vino : prcvparor ad mortem, ut vic- timce Solent."" Grotius. " I am now ready to be poured out." Newcome. " as a libation upon God's altar." Doddridge,

Mr. Wakefield's translation in his first edition was : " I am now pouring out my libation : q. d. in grateful acknowledge- ment to God for my victory." The apostle represents himself as a conqueror at the games, who, having received his award, was offering his sacrifice, and preparing to depart. A very beautiful and interesting image. But the learned author, upon recollection probably conceiving that the original would not well bear that interpretation, altered his translation in his se- cond edition to, I am pouring out myself as a libation. I follow the interpretation of Grotius and Harwood, who take the verb in a passive sense, and understand the apostle as describing himself as a victim standing before the altar, upon which the libation has been poured, and which is just ready for the knife.

Sect. VIII.

II. TIMOTHY.

351

be complete. The fatal blow will be struck ; and I shall bid adieu to this scene of warfare and suffer- ing. But think not that I look forward to that awful hour with feeUngs of despondency or dismay. No;

I have contended hi a good cause, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith 2. As to luhat re- 9nain€ih, a crown of righteousness is reserved for mCy which the Lord, the impartial judge"^, will award to me in that day ^, and not to me only, but to all those also luho love his appearance.

Cli. IV. Ver. G.

2 I Acre kept thefaith.l " been faithful to my engagements, by an honourable observance of all the laws of the game." Wakefield. Seeii.5. Dr. Benson denies that the expres- sion rryv ririv rsrrjpyjy.cc can bear this sense, and interprets it " of faithfully discharging the duties of a high public station." " I have maintained an inviolable fidelity." Harwood.

' Impartial judge.'] " impartial umpire." Wakefield. Dr. Benson says, " he here represents the great judge, who had been witness to all his behaviour, with a crown in his hand, which he will bestow upon him as the reward of his faithfulness and of his coming oft' victor."

* In that day^ " the gi-eat day of judgement;" " for so," says Dr. Benson, " the phrase generally signifies throughout the New Testament." " With what satisfaction," says Dr. Priestley in his note upon this text, " does the apostle here reflect upon his conduct as a preacher of the gospel ! and what encouragement must this have given to Timothy, and ought to give to us to follow him in the same work of zeal and labour of love !" He adds, " I cannot help observing in this place,, that the rewards which the apostle expected were, in his idea, to be conferred only at the time of the general resurrection, called, by way of eminence, that day, the time of the appearing of Jesus Christ, when he shall come to raise the dead and judge the world. Had he had any expectation of receiving the re- ward, or any part of the reward, of his labours immediately after death, he could not have been so ungrateful as to have entirely overlooked it."

ITicre is little foundation for the remark of Dr. Doddridge

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THE EPISTLES

OF

PAUL THE APOSTLE

TRANSLATED.

Vol. IV.

THE EPISTLES

OF

PAUL THE APOSTLE

TRANSLATED,

WITH

AN EXPOSITION, AND NOTES, By the Rev. THOMAS BELSHAM,

MINISTER OF ESSKX-STREET CHAPEL.

IN FOUR VOLUMES. Vol. IV.

" Affer ammum rectum et simplicem, veritaiis supra ctBtera aviantem, " prcejudiciis vacuum. Ne protinus tanquant nova, tanquam itiaudita et " absurda damnaveris, qua; tibi nova, tibi inaudita, et absurda occurrent. " Ha qua dicimus, non cum aliorum judicus, non cum vulgi inveteratis *' ojnnionibus compone, ut hide rem esstimes, sed cum autoris divini verbis, " scopo, ipsoque rationis JUo. Hinc tibi Veritas petenda est : hinc de 7wbis "/erenda sententia. Equidem nos sicubi lapsi, out D. Autoris mentem non " satis assecuti sumus, amice advioniti, ultra manus dabimus, gratesque in- " super accumulabimus." Slichtingius Praef. ad Heb.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR R. HUNTER,

(Successor to Mr. Johnson,) NO. 72, ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD.

1822.

I'KiNTED BY 11. AND A. TAYLOn^ SHOE- LANE.

THE FIRST EPISTLE

PAUL THE APOSTLE

THE THESSALONIANS,

INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS.

ThESSALONICA was a very considerable mari- time towiij a place of great trade and opulence, and the metropolis of Macedonia. Its ancient name was Thermse, and it stood upon the Thermsean Bay ; but having been rebuilt and enlarged by Philip King of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great, he gave it the name of Thessalonica, in commemora- tion of a great victory which he had obtained over the ThessaHans. It is now called Saloniki ; and is to this day a place of considerable trade, and in possession of the Turks.

A.D. 5 1, while Paul and Silas, with Luke, Timo- thy, and other associates, were engaged in preach- ing the gospel in the Lesser Asia, a vision appeared

VOL. IV. B

INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS

to the apostle, inviting him into Macedonia. Re- garding this as a divine suggestion, Paul and his companions immediately crossed the sea to Nea- polis, and thence advanced to Philippi, a consider- able city of that district of Macedonia, where they preached the gospel with great success, and con- verted many. But Paul having restored to her senses a young woman who was insane, her keep- ers, who had exhibited her as inspired, and who had enriched themselves by vending her supposed ora- cles, enraged at their loss, excited the indignation of the magistrates and populace against the apo- stles, who were severely beaten and imprisoned, without being heard in their own defence. This transaction is related by Luke, who was an eye- witness, and probably a fellow-sufferer. Acts xvi.

After they were set at liberty, and the magistrates, at the requisition of the apostle, had made proper concessions for their illegal and brutal behaviour, Paul and his associates passed on to Thessalonica ; and in that city they resumed their ministry with undaunted courage. Three sabbath days they rea- soned with the Jews in their synagogue, arguing from the scriptures the Messiahship of Jesus. And not wholly without success ; for some even of the Jews believed : but their principal success, at least at the beginning, appears to have been amongst the devout Gentiles and the pious \vomen, who were worshipers of the one true God, Acts xvii. 1—4.

P'rom Luke's history it would be natural to con •

OF THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS.

elude, that the apostle and his companions conti- nued no longer than three weeks or a month at Thessalonica ; but as it appears from the first epi- stle to the Thessalonians that the church consisted chiefly of converts from the idolatrous Gentiles, of whom the evangelist makes no mention ; also that during the apostle's residence in that city he and his party maintained themselves chiefly by manual occupations, concerning which Luke is also silent ; and, further, it being evident from the epistle to the Philippians that these generous converts sent more than once a supply for his relief while he continued at Thessalonica, there can be no doubt that he re- sided in that city a considerable time, probably some months. At last, the Jews, envying the apostle's success, excited a tumult against him amongst the lower classes of the people, and accused him and his associates, before the magistrates, of treason against the Roman emperor. And though the ma- gistrates, upon inquiry into the case, had the good sense to dismiss the charge, it was found advisable to send away Paul and Silas by night to Bersea, to screen them from the fury of the populace. Acts xvii. 10.

At Bersea the apostle found among the Jews, hearers more candid and inquisitive than those at Thessalonica; and continued prosecuting his mini- stry with considerable success, both among the Jews and heathen, till a fresh tumult was excited against him and his companions by certain malicious emis- saries from the Jews at Thessalonica; in conse- b2

f INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS

quence of which Paul immediately left the city, and was conducted to Athens, leaving Silas and Timo- thy behind, with a strict charge to follow him with all convenient speed. Acts xvii. 15.

With this direction Timothy soon complied; but, for what reason does not appear, Silas did not join the apostle at Athens. During the residence of Paul in this city, and while Timothy was with him, it was the apostle's intention to have visited Thessalonica again in person, and more than once he was upon the point of carrying his resolution into effect, but was prevented by some unknown obstruction ; per- haps by the information that it would not be safe for him to return at present. Being, however, im- patient to receive intelligence of his persecuted friends, he sent Timothy, his only associate at Athens, to Thessalonica, to bring him some ac- count of their state. In the mean time, the apo- stle, not meeting with much success at Athens, re- moved to Corinth about the latter end of the year ■ A.D. 51, Acts xviii. 1 ; and here he resided and exercised his ministry with great success for nearly two years. Nor was it till after the apostle had been for some time at Corinth that Timothy came to him from Thessalonica in company with Silas. The intelligence which Timothy communicated to the apostle was in the main agreeable, but in part otherwise. Their faith continued firm ; but they had fallen into some errors of doctrine, and were imperfect in the practice of Christian morals. And it was in this view of iheir case, in order to confirm

OF THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS.

what was right, and to rectify what was amiss, that the apostle indited this epistle, probably in the spring of A.D. 52 ' ; joining with his own the names of Silas and Timothy, who were well known to the Thessulonians as his associates in the ministry of the gospel.

This short but excellent epistle is one of those the genuineness of which has never been called in question. The apostle inscribes it with his own name; and it has from age to age been cited as his, without any hint or suspicion that it could have been the production of any other author. The in- ternal evidence of its authenticity is likewise very strong. The undesigned coincidences with Luke's history, the Hght which that history and the epistle mutually reflect upon each other, and the conse- quent support which they afford to each other's au- thority, are stated very pointedly and forcibly by Dr. Paley2. The history illustrates the strong ex- pressions and representations of the epistle, and the epistle supplies the omissions in the history. And the solemn charge at the close of the epistle, '' that it should be publicly read to the whole church," is a convincing proof that the writer was no impostor.

' In the spring of a.d. 52.] " This epistle," says Dr. Priest- ley, " was written a.d. 52, and is therefore the oldest writing of any Christian. Being undoubtedly authentic, and not written after, but during the time of the transactions it alludes to, it supplies a most indisputable evidence of the certainty of those facts which necessarily imply the truth of the whole Christian history."

" Horce Paulince, chap. ix.

INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS

To which may be added, that the state of things alluded to in the epistle could only have existed in the infancy of the Christian church ; and that the pious and benevolent spirit which breathes in every sentence of the epistle, and the tendency of the whole to promote piety and virtue, and the love of truth and goodness, cannot fail to impress upon the mind of the reader the most favourable sentiments of the character of the writer.

It appears from the epistle, that the Thessalonian converts had adhered with great firmness to the Christian faith amidst many dangers and persecu- tions ; that they entertained a great affection for the apostle and his associates, and lived in love and har- mony with each other. It nevertheless also appears that they had fallen into some considerable errors concerning the state of the dead ; and that the cha- racters of some among them fell very short of the evangelical standard of purity and universal virtue. The main design, therefore, of the apostle in this epistle is, to establish their minds in the profession of the Christian faith; to rectify their errors in points of doctrine ; to remind them of the perfec- tion of the Christian morality, and to enforce the practice of universal virtue.

In the prosecution of this design, the apostle, having introduced the epistle in his usual fomi, joining likewise the names of Silas and Timothy with his own,

In the First place returns thanks to God for the

OF THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALO^IANS.

great success of the gospel at Thessalonica, in con- sequence of the miraculous energies by which it was confirmed. He bears witness to the exemplary fortitude and zeal of the Thessalonian converts, and to the high reputation which they had acquired through all the adjacent regions by the astonishing and happy change which they had undergone, in their conversion from heathen idolatry to the belief and profession of the doctrine of Christ. Ch. i. 2—10.

Secondly, The apostle makes a solemn and af- fecting appeal to the Thessalonians with regard to his own character and conduct during his residence among them. He particularly alludes to the cou- rage with which he exercised his ministry at Thes- salonica after the infamous treatment which he had experienced at Philippi : He asserts his absolute freedom from all corrupt motives in preaching the gospel, and particularly from self-interest and am- bition : He reminds them of the gentleness of his manners, of his affectionate solicitude for their im- provement, of the example of honourable industry which he had set before them, in supporting him- self by his own manual labour, and finally, that as he had himself exhibited a just pattern of Christian virtue, so he had strongly inculcated upon them the indispensable necessity of maintaining a character correspondent to their Christian profession. Ch. ii. 1—12.

Thirdly, The apostle thanks God for their cor^ dial reception of the gospel of Christ, and for their

INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS

inflexible adherence to it under the persecutions which they endured, which were similar and equal to those which the believing Hebrews suffered from their unconverted countrymen, of whose abandoned character, and approaching doom, he gives an af- fecting delineation and an alarming warning. Ch. ii. 13—16.

Fourthly, The apostle relates, that having been prevented by the violence of persecution from gra- tifying his earnest desire of malting a visit to Thes- salonica, and of enjoying the society of friends whose final happiness was the object of his most ardent wish, he had at last determined to send Timothy, his only associate at Athens, to Thessalonica, to visit, to encourage, and to comfort them. And the apostle assures them, that it was a particular object of this evangelist's mission to remove any ill im- pression which might have been made upon their minds by the persecutions to which he was himself exposed. And being anxious to hear of their state, he expresses the joy he felt at the good tidings which Timothy had brought of their perseverance in the faith, and their affectionate remembrance of him ; which he assures them was on his part reci- procal. He earnestly prays that he may be permit- ted to make them a visit ; and in the mean time he expresses his fervent desire that they may improve in mutual affection, in general benevolence and in universal virtue. Ch. ii. 17 — iii. 13.

Fifthly, The apostle earnestly cautions the Thessalonians against those vices to which the hea-

OF THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSaLONIANS.

then were most addicted ; and particularly warns them against every species of impurity, as utterly inconsistent with the profession of Christianity. — He also recommends mutual afibction and habitual industry. Ch. iv. 1 — 12.

Sixthly, The apostle corrects some erroneous opinions which they appear to have entertained con- cerning the state of the Christian dead. And hav-* ing assured them that the great design of the mis- sion of Christ was to reveal the doctrine of the re- surrection of the dead, of v/hich his own resurrec- tion was a pattern and a proof; he informs them that believers who will be found alive at the final appearance of Christ, will enjoy no advantage over those who are dead. For that the dead will be raised, while those who will then be living are un- dergoing a necessary change in the constitution of their bodies: and that the whole human race shall bear their part, at the same time, upon this solemn occasion. Ch. iv. 13 — 18.

Seventhly, The uncertainty of the time of the second appearance of Christ, is urged by the apostle as a powerful motive to vigilance and activity in the discharge of duty. Ch. v. 1 — 11.

Eighthly, The apostle closes the epistle with practical exhortations. Particularly, he recom- mends respect and affection to their Christian in- structors ; a peaceable spirit ; tender vigilance over each other ; reciprocation of mutual good offices ; prayer and thanksgiving; a proper estimation of spiritual gifts, and particularly of prophecy ; caution

10 INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS, &C.

in judgement, and abhorrence of vice. He then expresses his earnest wish for their perfection in virtue ; assuring them, that God will impart every necessary aid for this purpose. And having sent his salutations, and enjoined the public reading of this epistle in the church, he takes leave with his usual apostolical benediction.

THE FIRST EPISTLE

THE THESSALONIANS.

THE APOSTLE'S INTRODUCTION.

1 HE apostle Paul, joining with his own the names Ch. i. of Silas and Timothy, inscrioes the epistle to the church at Thessalonica, ch. i. 1.

Pa UL and Silvanus, and Timothy ', to the Ver. 1. church of the Thessalonians^ who helieve in God the Father ^f and in the Lord Jesus Christy favour he to yoUy and peace ^.

' Paul and Silvanus, and Thnothij.'] Silvanus was unques- tionably the same with Silas, and was with the apostle at Co- rinth when he MTOte this epistle. Acts xviii. 5. Indeed the in- troduction of his name, and that of Timothy, is a proof that the epistle was written from Corinth, and not, as the postscript says, from Athens. Dr. Chandler observes, that " though Paul joins the names of Silas and Timothy with his own, he is far from meaning to represent them as of equal rank and autho- rity." See ch, iii. 2, iv. 2, v. 27. Dr. Benson accounts for Paul not assuming, in the inscription to this epistle, the title of an apostle, by the supposition that his authority had not been called in question at Thessalonica.

* To the church who believe in Cod the Father, &c.] Dr.

12 I. TH ESSALONIANS.

ch. I. This epistle is indited by Paul, who is the mes-

^''' • senger of Jesus Christ to preach the gospel to the

idolatrous heathen, and who lately incurred great

persecution and hazard in exercising his mission at

Benson observes, that " the two fundamental articles of Chris- tianity are, that there is only one living and true God; and tliat Jesus is the Christ, or the great prophet and saviour of the world. The idolatrous Gentiles believed neither ; the Jews and devout Gentiles believed the first ; the Christians believed both, and without it they could not have been entitled to Christian communion." To be in God and Jesus Christ, is to believe in God and in Jesus Christ. See 1 John v. 20. Dr. Benson, in his note upon this verse, has given the various senses in which the word church is used in the New Testament, He observes, that " the word sKK\r)(ricx. sometimes signifies any assembly whatever. Acts xix. 32, 39, 40 ; but is most commonly used in a religious sense. It signifies, 1. All who profess the Christian religion. Acts v. 11, 1 Cor. xii. 28, and other places. 2. Only true and faithful Christians, Eph. i. 22, 23, v. 25, 29 ; Col. i.

18, 24. This has been called the true or invisible church, as the preceding is sometimes called the visible, the universal, or the ca- tholic church. 3. Most commonly one assembly or congregation, such as statedly meet together for the worship of God. 4. A fa- mily joined together in worshiping God through Jesus Christ. 5. The professed people of God on earth called the church 77ii- litant ; and sometimes good men in a state of happiness called the church triumphant. Comp. Eph. v. 27 with Eph. v. 23. fi. Qu. Whether churches, 1 Cor. xiv. 34, may not signify the assemblings of the same Christians at diflerent times for Chris- tian worship ? Dr. Benson adds from Le Clerc on 1 Cor. xvi.

19, that using the word " church " for a place, was a significa- tion of it wliolly unknown in the times of the apostles ; in v/hich the word sjcxXijcfa was always used for an assembly, as well among the Christians as by the Greeks."

^ Favour, &c.] The words " from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ," which conclude the sentence in the re- ceived text, are omitted in some ancient manuscripts and ver- sions, and are not noticed by the Greek commentators ; with iVIr. Wakefield, therefore, 1 leave them out. It is observed that bishops and deacons are not mentioned in this inscription by the apostle, probal^ly because sucii officers did not then exist among them. See Grotius and Benson.

I, T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 13

Thessalonica. With his, are joined the names of Ch. i.

. Ver. 1.

Silas and Timothy, his beloved and faithful asso- ciates in the ministry of the gospel, and who were also his fellow-labourers and fellow-sufferers in that great and opulent city; who are, therefore, well known to the believers there, and who feel, and are in this way anxious to express, their sympathy and affection for them. And it is inscribed in our united names to the body of professing Christians at Thes- salonica, who are distinguished from their heathen neighbours by the knowledge and worship of the one true God, the Father of all mankind, and from both Jews and heathen, by an acknowledgement of Jesus of Nazareth as the true Messiah, and a pro- fessed subjection to him as their teacher and mas- ter. And for the dear friends for whose instruction and salvation we have exerted our earnest and united efforts, the best wish that we can form is, that they may enjoy that inward and unspeakable peace and satisfaction which is the genuine fruit of a practical belief in the gospel, that free and precious donation of God to man.

14 Sect. I. I. THESSALONIANS.

SECTION I.

Ch. I. The apostle expresses his joy and gratitude for the success of the gospel at Thcssalojiica, and for the great and extensive reputation ivhich the 7tew cojiverts from heathenism had acquired by their fortitude and zeal. Ch. i. 2 — 10.

I. The apostle assures them of his grateful and affectionate remembrance of them in his devout ad- dresses to God, ver. 2, 3. Vei . 2. Tf^e give thanks to God always for yo2i all, making mention of you ivithout ceasing > in our 3. prayei's, remembering in the presence (f our God and Father 2, your active faith, your laborious lovely and your patient expectation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

* Making mention of you without ceasing.'] Benson, Wal<e- ficld, and many other versions and commentators ancient and modern, join ahaXeiitrws {without ceasing) to ver. 2. See Rom. i. 9, 10, 2 Tim. i.3.

* Remembering in the presence, &c.] So Benson and Chand- ler, " He remembered these things before God," says Dr. Chandler, " thankful to him that they were wrought in them, and earnestly praying to him that he would continue and esta- blish them."

3 Laborious love.] " the laboriousness of your love." Wake- field. Dr. Chandler observes, that " the original word xottoj signifies difficulties and troubles, and that the apostle means those difficulties and afflictions and dangers to which cither their love of Christianity or tlicir peculiar ati'cction to the apostle ex-

Vcr. 3.

Sect. I. I. T H E S S A L O N 1 A N S. 1. 15

Such, my brethren, is our affection for you, and ch. i. so deeply do we interest ourselves in your conversion to the Christian doctrine, and in your adherence to your profession, that we continually bear you upon our hearts in our daily exercises of devotion. And in the awful presence of that Great Being who vouchsafes to acknowledge the high and endearing relations of a God and Father to the converted Gen- tile, as well as to the believing Jew, we often reflect with heartfelt satisfaction upon your Christian vir- tues ; upon that faith which is in you a powerful and operative principle productive of good works ; upon that love which grudges no toil, and which shuns no dangers for the good of others, and to the genei'ous efforts of which v/e have ourselves been so much indebted ; of that firm expectation of the second appearance of our master Jesus Christ to judge the world and to reward his true disciples, which induces you to undergo with fortitude and cheerfulness the losses and sufferings to which you may now be exposed for his sake. And when we call to mind these distinguished virtues of our Thes- salonian brethren, our hearts overflow with gratitude

posed thera." It is supposed that the apostle here particularly alludes to the care which they took to screen his person when the Jews excited a tumult at Thessalonica, and to their sending him away privately to Berea. Acts xvii. 10. Gr. work of faith, labour of love, patience of hope. " Remembering without ceas- ing before our God and Father, your effectual faith, your labo- rious painful love, and your patient hope or expectation of the Lord Jesus Christ." Chandler. This construction is not un- common. Col. i. 22, The body of his Jlesh: i. e. his fleshly body. Sec also Col, iii. 14, Eph. vi, 12,

1 6 Sect. I. I. T H E S S A L O NM A N S. 2.

Ch. I. to God, and our lips abound in praises and thanks- Vcr. 3. givjj^gg QjT yQ^j. account.

2. The apostle declares that when he first preached the gospel to them, he soon became assured of their right of admission into the family of God, by the proofs which he was enabled to give of his divine mission, and by the success of his ministry; of which facts they were themselves witnesses, ver. 4,5.

4. ' JVe know ^ brethren, beloved of God'^, that he

5. halh chosen you, because the gospel preached by us came to you, not in word only, but also m power, and in the holy spirit "^, and ivith great conviction *,

* We know, <S:c.] i. e. we are assured that you are equally with the Jews the beloved and chosen people of God ; because our doctrine was confirmed by the holy spirit, and was received by you with full conviction. " The election spoken of," say.s Dr. Chandler, " is evidently their election to be the church and people of God, to all the privileges and advantages, and means of salvation by Christ, and to eternal life and blessedness, as the great end of their faith. The great question in these early days was, not about any particular secret choice of persons, unconditionally and absolutely to eternal life. This controversy the primitive church knew nothing of j the debate was of another nature, and precisely this : Whether circumcision and the ob- servation of the law of Moses, as well as faith in Christ, were necessary to render the Gentiles equally partakers of the privi- leges of the kingdom or church of God with the Jews them- selves ? This the Jews pleaded and persecuted for ; and the apostle Paul as strenuously and constantly denied."

'^ Beloved of God.'] This is the proper arrangement of the words ; and not, as in the common version, " your election of God." See Benson, Chandler, Wakefield, Newcome.

•'' In power, and in the holy spirit.] " If we did only and barely aifinn it, then might our enemies the Jews have reproached and denied it. But it was; in power : we confirmed it bv miraculous

Sect. I. I. THESSALONIANS. 2. 17

as ye hiow what kind of persons ive ivere among Ch. i.

you for your sakes. "* ' My dear brethren ; for such I may now justly call

works. And in the holtj ghost : we conferred on you the extra- ordinarjr gifts of the holy sph-it, as the sure evidence of your being made children of God." Chandler. This is unques- tionably the apostle's meaning. He constantly refers all his success to his miraculous powers, 1 Cor. ii. 4, 5, without which it would have been quite impossible that a doctrine so hostile to the prejudices and to the passions of mankind should have made so rapid and extensive a progress. One is grieved, there- fore, that such a critic as Rosenmuller should endeavour to ex- plain away the obvious meaning of the words. " SvvaiJi^is ■x.a.i iryvjixa, dytov, vis et spiritus sanctus : i.e. dotes dmnoe, qucB se exserebant in Paulo, dum ea docuit qucc ah hominibus excogitari nan poterant. Alii sv SuvaiJLSi vertunt miraculis patrandis : Sed niiracula Paulus Thessalonicce nan videtur patrasse. Lege his- toriam Act. xvii." Rosenmuller. But Luke's account is very brief. The epistle shows that the apostle's residence and success at Thessalonica far exceeded what is reported in the histoiy.

And let me here be permitted to obsei-ve, that whatever learned or speculative men may think or say, a belief in mira- cles, that is, in certain deviations from the established course and order of nature, or what is sometimes sneeringly called supernaturalism, is absolutely indispensable to a belief in the Christian religion. Christianity is itself a miracle j it is a doc- trine supernaturally communicated to the first teachers of it, and it is supported altogether by miracles j by the resurrec- tion of Jesus, and by the gifts of the holy spirit to him and his apostles. Whoever denies the resurrection of Jesus, or his mi- raculous powers, must believe him to have been an impostor, and his apostles the wilful abettors of an impious fraud. And for men who cast this imputation upon the first teachers of the gospel to assume the name of Christians is an abuse of language, whatever veneration they may profess for the morality of the gospel, or for the character of its founder, or whatever may be the respectability of their own character.

But, let it be remembered, that though Christianity requires a belief in miracles, it by no means challenges implicit faith. On the contrary, it offers in behalf of its two great miracles. The resurrection of Christ, and The gifts of the holy spirit, a

VOL. IV. (J

1 8 Sect. I. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 2.

Ch. I. you, since God our common Father has selected you from the idolatrous heathen, has favoured you equally with ourselves with the privileges of the go- spel, and has adopted you into his family, and given you his spirit ; I assure you that when I first came with my fellow-labourers to preach the gospel at Thessalonica, I entertained great hope of success, and was fully convinced that great numbers in that opulent and populous city would become converts to the Christian doctrine. For whereas, in some places where this doctrine was published, few mi- racles were permitted to be wrought, and few spiri- tual gifts were communicated; and whereas I was restrained by a divine impulse from exercising my apostolic mission in other places where I intended to preach, I met with no such discouragements nor

kind and a degree of historical evidence which never existed in the w^orld before, vi^hich exceeds the evidence of any fact re- corded in ancient history ; vi^hich is fully proportioned to the ex- traordinary nature, the antecedent improbability, and the un- speakable importance of the facts to be proved, and the fallacy of which would be a violation of the laws of the human mind, as real and far more incredible than any of the miracles essen- tial to the support of Christianity are of the laws of matter and the course of nature in the external world,

* With great cotiviction.'] 'n\y)po<popia, aTrXy)pi^opsui,plenefero, vietaphora desumta de navihus, cum ventis implentur vela secun- dis." Schleusner. " It signifies," says Dr. Chandler, " the full motion of a ship, with all her sails :" and he understands it " either of the abundant confirmation of the Christian doctrine by the gifts of the holy spirit, or of the full conviction produced by this evidence," " Their readily embracing the gospel," says Dr, Benson, "^ upon the apostle's preaching and working miracles, and their having thereupon received the spirit, was the surest proof of their election. God imparted the spirit unto none but those who believed ; i. e. only to his professed people, wlio were called and chosen."

Ver. 5.

Sect. I. I. THESSALONIANS. 3. 19

obstructions when I came to you. But on the con- Ch. trary I not only plainly taught you the doctrine of Jesus, and argued the divinity of his mission from the prophecies of the Old Testament, which ought to have been satisfactory to the unbelieving Jews ; but I was also enabled, in confirmation of the doc- trine which I had in charge, to work various splen- did miracles by power communicated to me from above ; and to impart to the new converts those gifts of the holy spirit, which were to themselves and to others the most satisfactory evidence of a di- vine authority. And by these means the gospel did, as might naturally be expected, triumph over the opposition of its enemies ; and in a short time, like a vessel in full sail and with a prosperous breeze, it made its way with astonishing rapidity and success. Nor is it necessary for me to enter into particular details : you well remember what we were, what we taught, and what wonderful powers we exhibited, in order to excite your attention and to bring you to a proper conviction of the truth of the gospel.

3. This happy conviction of their acceptance with God was fully confirmed by the exemplary conduct of the Thessalonians after their conver- sion, ver. 6, 7.

And ye hecame imitators of us, and of the Lordly having received the word amidst great

' And of the Lord.] Mr, Wakefield, upon the authority of the /Ethiopic version, leaves out xaj (and), and joins ra Ky^js

c2

20 Skct, I. I. THESSALONIANS. S.

Ch- 1, affliction with joy in the holy spirit i, so that ye "* '• became examples to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia 2.

The success of the gospel among you was pro- portioned to the means employed for your conver- sion. Some among my own countrymen, and many of the Gentiles who had before been worshipers of the true God, and who might therefore be expected to listen to the discoveries of his will, embraced the gospel. And, what is still more worthy of admira- tion and joy, great numbers even of idolatrous hea- then were deeply impressed with the tokens of divine interposition, and became sincere converts to the Christian faith. Yes, my brethren, you became not only proselytes to my doctrine, but imitators of my example ; for I once like you was alienated from the gospel. But why do I speak of myself "^ you be- came imitators of Jesus himself, your master and mine, our great en sample, our glorious chief. He was a sufferer before he triumphed ; and in the pro-

to tlie next clause, which he venders, " receiving the doctrine of the Lord." Griesbach does not notice this various reading.

' Joij in the holy spirit.'] The gifts of the spirit vi^ere a proof of their being the children of God, or his chosen people ; and were likewise the pledge of their title to immortality. " Well, therefore," says Dr. Benson, " might it cause them to rejoice, even in the midst of persecution. Acts v. 41 5 Rom. xii. 12; Eph. i. 13, 14 ; Col. i. 1 1 j Rom. viii. 14—17." " Cum gau- dio magno, cum Icetitia quae esset a spiritu sancto effecta, slue, nata ex evangelio quod Paulus Thessalonicensibiis tradidisset.' ' Rosenmuller.

* Macedonia and AchaiaS\ The whole of the countries pos- sessed by the Greeks in Europe were by the Romans reduced to two provinces, Macedonia and Achaia. See Dr. Macknight.

Sect. I. I, T H E S S A L O N I A N S, 4. 21

spect of the reward set before him, he bore the ch. i. cross and despised the shame. You are his faith- ^^'"* '^' ful followers : you profess his doctrine amidst dan- gers and persecutions. But, possessed of those gifts of the holy spirit, which are a sure pledge of the truth of the gospel, and of the accomplishment of your glorious expectations, you rejoice even in tri- bulation. So that you are yourselves become shin- ing examples to the neighbouring churches of the excellence and energy of Christian principles.

4. The apostle expresses great satisfaction in the high reputation which the Thessalonian converts had gained by their faith, their fortitude, and zeal, ver. 8—10.

For, from you hath the ivord of the Lord re- 8.

sounded^ i not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith towards God hath spread abroad , so that we need not to say any thing con- cerning it : For they themselves declare concerning 9. us'^ what kind of entrance lue had among you; and

' Resounded.'] Grotius observes, that many of the Thessalo- nians were merchants who travelled into foreign parts for the sake of commerce, and who would naturally spread the intelli- gence of the extraordinary events which had happened at Thes- salonica, of the impression which had been made upon the minds of many of their countrymen, and of the great change which it had produced in their conduct,

* They themselves, &c.] " that is," says Dr. Chandler, " those of Macedonia and Achaia, and other places who know . of your conversion : they show of us, aitayysXXHtn, publish and declare concerning us to others, in what manner and with what evidence we preached the gospel to you." " Those who were

22 Skct. I. I. THESSALONIANS. 4.

Ch. I. how ye turned to God ^ from idols, to serve the liv- Ver. JO. ing and true God, and to expect his Son from hea^ ven whom he raised from the dead; even Jesus, who is our deliverer from impending wrath^.

The beneficial influence of your example has dif- fused itself far and wide. For truly, my Christian brethren, the extraordinary change produced in you by the preaching of the gospel, has not only excited the astonishment of your heathen neighbours and your fellow-citizens of every description, but it has been proclaimed abroad through all the adjacent iiountries, and is become the topic of general con- versation and wonder. In our progress from place to place, in the accomplishment of our apostolic mission, it is our usual practice to relate in the towns and cities to which we come, and where we are about to open our ministry, the success which we have met with in thjse regions through which we have already passed. But with regard to Thes- salonica this is quite unnecessary. The report of

with us declare what kind of an admission," &c. " aoroi TTf^t t;|xco)/," Philalethes.

' And how ye turned to God.'] Dr. Benson observes, that " the two fundamental articles of Christianity are here again repeated."

* Impending wrath.'} rr,^ opy^iS t">jS ^fxoaevijf . " impending anger." Philalethes. " the punishment which is to come," Newcome. " who shall hereafter save us (fvaoixevov is the reading of some copies) from that wrath that shall finally come upon all who do not believe nor obey the gospel." Chandler. N.B. Griesbach takes no notice of the various reading which Dr. Chandler suggests. " Hie prcesens pro futuro, bis. pvo- f//€voj' pro f/v<roiia¥Oy, dcinde ep^oiJ.Byri^, pro venturae," Roscn- muller.

Ver. 10.

Sect. I. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 4, 23

your conversion to the Christian faith has every ch. i. where anticipated our intelligence. For whither- soever the citizens of your opulent and populous metropolis are led, either by the affairs of govern- ment, or the concerns of commerce, or upon their own private business or amusement, they are all eager to relate the wonderful events which have lately taken place among you. And in particular they recount our appearance in your city, our pub- lic teaching, and our extraordinaiy works ; to which they subjoin the amazing change of views, princi- ples, and conduct which this new doctrine and these surprising works have produced upon their fellow- citizens ; so that great numbers have been prevailed upon to forsake the religion of their country, and the customs of their ancestors, to abandon the wor- ship of the heathen gods, and the deified heroes, in order to devote themselves to the worship and ser- vice of the one true God; of that glorious and eternal Being, who is the maker of heaven and earth, and all things therein, and who is the only proper object of religious adoration. And they fur- ther report, as a remarkable singularity in the cha- racter of these new proselytes, that they all profess to live under the awful expectation of the speedy appearance of a glorious person whom they call their Master and Lord, who, having suffered a vio- lent death as a witness to the truth, was by the power of God raised from the grave, and thus de- clared to be his first-born Son ; who afterwards as- cended to the right hand of God, and is constituted

24 Sect. II. I. THESSALONIANS, 1.

Ch. I. by his heavenly Father the judge both of the living Ver. 10. ^^^ |.|^g jgjjjj . ^^^^ ^Yia^ the name of this holy and exalted person is Jesus of Nazareth ; who will also most assuredly rescue all who receive and obey his gospel from that vengeance which will in due time inevitably fall upon those who are immersed in the gross and odious vices which prevail in so lament-' able a degree in the heathen world. This, my Christian brethren, is the report which is every where circulated concerning you ; a report which is highly to your credit ; and which affords us, your teachers, and your affectionate faithful friends, the most heartfelt satisfaction . And I now mention it to you, that you may be stimulated by it to support the honourable character which you have so justly acquired, and to persevere in your adherence to the Christian faith, and in the practice of Christian virtue.

SECTION II.

Ch. u. The apostle asserts the fidelity, the purity, the affection, and disinterestedness with which he and his associates had preached the gospel at Thessalonica, and he appeals to the Thessalo- nians, and to the Supreme Being himself, to at- test the veracity of his declaration, Ch. ii. 1-^ 12.

1 . He reminds them of the courage with which

Sect. II. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 1. 25

he and his associates opened their ministry at ci». ii. Thessalonica, after the injurious and contumelious treatment which they had endured at PhiUppi, ver. 1,2.

For yourselves, brethren, know that our enter- Vcr. l . ing in among you was not in vain ^ Btit though 2,

we had before suffered, and had been ignominiously treated"^, as ye know, at PhiUppi, we were bold in our God^ to declare to you the gospel of God\ amidst great opposition ^.

' In vain.'] " xsvij, without influence on your belief, ch.i. 9 ; and on your practice, ch. i. 7 , 8, ii. 13, 14." Newcome. Chand- ler observes that the word signifies either fruitless or deceitful; in the former sense it connects with the last verses in the fore- going chapter, and in the latter sense with the verse imme- diately following,

* Ignominiously treated^] vtpio-^Bvrsg,. " had suffered bodily injury." Wakefield. The history of this infamous usage is given. Acts xvi,, and the judicious reader will observe how the history and the epistle illustrate and confirm each other. It was con- sidered as the highest indignity to beat a Roman citizen with rods, and the Porcian law expressly exempted them from it. One of the heaviest charges of Cicero against Verres is the fre- quent inflicting of this disgraceful punishment upon Roman citizens. See Chandler on the text.

' Bold in our God^ s'!rapprjo-iaarcc(ji.s^cc. " This word," says Dr. Chandler, " sometimes signifies, ' to speak with courage, and void of fear 5' sometimes, ' to speak openly and plainly, without ambiguity or disguise 5' sometimes, ' to speak in the most public manner before others;' and sometimes, ' to speak with full persuasion and confidence of encouragement and sup- port ;' and the word seems to take in all these kindred senses, which the history also justifies. Acts xvii. 1 — 3." In our God. " The gods of the heathen," as Dr. Benson observes, " were not able to inspire their votaries with such courage and con- stancy in promoting religion and virtue."

* Pf^e were bold in our God to declare the goxpel of God.'] " The repetition of the word God is truly emphatical, and with the highest elegance and propriety." Chandler.

* Amidst great opposition?^ iv ttoXXuj ayujvi. " with much

26 Sect. II. !. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 1.

Ch. II. You cannot, my friends, be surprised that the Ver. 2. circumstances of our mission among you, and of the extraordinary success which attended it, should have become, as I have just mentioned to you, the topics of general convei-sation through all the neighbouring countries ; for you yourselves well re- collect all the circumstances of it, both with respect to the character and conduct of the teachers, and the number and zeal of the converts to their new and sublime doctrine. You know that we neither came with false pretences to a divine authority, nor were our labours among you ineffectual and fruit- less. You had heard of the savage cruelty with which we had been treated at Philippi ; and how, though we were Roman citizens, the magistrates had presumed to violate our sacred privileges by in- flicting stripes upon us, and that even without hear- ing what we had to say in our own defence. And when, sensible of their misconduct, they requested us to depart, we came immediately to Thessalo- nica ; and, while we were yet smarting with the wounds we had received at Philippi, we boldly, pub- licly, and without any artifice or disguise, as became the messengers of the God of truth, taught at Thes- salonica the same novel and obnoxious doctrine for which we had lately suffered so much at Philippi. And in the exercise of our ministry among you we

earnestness." Newcome. " in so great a struggle." Wake- field. " in much danger." Chrysostom, Erasmus, Grotius, Benson, Raphelius. " The word signifies ' great opposition,* or, • great hazard,' Piiil. i. 30." Chandler.

Skct. II. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 2. 2/

met, as usual, with great opposition : first from the ch. ir. Jews, and afteiivards, at their instigation, from the ^^^' ^• heathen rabble ; in consequence of which we were exposed to great hazard, and ultimately obliged to withdraw from the city. And you cannot but have remarked that the part which we have acted is very different from that which the boastful teachers of the heathen philosophy would have done in similar circumstances. The reason is, that we placed our confidence not in senseless idols, but in a God who is omnipotent to protect his faithful servants ; and in publishing to you the joyful tidings of salvation we were conscious that we were acting in obedience to his authority, and fulfilling the high commission with which we were intrusted.

2. The apostle asserts the competency, the pu- rity, and the veracity of himself and his associates in the ministry of the gospel, ver. 3, 4.

/f'r, our exhortation was not of error ', nor of 3. impurity ^^ noriuith deceit"^. But as we wereap- 4.

^ Of error ^ KXavrj;. ^'^ we ourselves being deceived." New- come. Dr. Chandler observes, that " in these and the follow- ing verses the apostle plainly refers to certain teaciiers who were chargeable with these immoral views and practices}" and he supposes that the heathen philosophers are principally, if not solely, alluded to, both as the Thessalonian Christians, being chiefly converted heathen, must be ignorant of Jewish controversies, and because " these words are the plainest de- scription that can be of the generality of the heathen philoso- phers, who were chargeable with every one of the corrupt and the mean practices which the apostle disclaims."

* Nor of impurihj.'] " nor with impure and sensual doctrines or views. Sec 2 Pet. ii. 10, 14 3 Jude 4, 8 3 Rev. ii. 6, 15. Ham-

28 Sect. II. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 2.

Ch.ii. proved by God-^ to be intrusted with the gospel, tve speak accordingly, not to please men^, but that God who approveth our hearts ^.

The characters of those who profess to teach the fashionable systems of heathen philosophy are suf- ficiently notorious. Many of them are themselves bewildered in tlie labyrinths of error. Many of them, both by their instruction and their conduct, countenance the most licentious and abominable practices ; and many, to please their hearers, teach

mond, Wall." Newcome. " The philosophers were in these respects infamously crhninal." Chandler. Some by aJcaSa/^crjaj understand insincerity only, and Bentley conjectures that the true reading is av^pMirapecryuai, men-pleasing, as better suiting the connexion ; but this reading is unauthorized, and the pre- ceding interpretation is unusual, and both are unnecessary. See Benson and Bowyer.

' Nor with cleceit.l sv SoKo}, " not with an intention to de- ceive others." Newcome. — " Lucian says of the philosophers, that the impudence of their hypocrisy was intolerable." Chand- ler.— " They used no craft or artifice ; did not artfully conceal some parts and adulterate others ; did not assert the necessity of the Gentile Christians observing the law of Moses in order to please the Jews ; did not model Christianity according to the old heathen religion, or contrive methods to make them easy in their vices, to draw in the Gentiles." Benson.

* Approved by God.'] hhy.iit.a.iTiiB^a.. " Tiiis word," says Dr. Chandler, " has a stronger signification than that of mere allowance, and denotes fully to approve." See Horn. i. 28, xiv. 22.

* To please men.'] " St. Paul strove to ])lcase men as far as he could honestly, and for their real good, Rom. xv. 2, 1 Cor. X. 33 ; but he never studied to please men, when thereby he must have been unfaithful, and displeased God. Gal. i. 10; I Cor. iv. 1, vii. 25." Benson.

'^ Who approveth, &c.] " The word is the same as before, and should be rendered, %vho approveth our hearts: who knows the simplicity of our views, and approveth them " Chand- ler.

Skct. II. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 2. 29

doctrines which they themselves do not believe. In Ch. ir. short, they are influenced by the most selfish mo- "' ' tives, and consider themselves as accountable to no one for their conduct. But this, you well know, was not our character. Whatever our enemies may believe or report concerning us, we are conscious that our doctrine is of divine authority. No indul- gence was granted by us to that dissoluteness of manners which is so prevalent in the heathen world. Nor did we dare to conceal or to disguise any part of the message which we had in charge, in oi'der to make it more palatable to our hearers. But having had the unspeakable honour of being selected by God himself, as proper instruments to be employed by him in publishing the joyful tidings of peace and good-will to mankind, we strenuously exert ourselves to maintain this honourable character, and to per- form, with the strictest fidelity, the duties of our important office. And with this object fully and continually in view, though we do not desire to give unnecessary offence, and are even anxious, as far as may be consistent with duty, to gratify the taste and to conform to the innocent prejudices of our hear- ers ; yet, upon the whole, we feel little solicitude for human applause, and are supremely desirous of ap- proving ourselves to Him who is witness to all the thoughts and purposes of the heart ; who is the only infallible judge of character, and in whose sight we cheerfully hope that our conduct is regarded with complacency, however we may be censured and condemned by men.

30 Sect. II. I. THESSALONIANS. 3.

Ch. ir. 3. The apostle further affirms that neither he nor his associates were influenced by pride, covet- ousness, or vain-glory, in preaching the gospel at Thessalonica, ver. 5 — 7.

Ver. 5. -For neither at any time • did ive use flattering speech^, as ye knoxu^ nor a pretence for covetous-

6. nesSy God is witness 3. Nor froin men sought we

7. glory; neither frojnyoUy nor from others^. When

' For neither at any time^ Dr. Benson supposes, that the apostle had been charged by his enemies with the faults of which he clears himself in the beginning of this chapter, viz. of imposture, impurity, guile, flattery, covetousness and vain- glory.

- Use Jlattering speech.l ev Aoyai xoXaxetaj eyeyijSijjW-Ev* "a very correct and emphatical manner of writing. It signifies, either to use flattering speeches, or to be reported of as given to flattery : q. d. you neither heard me doing it, nor ever charged me with it," Chandler. Benson's interpretation is preferable j which he says " is the sen.se usually given by all commentators, ancient and modern." And he justly asks, " what occasion there was for his solemn appeal to the Thessalonians themselves {as ye know) if some persons had not suggested such accusations." He does not say, as Dr. Chandler (who is unaccountably pre- judiced against Dr. Benson) insinuates, that the construction given by Hammond, Le Clerc, and Chandler, is bad Greek; but he has said and proved that the passages they quote do not jus- tify the sense they give to the apostle's language. And surely, when the words of the text admit of two senses. Dr. Chandler's usual method of attributing both to the apostle cannot generally be correct,

' As ye know — God is witness^ How far the apostle had flat- tered his hearers, they themselves could testify ; but how far he was influenced by avarice and self-interest, while he pretended to have no object in view but the benefit of his hearers, could be known only to God. — " itpo^atrig " says Dr. Chandler, " is ti pretence, or colour io cover over, and more securely carry on, any secret design. The philosophers were notorious and infa- mous for their covetousness."

* Neither from you, nor from others^ " If his enemies ob- jected," says Dr. Benson, " 'Though you sought not glory from

Sect. II. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 3. 31

we might have assumed authority ^ as apostles of Ch. ii. Christy we were gentle^^ among you. -^^'"' ''•

There are some teachers who are desh-ous at any price to secure the applause and the favour of their hearers ; there are others whose object is to enrich themselves at their expense ; and there are some who are ambitious of the reputation of superior ta- lents, and the pride of rank and dignity ; and there are not wanting those who have accused us of being governed by a similar spirit. These charges we re- pel with indignation ; and we appeal to you, and to God himself, to attest our innocence. Much as we loved you, and earnestly desirous as we were to gain your attention and your affection, you will bear us

theThessalonians, yet you love the admiration and applause of mankind,' to such an objection the apostle replies by denying the charge. And indeed that would have been but a poor re- ward for all their astonishing labours, and great fatigues, their cold, hunger and nakedness, their buffetings and scourgings, their insults, dangers, and the many and grievous sufferings to which their faithful and assiduous preaching of the gospel ex- posed them."

' Assumed authority. ~\ ev ^a§Ei sivaci. Dr. Benson and Dr. Chandler have shown that (5a§og is used by classical writers to express gravity, dignity, and authority ; and this sense is un- questionably best suited to the connexion. Dr. Chandler re- marks that the 6th, 7th, and 8th verses are ill pointed ; " and by this means (says he) one of the most beautiful and moving passages I ever met with in the whole course of my reading is almost quite kept out of the reader's view." He rectifies the punctuation, which is also adopted by Griesbach, and which I have followed.

^ Gentle.!; yjifioi' " This word," says Dr. Chandler, " signi- fies humane, indulgent. Profane writers make it the epithet of a father, to signify the most indulgent and affectionate father. Helena, speaking of Hector, says of him, irari^p w; rjifiof aisi. Iliad, ii.vei: 770.

12 SficT. II. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 4,

Ch. II. witness that we never attempted to secure this object Ver. 7. ^y any mean compliances with your humours and prejudices, or by flattering you in your errors and your vices. And that we did not, under pretence of instructing you in the Christian doctrine, and teaching you the way of salvation, mean to make a gain of you, and to become rich by your liberality, God is witness, who knows the disinterested spirit with which we have embarked in this glorious ser- vice. x\nd we were equally clear of the imputation of ambition and the desire of applause. We did not court the admiration either of you or the public. We were above such unworthy motives. Indeed, as an apostle of Christ, who received my commis- sion immediately from him, who possessed super- natural gifts and powers in a degree equal to the very chief of the apostles, and who was particularly designated to the high office of apostle of the Gen- tiles, I might very consistently have claimed the re- spect due to my superior rank. But this was not my ambition. I chose to associate among you as an equal and a friend, or rather, as an indulgent fa- ther. And, instead of affecting airs of superiority, I was mild and gentle in my behaviour to you all.

4. The apostle reminds the Thessalonians that his whole conduct towards them was, in the highest degree, affectionate and kind, ver. 7, 8. 8- As a nursing-mother ' cherishes 2 her own chil-

As a nursing-mother?^ So Mr. Wakefield 3 imd it is evident.

Skct. II. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 4. 31

dren^ so ivc, affectionately loving you 3, would with ch. ir. pleasure * have imparted to you^ not the gospel of ^^^''' " God only, but even our own lives ^ because ye were dear to us^.

Indeed, my friends, so far was I from desiring to usurp any undue authority over you, that I felt no emotions towards you but those of kindness and compassion. I even felt for you as a tender mo-

as all must observe who consult the original, that the apostle Ls speaking of a mother who nurses and suckles her own child. See Benson and Macknight.

* Cherishes.'] ^xXirv. " The Greek," says Dr. Chandler, " is more emphatical than our translation, ' cherishes and suckles her own children, warms them in her bosom, and feeds them with her milk.' "

^ Affectionately loving you.l l[M£ipoy>svoi. " l[j:,£ipsi, £Tri5v[j.si, ^sXst. Hesych. Non tantum a poetis usurpatur, ut vult Grotius. Fid. Raphel.'' Chandler.

* Would with pleasure.'] gu^oKSjw-sv. See Chandler.

* Fe were dear to us.] " How tender, how engaging (says Dr. Chandler) are these expressions of this divine apostle ! Tlie fondness of an indulgent father to his children is very great : the tenderness of a mother is yet stronger. It is peculiarly strong to their tender infants, but strongest of all to them when they cherish and warm them in their bosoms, and especially when they hang upon the breast, and are suckled with their milk. Nature cannot furnish out an image of greater tender- ness than this : such was our apostle to his Thessalonians, He considers them as in the infancy of their conversion j himself as the tender mother nourishing and cherishing them ; the gospel of God as the milk with which he fed them ; his very soul and life as what he was willing to part with for their safety and be- nefit. He could die for them, if their preservation and welfare required it. Could the fcndest passion of the tenderest mother carry her further, or prompt her to do more for the helpless in- fant drawing in life and warmth and nourishment from her breast ? I think nothing can exceed the elegance, the strength, the tender passion, the moving affection of this description ; and that a rnan must have no bowels that does not find them moved, by so fine, so lively, and warm a scene."

V^OL. IV. D

Ver. 8.

34 Sect. II. 1. T H E S S A L O NM A N S. 5.

Ch. II. tlier for the helpless infant at her breast ; who not only delights to impart to her beloved babe the warmth and nourishment that it needs, but would also, with pleasure, sacrifice her own life for the preservation of her child. So, likewise, did I, ani- mated with equal tenderness and affection for you, first impart to you, in the midst of difficulties and dangers, the sincere milk of the gospel, the word of truth and salvation ; and with equal pleasure would I now, for your sakes, sacrifice life itself, if this should be necessary, to secure your interest in the invaluable blessings of the Christian covenant. Be- lieve me, then, when I assure you that I feel the strongest attachment to you; and suffer not the injurious calumnies of our enemies to excite in your minds any unfavourable suspicions concern-

5. The apostle suggests to their recollection the example of industry which he had set them, in la- bouring for his own subsistence while he was em- ployed in preaching the gospel to them, ver. 9.

Moreover ' , ye remember^ brethren^ our labour and toil^ ; how, iv or king night and day that we might not be biirthensome^ to any of you, lue preached unto you the gospel of God.

' Moreover.'] yap, introducing a collateral observation.

' Labour and toil.'] The apostle is here evidently speaking of the pains which he and his companions took in working for a subsistence. See Chandler.

' That we might not be burtliensome.] Dr. Benson observes here, that " ministers have a right to a maintenance from the

Sect. II. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. a. ^O

III an opulent and commercial city like yours, the enemies of the gospel are disposed to calum- niate the serious professors of the Christian reli- gion, as men who neglect their secular concerns ; and to upbraid the teachers of it as encouraging idleness, both by their doctrine and example. But you recollect, my brethren, that our conduct while we exercised our ministry among you gave no coun- tenance to this foul aspersion. For though, while we devote our time to the instruction of others, we have a right to a decent maintenance from those

people to whom they preach ; and it is not their duty in all cases to labour for bread with their own hands. This appears both from reason and from scripture. St. Paul often gave up his just rights, either, 1 .) That he might give no occasion to charge him with covetous and worldly views ; or, 2.) That he might cut off all occasion from false apostles to claim a main- tenance from his example j or, 3.) That idle and slothful Christians might not pretend from his example to vindicate their idleness." Dr. Benson adds, that it was the custom of the Jews to teach their children a trade, even though they gave them a liberal education. Acts xviii. 3.

To these observations of Dr. Benson's I would take leave to add what appears to be at least equally just : that where the persons who enjoy the benefit of a minister's instructions either cannot or will not raise a competency to support his family;, it is neither criminal nor disgraceful in a minister to use any b.o- nourable means for his own support 5 and that it would be nei- ther improper nor undesirable that young men who are edu- cating for the ministry should also acquire the knowledge of some profession or occupation, by which they might maintain themselves and their families in a decent and reputable manner. Dr. Benson also remarks the propriety and decorum of the apo- stle's not noticing to the Thessalonians, vt^ho were probably poor, the supplies which he and his associates occasionally re- ceived from Philippi during their residence at Thessalonica ; and which he very prope/ly mentions v^'ith gratitude in his let- ter to the Philippians, Phil. iv. 16".

D 2

Ver. V.

ib Sect. II. 1. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 6.

Ch. II. for whose benefit we labour, yet we were far from "* ' insisting upon this right while we resided among you. And indeed you cannot but remember, that while we employed the greater part of the day in teaching both publicly and privately the important truths of divine revelation, the remainder of our time was usually spent in hard labour for our own subsistence ; and that to this end we encroached even upon the hours of necessary repose ; that so we might not put you to inconvenient expense in maintaining us, and that we might preclude the cavils of those who were disposed to represent us either as idle or as mercenary.

6. He reminds the Thessalonians of the piety and sanctity of the preachers of the gospel, and how earnestly it had been recommended to them to fol- low the example of their teachers, ver. 10 — 12.

10. Ye are ivitnesses, arid God^ is witness, how ho' lily^ and righteously^ and unblameably, we behaved

1 1- ourselves among you that believe^: as ye know how we exhorted"^, and comforted^ and charged every

' Ye are witnesses, and God.l " A very solemn appeal this," says Dr. Chandler, " upon a very important occasion ; and a noble period, full of majesty and grace."

* How hoUly, &c.] " holily towards God, righteously to- wards men, unblameably, i. e. without giving any just occasion of complaint in the manner of our instruction, or in the me- thods we made use of to bring you to the acknowledgement of the truth." Chandler.

^ Exhorted.'] ri/jisv is to be understood after itoipaxaXsvres. Grotius mentions it as a Hebrew idiom ; but Benson and Chandler, and before them Blackwall, notice it as an ellipsis not uncommon in the best Greek authors.

Sect, II. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 6. 37

ojie ofyoUy as a father his childreriy that ye should Ch. ir,

walk in a maimer worthy of Gody who inviteth you into his glorious kingdom *.

We are very sensible that there are many who are disposed to traduce our characters, and to re- present us as impious and wicked men, who, under a pretence of a divine commission, are accomplish- ing their own base and sinister designs. But of

■* Worthj of God, &c.] " How affectionate, how engaging, how powerful," says Dr. Chandler, " this manner of instruc- tion ! The character of a father implies tenderness and autho- rity. As such he exhorts them, he comforts them, he charges them J /xaprup8ju-£vo(, beseeching and conjuring them in the most solemn manner ; and testifying to them the absolute ne- cessity that they should walk worthy of God." " Kingdom and glory,'" says Dr. Benson, " are put by a usual hendiadys for glorious kingdom. The glory in God's temporal kingdom was the shechenahj that refulgent cloud which resided between the two cherubim, overshadowing the ark of the covenant in the holy of holies, Exod. xiii. 21, 22. To that the apostle seems here to allude ; but the Christian church has no such external visible gloiy. Its glory is truth, charity, and holiness." He adds, that " Two motives are here suggested to induce the Christians at Thessalonica to live a holy life. 1 .) The nature and character of the true God whose worshipers they now were. 2.) This holy God had called them into his glorious kingdom, the Christian church, from a state of ignorance, ido- latry, and vice, into the glorious liberty of the sons of God."

" If the most unquestioned indications of an upright mind in this epistle," says Dr. Priestley, " be properly attended to, (and I will venture to say there is no instance upon record of any hypocrite writing in this manner,) and it be compared with the equally unquestionable zeal of the apostle in preaching the gospel, and the marks of a sound mind in conducting himself with the greatest prudence and judgement, a conviction of the truth of Christianity will be the necessary result. Let any un- believer account for the character, the conduct, and the mode of vpritingof this apostle, upon any other supposition, if he can. If any person thinks that he can, I will venture to say he either has not duly attended to all the circumstances, or has little knowledge of human nature."

Ver. 12.

\S Skct. II. I. T H ESS ALONI AN S. 6.

Ch. II. such criminal views and conduct our consciences Vcr. 12. acquit us ; and you, my friends, amongst whom we lately resided, and who were witnesses to our whole conduct, will give your verdict in our favour. But you could only witness our external conduct. There is a Being who searches the heart ; and to him we humbly but confidently appeal for the purity of our motives, and the sanctity of our conduct. He knows the reverence of our hearts with regard to himself, the rectitude of our behaviour to our fellow-crea- tures, and our entire freedom from every thing de- serving of censure, whether in doctrine or practice, in our intercourse with you, who received the Chris- tian doctrine. And you remember, my dear friends and children in the gospel, what paternal vigilance and tenderness we exercised over you : exhorting some, comforting others, and earnestly pressing it upon all to regulate your conduct agreeably to your Christian profession. You have renounced idolatry, and are become worshipers of the true and living God: act always as in his presence, and make it your supreme concern to serve and please him. He has invited you, though heathen, to become subjects of that glorious kingdom which he has established in the world : a kingdom not dignified, indeed, with external splendour, but glorious in knowledge, in holiness, and in peace : you have accepted the hea- venly call. Prize highly your inestimable privilege ; and show by your whole conduct that you are true and approved members of this holy and honourable community.

Skct. III. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 1 . 39

SECTION III.

The apostle compresses his gratitude to God for Ch. ii. the fortitude and zeal of the Thessalonia?i con- verts, in a season of severe persecution; and denounces the approaching judgements of God upon the Jewish nation. Ch. il. 13 — 16.

1. The apostle gives thanks to God for the suc- cess of the gospel at Thessalonica, and the good effect it produced upon those who were converted to the faith, ver. 13.

For this cause also lue give thanks to God con- Ver. 13. tinually i, that when ye received the doctrine con- cerning God which ye heard from 7is 2, ye accepted

' For this cause, &c.] See ch, i. 2. The apostle having stated his own views and conduct, and those of his associates, when they first introduced the gospel at Thessalonica, now enlarges upon the effect which it had produced upon the Thessalonians, and shows that their mission had not been in vain. Ch. ii. 1. See Benson.

' Doctrine of God, &c.] Xoyov axoijf itoLp ■^tjt.wv rs ©es, the word of the report of, or concerning God. Comp. Heb. iv. 2, Matt. xiv. 1 ; the doctrine which they heard concerning God from the apostles. This Dr. Chandler thinks to be the true critical meaning of the place. The word received occurs a se- cond time improperly in the common version ; the words in the original being different. " The first word, irapaXa^ovTsg, signifies *^ taking any thing proposed into consideration, so as to pass a proper judgement upon it.' The second, eSs^aaSs, signifies ' to approve and embrace in consequence of serious examination.'" See Chandler and Benson.

10 Sect. III. 1. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. I.

Ch. II. not a doctrine of men, but a doctrine of God^, as ^^'" ^'^' in truth it is; iv/iich also powerfully operateth in you who believe.

And now, my brethren, having reminded you of the circumstances in which we first preached the gospel at Thessalonica, and of the temper and spirit which we manifested among you, I rejoice in the recollection of your own conduct upon the same interesting occasion. To many, indeed, our argu- ments were unavailing, and upon their minds the miraculous powers wliich we exercised made no valuable impression : but we bless God that this neglect of the gospel was not universal. We can never forget the candour and seriousness with which you listened to our instructions, as messengers of God ; and in our daily devotions we never omit to offer up our thanksgivings to God, for your firm conviction of the truth, and for your public fearless profession of the doctrine which you heard. And we also bless God that you had good reason for your conduct. The doctrine you embraced is not the invention of man ; it is, and will most assuredly appear to be, the truth of God, and a truth of the greatest practical importance. You are yourselves, my friends, the living proofs of it : no other doc-

' Not a doctrine, &c.] Dr. Chandler thinks that the particle as in the common version is twice inserted without any rea- son ; the sense being much better without it. " The apostle," he observes, " had double reason of thankfulness to God : that the doctrine he preached concerning God was really from him ; and that he had been instrumental to persuade tlie Thessalo- nians to embrace it,"

Sect. III. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 2. 41

trine could have inspired that fortitude and zeal, Ch, u. and cheerful hope, which you have experienced and ^^' ' manifested in the trying circumstances in which you have been placed.

2. Tlie apostle traces a resemblance between the circumstances of the Thessalonians and those of the Jewish converts in Judea ; and after describing the character of the unbelieving Jews, he concludes with a solemn denunciation of the approaching judgements of God upon that perverse and incor- rigible people, ver. 14 — 16.

For ye^ brethren^ are become like^ the churches 14.

of God in Judea which are in Christ Jesus ^: in- asmuch as ye also have suffered from your oivn countrymen^ the same things ivhich they \\^v^from the Jews.

That the gospel of Christ has been cordially em- braced by you, and has produced its genuine effect upon you, is evident from the firmness and forti-

' Are becoine like.'] ^iiur^rai. So Wakefield. Gr. imitators. " Ccetus Christianorum Judaici sc. Pala>stinenses,JudcEorum odia magis experti sunt, quain ecclesice regionum ceterarum Asiatica- rum, et EuropcEaruiii ; nam Judcci pracipne erant ii, qui Chris- tianos persequebantur." RosenmuUer. "as you yourselves are a plain instance." Pyle.

^ Which are in Christ Jesus.'] which believe in Christ, which profess the Christian religion : " a defective form of expression which must be supplied in some such way. They worship one God and believe in Christ Jesus." Chandler.

■* Your own countrymen^ The heathen idolaters considering the Christians at first only as a sect of Jews, did not give them- selves any trouble about them till they were instigated by the Jews. Tills was particularly the case at Thessalonica and Be- rea, &c. Acts xvii, .5, 13.

42 Sect. III. I. T H £ S S A L O N I A N S. 2.

Ch. II. tilde which you have discovered under the persecu- ' tions which you have endured. For your situation at Thessalonica bears a very near resenibhince to that of the Christian converts in Judea. Your fellow-citizens, though heathen, and as such in ge- neral indifferent to the rise and progress of new opinions and sects, have been instigated by the Jews to persecute you with as much rancour as the Jews in Judea persecute the believers there. And indeed I am constrained to bear a sad and reluctant testimony to the wickedness and the ruin of my un- happy countrymen.

15. Jf^ho both killed the Lord Jesus and the pro-' phets ', and have persecuted us, and ivho please not .

16. God^, and are against allmen"^, not suffering us^

' The pi'ophets.'] The word iSisg, their own, is omitted in the manuscripts of best authority, and in the Vulgate and other ancient versions. It was probably a marginal gloss. See Gries- bach.

* Please not GofZ.] A meiosis, by which much more is under- stood than the words express. The apostle means that the con- duct of the Jews was in the highest degree displeasing to God. See Chandler and Benson.

^ Arc against all men.'] " svavYioi denotes enemies ; in a state of hostile opposition." Chandler. This was the character which the Jews bore among the heathen, whom it is vvell known that they regarded with hatred and contempt.

Non monstrare vias, eadem nisi sacra colenti; QucEsitnm adfontem solos deducere verpos.

Juvenal. Sat. xiv. Adversiis alios omnes hostile odium. Tacitus. See Eisner. — " against Gentiles, whether converted or unconverted j and against converted Jews." Newcome. This severe descrip- tion of the Jews is confirmed by Josephus, who frequently calls them ^Bocvyeis, haters of God; and who, in a passage which has often been cited iVoin his Jetvish War, b. vi. c. 13. § 6. de- clurcs tluit " he thinks that if the Romans had dt laved to talic

Sect. III. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 2. 4o

to declare salvation to the Gentiles : thus conli- ch. ii. nually filling up the measure of their sins^. But ^^^'' ^^' ivrath is overtaking them ^ to titter destj'uction 7.

With regret I say it ; but truth compels me to declare, that the crimes of my deluded countrymen have now nearly reached their utmost limit, and that their ruin is impending and inevitable. For they have been the murderers of Jesus, our lord and

vengeance on these wretches, they would either hnve been Svvallowed up by an earthquake, or that the city would have been swept away by a deluge ; or that they would have par- taken of the thunders of Sodom ; for that they were a more im- pious generation than those who suffered these calamities." See Chandler.

* Not suffering t<s.] xcyADJvrwv. So Wakefield, forbidding, hindering. " The meaning is, " not forbidding us to preach in order to their salvation, but to preach the doctrine of the pos- sibility of their salvation by faith alone." Chandler.

* Filling up, &c.] "This," says Dr. Benson, " is an allusion to filling up a vessel to the brim. The vessel was filled a great way before, but this filled it up quite. A similar allusion is used Gen. XV. 16, Matt, xxiii. 32."

^ Is overtaking them.'] s(pQa<rE' " literally, hath overtaken, on account of its nearness and certainty," Wakefield. " That de- solation was drawing nigh when the apostle wrote this epistle ; and the destruction of their temple, city, and nation, happened within twenty years after." Benson.

^ To utter destruction.'] sig rs\o;. " finally, at last." H. Stephens, Grotius, Knatchbull, Benson. " to consummation, to utter destruction." Newcome, and others. So LXX. Numb, xvii. 13 j Josh. vii. 24, x. 20; Job vi. 9; Amos ix. 8 ; 2 Chron, xii. 12. " wrath is coming on them to the full. Such wrath as shall perfect and consummate their destruction." Chand- ler. This epistle was written a.d. 52. The destruction of Jerusalem and the temple happened about twenty years after- wards. This event the apostle foreknew either by inspiration, or by the recorded prophecy of Jesus previous to his crucifixion, Mr. Wakefield translates the words, " complete jnmishmcnt is overtakini? them."

44

Sect. III. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S.

Ch. II. master, whom they ought to have received as their promised Messiah, and who gave the most ample proof of his divine legation : yet even him they de- livered up to the Roman power, under a false charge of treason and blasphemy, and insisted upon his public crucifixion. The prophets who foretold the mission of Christ, had been treated by their prede- cessors with similar cruelty. And if we, the apostles and messengers of Jesus, and the authorized wit- nesses of his res'irrection, have hitherto escaped, it has been owing to want of power, not of inclina- tion on their part: for they have beaten and impri- soned us, and forbidden us to teach the doctrine of Christ; and some of our number have even been put to death. Thus they are acting in a manner most highly offensive to the Supreme Being, whom they profess to venerate, while they oppose his will and destroy his holy and authorized messengers. They are the enemies of the human race ; holding all mankind in contempt and abhorrence, though equally with themselves the creatures and children of God. And this malignity of spirit they evince in a way v/hich renders it doubly odious, by giving every obstruction in their power to the promulga- tion of the gospel among the Gentiles, and refusing them admission into the kingdom and family of God. Thus they add crime to crime, without any interruption or remission, till, the measure of their iniquities being full, divine justice will no longer forbear to strike. And dreadful indeed will their approaching catastrophe be. The denunciations

Sect. IV. I. THESSALONIANS. 1. 45

of the crucified prophet will be literally fulfilled. Ch. ii. The ruin of the nation will be complete. And the awful consummation is at hand.

SECTION IV.

The apostle, having been disappointed i?i his intention of making the Thessalonians a visits and having sent Timothy to Thessalonica to learn the state of their affairs^ expresses the highest satisfaction in the report which that evangelist had made concerning their perseve- rance in the faith^ and their affection to him : and he concludes with testifying his earnest de- sire to visit them, and his best luishes for their estahlishment in faith and holiness . Ch. ii. 17 — iii. 13.

1 . Having been compelled to leave them abrupt- ly, he was earnestly desirous of seeing them again, but had hitherto been prevented from executing his purpose, ver. 17, 18.

Now we, brethren^, having been bereaved of Ver. 17. you^ at an hours warning^, in person, not in

' Now we, brethren^ Dr. Benson observes that "the apostle has called his converts at Thessalonica, brethren, beloved, or beloved brethren, no less than seventeen times in this epistle : whereby he not only testified his very ardent affection for them, but acknowledged the Gentile as well as Jewish converts for Christian brethren."

* Bereaved of you.'] aKopfixyKr&svfSi. See Wakefield. " O^-

46 Sect. IV. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 1.

(:h, II. heart, have earnestly endeavoured ivith great de- Ver. 18. sire^ to see your face. Accordingly, we intended to come to you, even I Paul, more than once, but Satan hindered 2is °.

My dear brethren, you recollect how suddenly, and with how little previous notice, I was torn from you as a father from the children of his affection, in consequence of the tumult which was raised at the instigation of the Jews. But though I was per- sonally compelled to withdraw from you, my heart still remained with you, and my tenderest affec- tions are fixed upon you : so that ever since I left you I have never ceased to devise the means of gratifying my ardent desire to visit you again. Hi- therto, however, my efforts have been fruitless : for' though I Paul, your teacher and apostle, have re-

Qavos, 0 yovEcuv esrTjpyjy-^vos, y^oLi rsKvuiv." Hesychius. " He compares the uneasiness he was under/' says Dr. Chandler, " to the distress of a father robbed of, and torn from, his chil- dren, at an hour's warning, and forced to leave tliem in cir- cumstances of the most helpless danger."

^ At an hour's warning.'] irpog y.ai^ov wfaj. So Dr. Chandler, and unquestionably right ; though this sense is overlooked, as he observes, by almost all interpreters. Mr. \\\^kefield's ver- sion is, " at a moment's warning." It is not true that the apo- stle was separated from them for a short time only, for it was six years before he saw them again ; and if it had been fact, it would have been beside the apostle's purpose to have men- tioned it.

' Earnestly endeavoured, t^'c] The apostle expresses with great emphasis his earnest desire to see the Thessalonians again. " The word," says Dr. Chandler, " .signifies, ' I dili- gently endeavoured.' To raise the idea, he adds, ' I more abun- dantly endeavoured ; ' and to iiiake his diligence appear as strong as words could do it, concludes, * I more abundantly endea- voured to see you with great desire.' " " Amat Paulus, voca- bula per se augentia, ampUiis augere," Grotius.

19.

Skct. IV. r. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 2. 47

peatedly intended and endeavoured to take a journey ch. ir. to Thessalonica, some impediment or other has al- ^'^^'' * ways occurred to prevent me ; and particularly the malignity of the Jews, and the peculiar enmity which they harhour against me, and which would lead them to sacrifice my life, if they could once get me into their power.

*2. The apostle states the delight he felt in the prospect of meeting his Thessalonian converts at the coming of Christ, ver. 19, !20.

For ivhat is our hope'^ or joy, or crown of iri- umph''y in the presence of our Lord Jesus'^ at his

' ^atan Jiindered ms.] " wicked men, the instruments of Sa- tan." Newcome. The word Satan signifies adversanj, and in the Old Testament is constantly used in thus sense. In the New Testament it occurs thirty-three times ; and commonly expresses, the principle of opposition personified, whatever be the cause or the object of the obstruction. Paul's paralytic dis- order is called Satan, 2 Cor. xii. 7, because it obstructed his preaching the gospel. Peter is called Satan, Matt. xii. 2G, because he contradicted what Jesus had just declared. Satan sometimes signifies the heathen power, and sometimes the per- secuting power J but it never signifies what it is usually under- stood to express, the chief of apostates and fallen angels. — Dr. Priestley explains it, " one adversary or other has prevented me." " ImpedivU uutein hoc Satanas, injectd ei necessitate disputandi S(Pphis ciuu Stoicis et Epicureis qui Athenis erant.'" Grotius. " Tlie enemy here intended," says Dr. Benson, "was evidently the unbelieving Jews at Thessalonica." It was some unknown impediment.

' For what is our hope.'] Dr. Chandler observes that it is " uncertain whether the apostle here refers to the crov^Mi of tri- umph worn by the conqueror, or to the garland of victory in the games." Dr. Benson remarks, that " as Paul expected to know his own converts in the great day, we may therefore hope to know our friends in a future state."

* Or croicn of triumph.} /cay^ijcrew;, S3 Wakefield. "" a

43 Sect. IV. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 2.

Ch. II. coming ? Are not even ye ^ ? Ye are indeed our "■ ' glory and onr joy '^.

If it should be in my power, I will make another eflbrt to visit you soon ; but I may perhaps be again disappointed ; and possibly in this world I may ne- ver have another opportunity of seeing you again. But there is a day advancing when we shall be sure to meet : it is the day of our Lord and Master Jesus, when he shall return to raise the dead and to judge the world. And to what think ye that I look for- ward with delightful anticipation, as the brightest crown, the most transporting bliss of that trium- phant day ? — It is to the happiness of meeting you, my beloved brethren, my dear Thessalonian con- verts, my joy and pride, at the tribunal of our ho- noured Lord and judge — approved, acknowledged, and rewarded by him. Yes ; it is to meet, never to part any more. This will be happiness indeed. And of this triumph, blessed be God, it is not in

crown of which a man boasts." Le Clerc. " Vocatur corona, non quotidiuna, sed quce diebus sumiuce Iceiiti^ ad eximium or- natum sumltur. Sic Paulum omabnnt tarn pradarce per Mace^ doniom structce ah ipso ecclesice." Grotius.

* In the presence of our Lord Jesus.'} The received text adds Christ; but this word is wanting in the Alexandrine, Clermont, and Corbey manuscripts, and in the Syriac, Vulgate, and other versions. See Griesbach ; who however retains it in his text,

^ Are not even ije P} " Construi hcecsic debent.'' Grotius. See also Chandler and Benson.

« Ve are indeed, &c.] So Mr. Wakefield. The old English version is, Yes, ye are indeed our glory and joy. " The particle yap, which we render for, should have been translated even. For this use of the particle, see Herodotus Hist. I. i. 8, V. iii; 12." Chandler.

Sect. IV. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 3. 40

the power of our worst and most inveterate ene- ch. ii. mies either to hinder or to deprive us. ^^'* ^^•

3. The apostle, moved by the tender anxiety which he felt on their account, had sent Timothy from Athens, to visit, to console, and to encoui'age them, ch. iii. 1 — 3.

So t/ic?i, bci7ig no longer able to refrain^^^ zve vej-^V' willingly acquiesced^ in being left at Athens alone ^ and sent Timothy, our brother, and a fellow worker 2.

ivith God in the gospel of Christ ^j to support and encourage you^ concerning your fidelity T ; that 3.

7ione of you ^ may be moved9 by these our afflic-

' Refrain.'] " s'^yuj properly signifies to cover : here it sig- nifies, to suppress the impatience of our desires." Chandler. ^' being able to endure no longer." Wakefield.

* Willingly acquiesced.'] See Chandler. " we have submit- ted." Wakefield. " I cheerfully preferred " Benson. Tlie word evSoKT/jo-ixiAsv expresses the readiness with which the apostle acquiesced in being left by himself at Athens.

' Timothy, &c.] The copies read these clauses variously : I adopt the reading of Griesbach.

° Support and encourage.] So Wakefield. ITapaxaXeo-a; sig- nifies both to exhort and comfort : the apostle might intend to include both significations.

' Your fidelity.] See ver. 5 : not concerning their faith, but their firm adherence to their profession.

^ That none of you.] ruj iirjSsvx. The best copies read to {x.rjSava, for sig ro x. r. A. Griesbach : see ver. 13. Benson and Newcome.

^ Be moved.] " a-ocivsa-Sa.1, proprie adulor, hlandior, pellicio, non solum de canibus caudam blande moventibus, traivei, xoXa- xivst. Hesychius. Hinc, quaiio, concutio, et metaphorice, com- moveo, turbo." Schleusner. The word is commonly understood as a metaphor, taken from a dog's moving his tail, either from joy or fear ; but more frequently in the former sense. And Dr. Chandler supposes that " the apostle meant that Timothy was to caution the Thessalonians against being fawned and flattered

VOL. IV. E

50 Sect. IV. I. T H E S S A L O N 1 A N S. 3.

Ch. in. tions,for ye yourselves know that we are appointed

^^'••^- to this K

So solicitous was I, my brethren, on your ac- count, so apprehensive lest something amiss might have happened in consequence of our abrupt depar- ture from Thessalonica, of the persecutions which we endured, and of the perils to which you were yourselves exposed, that I could no longer refrain from taking some steps to relieve my own anxiety, and to fortify your principles. And as it was not

out of their faith and hope, by views of security and other worldly advantages." The common, and perhaps the more pro- bable, interpretation is, that they should not be deterred from their profession by the persecution of the teachers of the gospel. • Appoitited to this.'} " This is the natural lot of us apostles." Acts ix. 16. Newcome. — " In those early ages," says Dr. Priestley, " men were not tempted by any honours or emolu- ments of this life. They were apprized that they were not to expect any advantage from the scheme in this world, but that all their hopes of reward were to be in another. Now what could induce men in the cool possession of themselves, as the apostles evidently were, and thousands of others, naturally lovers of life and of the pleasures and advantages of it, as well as other men, to entertain these great and distant prospects, and to sacrifice every thing else to them, but the most well- grounded faith in the gospel, or such evidence as could not but command the assent of men in their circumstances, who had every possible opportunity of judging ; and which there- fore ought to satisfy us?" " This word," says Dr. Chandler, " is very justly translated. I see no reason to soften the mean- ing of it so as to exclude the positive order and appointment of God. The word is used both in sacred and profane writers to denote something fixed and determined. Luke ii. 34, Philip, i. 17. Nor is there any thing unworthy of God in such an ap- pointment. He called them out to be public examples of faith, patience, and constancy. He appointed them to the honour of being martyrs and confessors for the truth, that hereby he might spread the Christian doctrine, approve their fidelity, and ren- der them worthy tlie crown of victory."

Sect. IV. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 4. 51

in my power to visit you, I very cheerfully proposed Ch. iir. to remain at Athens by myself, in a situation of con- ^^^' '^' siderable difficulty, and amongst persons who were perfect strangers, many of whom were insolent and prating sceptics, and dispatched Timothy, my faith- ful and beloved associate in the ministry of the go- spel, and indeed I may add, a fellow- worker with God himself in the same glorious cause, to Thessalonica, to confirm your faith, and to administer those ad- vices and consolations which would be most effec- tual to encourage you to persevere in your Chris- tian profession. And I particularly charged him to caution you against being warped from your in- tegrity by the consideration of those sufferings to which the most eminent of the preachers of the Christian doctrine are exposed ; for you cannot but recollect what you so often heard me declare, that ease and interest were not the objects we had in view in the exercise of our ministry ; that suffering was as familiar to us as teaching, and was, in fact, a part of our ministerial and apostolic office. It was the divine appointment, and we knew from the be- ginning what we had to expect.

4. The apostle, though he had distinctly fore- warned them of what was to happen, yet being anxious for their stedfastness, had sent to inquire after their state, ver. 4, 5.

For, indeedy when we were with you, ive told 4. you beforehand^ that we should suffer trouble, even as it came to pass, and ye kno2v. For this cause, 5.

e2

52 Sect. IV. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 4.

Ch. III. hetng no longer able to endure, I sent to hnoiu Ver. 6. your fidelity^, fearing, lest by some means the se- ducer 2 might have seduced you, and our labour might be in vain.

I did not flatter you, my brethren, when you first embraced the Christian religion, that either you or your teachers would lead an easy and quiet life in the open profession of this novel and obnoxious doctrine. While I was yet with you, before the storm burst, previously to any offence which was taken at us or at our doctrine, and while we were even held in admiration in consequence of the dis- play of our miraculous powers, I told you that this tranquillity would be of short duration, and that sorrow and suffering would speedily overtake us ; and so it proved, as you well recollect. These suf- ferings, therefore, which we so distinctly foretold, can constitute no reasonable objection against the authority of our mission. Knowing, however, the advantage which the artful enemies of the gospel would make of the persecutions of its ministers, I was eager to send my beloved colleague to inquire into your state, fearing lest the terrors of persecu- tion should have alarmed you, or the artifices of

1 Your fidelity .'] " By profane authors," says Dr. Chandler, " this word ttig-ii is frequently used to signify the ' fidelity of subjects to a prince,' and of ' one man to another in the per- formance of promises J ' and should have been xewAexeA fidelity or constancy y See ver. 7, where Mr. Wakefield renders it per- severance. Compare ver. 8.

* Seducer.] Tfsipa^ujv " one that solicits and persuades an- other to a criminal action, by whatsoever methods it may be. This is the sense of it also in profane authors." Chandler. -

Sect. IV. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 5. 53

the enemy have seduced you from your allegiance Ch. in. to the gospel, and should have made void our la- bours and our hopes,

5. The apostle expresses the utmost satisfaction in the report which Timothy had made of their ad- herence to Christianity, and of their affection to him, ver. 6 — 8,

But Timothy ^ being lately returned^ from you to 6.

u^, and having brought us good tidings of your fidelity and affection, and of the kind remembrance ivhich you constantly have of us, being as earnestly desirous to see us, as lue are to see you'^ ; for this 7.

cause, brethren, we were comforted concerning you, in all our affliction and poverty^, by your fidelity . For now ive live indeed 6, seeing that ye stand 8. firmly in the Lord,

' Timothy being lately returned^ " Timothy having come back to us just now from you." Wakefield. The expression seems to indicate that the epistle was written soon after Timo- thy's return ; who, together with Silas, came to the apostle at Corinth, from which city, therefore, this epistle was dated. See Acts xviii. 5.

* As earnestly desirous to see us, &c.] " These words are part of Timothy's report, who assured the apostle that their affec- tionate reniembrance of him was such, that they had as warm and passionate a fondness for seeing him, as he could have for seeing them." Chandler.

* Affiiction and poverty^ ayxyx.rf " this word signifies a ne- cessity and pressure of any kind but particularly the distress of poverty, which seems to be the meaning of the word in this place." Chandler. The apostle was now at Corinth, where he refused to accept supplies from the new converts, and chose to maintain himself by his own manual industry. Acts xviii. 1 — 4 ; 2 Cor. xi. 9, 10, xii. 13 — 18, He was assisted by contri- butions from Macedonia, 2 Cor. xi, 9, and probably found it difficult to procure subsistence.

54 Sect. IV. 1. T H E S S A L O N 1 A N S. 6.

Ch. III. And now, my brethren, with unspeakable satlsfac- "' * tion I acknowledge that mysolicitude is relieved, and that my fears concerning you have been happily dis- pelled by the return of Timothy, and the pleasing intelligence which he has brought. Having left Athens, and being now at Corinth, Silas and Ti- mothy have lately joined me here. And though, as you perceive, I am destined to wander from place to place, and am but poorly provided with the ne- cessaries of Hfe, having determined to accept of no- thing from these opulent Corinthians ; yet, amidst poverty and distress, I am soothed and cheered with the favourable report which my faithful associate has made of your firm adherence to your Christian pro- ftjssion, of your love to each other, and of your af- fectionate attachment to me, your instructor and friend. For Timothy has informed me that you long as earnestly to see me, as I do to see you. Whatever, therefore, may be the disadvantages of my external condition, I am far from meaning to complain. No, my brethren, since this evangelist is come back with the joyful tidings of your firm ad- herence to the doctrine of Christ, I feel myself a

* fVe live indeed, &c.] euv does not always imply that the case is dubious. See 1 John iii. 2. " How does this generous and benevolent apostle," says Dr. Benson, 'Ureat his converts like his children, and with the bowels of a father overlook all his own persecutions and distresses as long as things went well with them ! If they had not persevered, it would have greatly troubled and afflicted him. But it was joy, it was transport, it was life worth enjoying, to hear of their perseverance and sted- fastness in the Christian faith. Here is a pattern for all the pastors of the Christian church."

Skct. IV. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 6. 55

happy man : to be assured of your continual pro- ch. iii. gress in faith and holiness, this is life indeed ; life ^^'- ^• worth enjoying: it is health, wealth, and happi- ness.

6. The apostle expresses his devout gratitude to God for the satisfaction which he felt on their ac- count, and his earnest prayers that he may be per- mitted to visit them soon, ver. 9 — 1 1.

For what thanks are lue able ' to render to God 9.

conceiving yoUy in return for all the joy ivith ivhic/i we rejoice on your account before our God? Night 10.

and day^ praying most earnestly that lue may see your face, and make up what is wanting to insure your fidelity 3. But may our God and Father him- 11.

' For what thanks are we able to render in return^ avratrii- ^Hvai. " the word signifies, ' to give something in return as an acknowledgement for favours received.' The interrogation increases the vehemence and warmth of the sentiment. His gratitude was stronger than he was able to express." See Chandler, whose translation I have followed.

* Night and day.'] " An allusion to the com])utation of the Jews, who began their day at sunset." Benson.

^ Wanting to insure your Jidelity .•] " i. e. to impart some spi- ritual gift. Rom. i. 11. Grotius." Newcome. " It is an imagi- nation of some interpreters, (says Dr. Chandler, alluding to Dr. Benson and others,) that when the apostles first planted a church, they taught them only the plain and fundamental ar- ticles of Christianity, and the necessity of repentance and new obedience ; and when the converts had digested these, then they instructed them in the more minute doctrines of Christi- anity. But I think this is a mistaken observation j nor do I well comprehend which of the real articles of Christianity are properly minute ; I would hope no articles of the Christian doctrine deserve this character. The true meaning of the Greek expression is ' those things which are yet wanting towards your fiddity •; their conatancy in the faith had not yet attained its

56 Sect. IV. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 6.

Ch. III. self\ and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way'^ ver. 11. •; -^

u7ito you.

So delighted am I with the intelligence I have received concerning you, that I am at a loss for words to express my gratitude to the Father of mer- cies for the joy and transport which I feel on your account, when, in the hour of retired devotion, I bear you upon my heart before God. And indeed it is the constant theme of my earnest solicitation,

full establishment and support ; not that they had received but an imperfect knowledge of Christianity from the apostle, but that tliere was yet something wanting to confirm them in the faith they had embraced, which even Timothy could not supply. What these things were, Grotius hath with great judgement pointed out, Rom.i. 11, that he might impart some spiritual gift either upon greater numbers, or in larger abundance."

Dr. C. supposes another alternative : that the apostle alludes to moral precepts, in which he had imperfectly instructed them. But surely this supposition is to the full as objectionable as Dr. Benson's minute doctrines.

' Our God and Father.'] " Here, as upon all occasions," says Dr. Priestley, " the title of God is appropriated to the Father, and Christ is not entitled to that appellation, but is quite distinct from God, as much as any other man can be."

'^ .^nd our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way.] Dr. Benson, Dr. Chandler, and other expositors understand this text as a prayer to Christ, and as authorizing what they call mediatorial worship of him. Dr. C. adds, that " Lord in the next verse unquestionably signifies Christ, and that the prayer is with great propriety addressed to him," But Dr. Priestley, with much greater propriety, observes, that " though God and Christ are here joined together, it is by no means a proper example of prayer to Christ ; but as all power is given to Christ, with re- spect to his church, and he frequently appeared to Paul, and directed the course of his apostolical journeys, it was natural for him to desire to have the same direction to go where he wished himself." To direct us, &c. The word signifies to make straight: i. e. to remove impediments and obstructions. The apostle visited Macedonia twice after this, but not till six years ♦U'ter this epistle was written. Sec Benson.

Sect.IV. I. THESS ALONI ANS. 7. 57

morning and evening, to be permitted to visit you Ch. iir. again, and to administer those instructions and encouragements, and those additional supplies of the holy spirit which may be requisite to your per- fection in faith and holiness, and to your resolute perseverance in your Christian profession. And may that God who, in the gospel covenant, vouch- safes to acknowledge himself as common Father to Jew and Gentile ; and may Jesus Christ, our gra- cious Master, who superintends my mission, and directs my course, be pleased to remove every im- pediment which obstructs our mutual wishes, and speedily to open a free passage for me to visit you again.

7. The apostle further prays that the Thessalo- nians may improve in mutual affection and general benevolence, and that they may persevere in the practice of duty till the coming of Christ, ver. 12, 13.

y^nd may the Lord^ cause yoii to increase and 12.

' May the Lord cause you to incrcaseJ] 6 Kvpios. This word is wanting in the Syriac : the Alexandrine copy reads 0 Qsog, God; and the Clermont, with three other uncial manuscripts, reads 0 xvpiog Irjosg, the Lord Jesus. With these conflicting authorities, it cannot be ascertained which is the true reading ; nor whether the word Lord signifies Christ, or God his Father. I incline to the former sense, and think the prayer is addressed to Christ ; who during the apostolic age maintained a personal intercourse with the church, which since that period has been withdrawn : which intercourse laid a foundation for personal applications to him, especially on the part of the apostle Paul, all whose motions were directed by him, which applications in other individuals, and in succeeding times, would be unautho-

58 Sect. IV. I. T H E S S A L O N 1 A N S. 7.

Ch. III. aboujid in love * toivard each other, and toward all Ver. 13. men, even as we^o toward you^: so as to esta-

rized and idolatrous. The apostle prays that the Lord would cause them to increase and abound in love ; perhaps not by any immediate operation upon the heart, but by supplying them with means and opportunities of improvement in the doctrine and spirit of the gospel. Archbishop Newcome cautiously observes upon ver. 13, that " we have here a repetition of the antece- dent, if we suppose Ku^fof in ver, 12 to be genuine^ and rightly imderstood of the Lord Jesus."

" In these two verses," says Dr. Benson, " the apostle first prays to God the Father, and then unto our Lord Jesus Christ." And he introduces a note discussing the question of prayer to Christ, in which he comes to this conclusion : " That supreme and ultimate worship is due to God, and to him alone : media- torial worship is due to our Lord Jesus Christ, and to him alone." He adds, " If we follow the scripture model, we shall very sel- dom address our Lord Jesus Christ directly j and when we do, we should always remember to address him as mediator." Of which mode of address, however, the learned expositor has sup- plied us with no example from the New Testament, Dr. Chandler expresses himself with even more confidence upon the subject than Dr. Benson. Upon ver. 1 1 he observes, that " the prayer is directed with great propriety and dignity to God our Father, who is styled God peculiarly and emphatically, and who is the original, eternal, supreme, and indefectible source of all good ; and to our Lord Jesus Christ, the mediatorial secondary source, the Father's eternal repository of good, in and by whom he enriches the whole rational creation, and especially his church on earth, with all necessary blessings." And he observes on the words ver. 1 2, Maij the Lord cause you to increase, " The Lord here unquestionably signifies Christ ; and the prayer is with great propriety addressed to him because he had so loved them as to give himself as a propitiation for their sins." And he introduces a long paragraph at the end of his paraphrase upon this chapter, in which he vindicates at large the propriety and expedience of the mediatorial worship of Christ,

Thus it appears that these two learned and pious Arians re- garded it as a duty to pray to Christ; and, together with Clarke, Emlyn, and other eminent Arian divines of tlie age in which they lived, they saw nothing in what they called media- torial and secondary worship, inconsistent with the doctrine of the unity and sole supremacy of God the Fuilitr ; whose crea-

Sect. IV. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 7. 59

hlishyour hearts unhlameahle in holiness in the Ch. iii. presence of our God and Father ^ at the coming of ^^^' ^^' our Lord Jesus Christ, with all his saints 3.

ture Jesus is, and his delegate, as they believed, in the forma- tion, support, and government of the universe. And in this conclusion they were completely justified, if their premises were true : for what impropriety can there be in addressing a friend who is known to be present and within hearing, whether he is seen or unseen ? and who can be a proper object of worship, if the Lord our Maker is not ? The practice of worshiping Christ prevailed very generally among the Arians of the last century j and had they lived in the present day, they would have thought it very hard to be denied the name of Unitarians, as the small remnant of their successors, who worship Jesus, now do. Nor can I see any reason for extending that epithet to all Arians of all descriptions, even to those who, like Dr. Clarke, actually ex- clude the agency of the Deity from his works, and who represent him as merely the silent spectator of the operations of the Lo- gos, with the exception only of those who, very consistently surely with their own views of the case, address prayer to this omnipotent, omnipresent Logos, their Maker, Supporter, and Lord. This arbitrary limitation was never thought of till the time of Dr. Price, who first introduced it, and defined an Uni- tarian to be one who does not worship Christ : a definition which excludes Chandler, Benson, Emlyn, Peirce, and almost all the learned and pious Arian divines who were Dr. Price's predecessors, and at least his equals in theological learning. Yet, since the time of Dr. Price this modern definition has be- come a great favourite with many. Names do not alter the nature of things, and are of no use any further than they con- vey distinct ideas. Dr. Lardner, for the sake of perspicuity, limited his use of the word Unitarian to those who believe the proper humanity of Jesus Christ ; or rather to those who do not ascribe to a created being either the attributes, the works, or the worship which is appropriate to the Great Supreme. In this definition he is followed by Mr. Lindsey, Dr. Priestley, and many others. And the consequence of using the word con- stantly in this sense is, that none of tlieir readers can mistake their meaning. Others, however, choose to use the word in a laxer sense, including all Arians under the name of Unitarians •excepting those who pray to Christ. And after defining their terms, they have no doubt a right, as all writers have, to use them in the sense so defined. But this change of signification

00 Sect. IV. I. T H E S S A L O N 1 A N S. 7.

Ch. III. In the mean time, my dear Christian brethren, my earnest and affectionate prayers are daily offered

has been attended with the inconvenience which might natu- rally be expected ; it has introduced a lamentable degree of ob- scurity and confusion into many publications in other respects excellent. But let this pass. What is most extraordinary in the case is, that many who adopt Dr. Price's definition, and whose zeal is more conspicuous than their logic, value them- selves highly upon it as if it were some great discovery in theo- logy, and are by no means backward in challenging for them- selves a superior degree of candour and liberality ; while, with a warmth of indignation not justified by the occasion, they ani- madvert upon those of their brethren, who prefer Dr. Lardner's old and strict definition of Unitarianism to Dr. Price's new and lax one. Just as if there were a moral merit in a verbal difl'er- ence ; or, as if a writer were not at liberty, out of two defini- tions of the same term, to adhere to that which to his judge- ment appears the most correct.

The truth is, that Arianism, whether high or low, and by whatever name it is called, is in every shape erroneous and un- scriptural. Carried to the extreme of Dr. Clarke, who main- tains that the Logos is the Creator, Preserver, and Sustainer of the universal system, it sets up another God in the place of the Supreme, and excludes the Deity from his works ; it deposes God from his throne. And so far as Arianism ascribes to a crea- ture the attributes and works of God, it is erroneous and per- nicious, it leads to polytheism and idolatry. It has no founda- tion in reason or in revelation, it tends to distract the mind, and to alienate the heart from God, who is the only Creator and Lord of all, and the only proper object of worship. With sen- timents most friendly to the persojis of those who are involved in this ancient error, it is the indispensable duty of every one who is enlightened in the truth as it is in Jesus, to enter his protest against their doctrine, and to detect and expose its fal- lacy and pernicious tendency to the utmost of his power. Truth can enter into no compromise with error. What fellowship hath light with darkness ?

' Abound in love.l " The first afl'ection due from them was to one another as brethren and friends ; but Christianity teaches, and the love of God and Christ inspires, a more diffusive cha- rity, love to human nature, as such: yea, to our very enemies." Chandler.

- Even as we.'] " How did the apostle love them ? He loved

Sect. IV. I. THESSALONIANS. 7. CI

up to God for your stability and improvement; that Ch. iii. your conduct may be in every view worthy of your ^'' ' Christian profession. May God grant, and by the powerful operation of the genuine principles of the gospel may he bring it to pass, that your love to each other as fellow-Christians, exposed to the same difficulties, and heirs of the same immortal hopes, may increase and abound exceedingly. Also, that you may feel a warm benevolence to your fellow- creatures, to all who are partakers of the same nature, and capable of tlie same improvements in knowledge and virtue. And as our love and com- passion to you was manifested in our exertions for

them as a father his children : so as to be soHcitous and intent upon promoting their salvation ; so as to be content to be per- secuted, and to live in perpetual straits to do them good ; yea, .so as to give up his life, if that were necessary, to secure their constancy and happiness. Generous apostle ! How like the master he served ! It is thus. Christians, you should love one another." Chandler.

' Saints.'] dytcvv. Some copies of little account read ayys- Awv, angels. See Grotius and Griesbach. Dr. Chandler says, " the word signifies both." It is of no practical consequence, Christ being represented under the character of a sovereign and a judge : in consistency with this symbol celestial beings are represented as his attendants and officers, to add to the dignity and pomp of his appearance. How far such descriptions are to be understood in a literal sense the awful event only will ex- plain. And this will probably be widely different from our pre- sent imperfect and confused conceptions of it.

Dr. Benson concludes his notes upon this passage with the following reflections : " l.The apostles often put" their con- verts in mind of Christ's coming to judgement, to excite them to the practice of universal righteousness, to pre])are for that important and decisive day. 2. Our religious virtue must hold out to the end of life, if we would be prepared for the coming of Christ. 3. Our Christian course ends when we die, and ter- minates in the coming of Christ."

62 Sect.V. I. THESSALONIANS. 1.

Ch. III. your conversion, be you equally solicitous for the conversion of others. — This cordial, tender, uni- versal benevolence, discovering itself in generous and habitual exertions to promote the happiness of all around you, is in fact the best means of fulfill- ing the duties which the gospel enjoins. In the practice of universal virtue may your hearts be firmly established, and amidst difficulties and temptations may you faithfully and honourably persevere, till that day, the arrival of which may be more speedy than we are aware, when our Lord and Master shall appear again, accompanied by all his faithful fol- lowers redeemed from the grave ; whom he will pre- sent before his Father and our Father, his God and our God, as those who shall be entitled to the pro- mises and the rewards of the gospel. In that chosen company, and upon that awful occasion, may it be your honour and happiness to appear as his approved disciples, and to participate in his glo- rious triumph.

SECTION V.

The apostle earnestly exhorts the Thessalonians to the practice of universal virtue^ and particu- larly to chastity, benevolence, prudence, and in- dustry. Ch. iv. 1—12.

1 . The apostle strictly enjoins by the authority of Christ, that in the whole of their conduct it should

Sect. V. I. T H E S S A LO N I A N S. 1 . 63

be their chief and growing concern to please God, Ch, iv. ver. 1,2.

Finally^ therefore, brethren, we intreat and ive Ver. I. exhort you ', m the Lord Jesus^, according as ye have received from us how ye ought to walk and to please God, and as indeed ye do ivalk^, that ye would excels still more. For ye know what charges 2.

we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus'^.

In the sequel of this epistle I shall take the li- berty of giving you some plain hints of advice re- specting your conduct as professors of the Christian religion ; which from the report of Timothy appears to be particularly requisite. And first of all, I ear- nestly request as a favour conferred upon myself, and as a teacher of the Christian doctrine I se-

' We intreat and we exhort youJ] We intreat. " we request and desire it of you as a favour done to ourselves. We exhort implies superiority : it supposes both the capacity and the right of admonition." Chandler.

* In the Lord JesusJ] " in his name, by your regard to him - and as you would approve yourselves to him as your judge." Chandler. Newcome, who translates " by the Lord Jesus/' observes, '' Some render ' in the Lord Jesus :' that is, as pro- fessors of faith in him." This appears to be the true sense of the phrase. To be in Christ is constantly used in the apostle's writings to signify being a Christian, See Rom. xvi. 7,9, 11.

' And as indeed ye do walk.'] This clause is found in the Alexandrine, Clermont, and many other manuscripts, and in the iEthiopic, Italic, and other versions. It is much in the apo- stle's style ; who is always desirous to commend where he can, and especially previous to the introduction of a reproof. See Griesbach.

* Excel.'] TfspKra-svyjte. " It expresses, having abundance or plenty of any thing : hence it denotes to exceed or excel. See Eccles. iii. 19, Apocryp. Syr. xi. 12, xix. 24." Chandler.

* By the authority of the Lord Jesus.] Snx, rs Kv^is. So New- come and \Vakefierd,

^4 Sect. V. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 2.

Ch.iy. riously exhort you, that you will remember and re- duce to practice the advice which I gave you while I was present with you. I taught you, that as disci- ples of Jesus it must now be your governing prin- ciple to please God, and in the whole of your tem- per and conduct to approve yourselves to his all- penetrating eye. And I taught you how this was to be done ; namely, by the love and practice of universal virtue. It gives me great satisfaction to hear that this is indeed your general character ; and that with regard to most of you the efficacy of the doctrine of the gospel is apparent in the holiness of your lives. My desire is, that you should not rest satisfied with present attainments, but that you should continually endeavour to excel, not only your heathen neighbours, but even yourselves and one another ; and that in this generous emulation you should make rapid advances towards perfection of character. For this you know was the purport of those solemn and often-repeated charges which I delivered to you as the apostle of Jesus Christ, in the name and by tlie authority of my Master, and yours ; who will acknowledge none as his disciples but those who obey his laws, and follow his perfect example.

2. The apostle strongly insists upon the neces- sity of chastity, and solemnly warns the Thessalo- nians against those impurities which were the dis- grace of the heathen world, ver. 3 — 8. 3. For this is the will of God, even your sanctifica^

Sect. V. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 2. 65

tion 1 : that ye should abstain from fornication -, Ch. iv.

that every one of you may know how to preserve 4.

his body^ in sanctity and honour, not in lewd pas- 5.

siojis like the heathen'^, who know not God; and 6. that no one may transgress against^, nor injur e^^

' Sanctijication.'] " dyiXTiuog, Ka'^a.§su(ns , Hesychius : sepa- mtion from the pollutions of the world, and consecration to the purposes of eligion and virtue." Chandler.

- Fornication.^ " Tropvsicc;, every s]3ecies of lewdness : so it is used by the best Greek writers." Chandler.

'^ To preserve his body .'] (tksvos, his vessel. " Quippe etenim corpus, quod vas quasi constitit ejus." Lucr. iii. 441. See New- come, Benson ; and Chandler, who considers it as an allusion to vessels of the temple consecrated to God, and entitled to re- spect and reverence.

* Lewd passions, like the heathen.'] ' sv itxha zitihiJ^ias. " The first word signifies the passions in general, the other signifies desire in general, particularly after riches, empire, pleasures, and especially after criminal lusts." See Chandler. Archbi- shop Newcome renders the words, " the passion of desire;" Mr. Wakefield, " lustful passions." Dr. Whitby, Dr. Benson, and Dr. Chandler, quote many passages from ancient writers, to show the extreme profligacy and shameless debauchery of the heathen world. Dr. Priestley remarks, '• We may be surprised that the apostle should think it necessary to animadvert at all upon such vices as are recited in this address to Christians ; but till men were apprized of the purity of the Christian pre- cepts, they had no idea of much blame in very gross vices. But in a short lime after, such things were not heard of among Chris- tians. It is proper that these things should be observed, in order to give us a just idea of the value of Christianity, and how great a blessing it has been to mankind in a moral respect."

This excellent author, after noticing, upon ver. 3, some of the abominable practices which were used among the Egyi^tians, adds, " As the apostle observes, fleshly lusts war against the soul, and debase the mind. It is, however, the utter and mani- fest inconsistency of these vices with the Christian character, that gives many persons of the present age a dislike to it. For in these respects the maxims of modern unbelievers are as loose as those of the ancients."

* Transgress against.'] utsptaivsiv a stronger word than VOL. IV. F

GO Skct. V. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S.

2.

Ch. IV. his brother^ in this concern^ ; for the Lord -wWX pimish all such offences 3, eve7i as we formerly de- clared and testified to you.

And in the first place, my brethren, I cannot conceal my apprehensions that, having lately been converted from gross idolatry, you are not suffi- ciently apprized of the great stress which the go- spel lays upon purity of character. You are re- quired to live so as to please God, and I assure you that there is nothing which he more explicitly commands as an indispensable requisite to the at- tainment of his favour than an entire separation from the vices and abominable practices of your heathen state; and particularly from impurity in every degree and in every shape, in thought, word.

a.^ctp'tavBiv •. and signifies to transgress in a bold and aggravated manner. See Chandler, from Eustathius.

" Nor injure.'] irXsovsKtsiy. See Wakefield's Silva Critica, P. i. p. 106. " to covet, or circumvent.'" See Benson, "by craft and violence to defraud a man of his property." Chandler. UXsovs^ia, is unquestionably used by the apostle to express in- ordinate lusts. In that sense it is probably used here. The apo- stle, to express himself decently, expresses himself obscurely. See Locke on Eph. iv. 19.

' His brother .] i. e. his fellow-Christian ; but it w^ould be equally criminal to act in the same manner with respect to hea- then. Dr. Benson, therefore, conjectures that the apostle al- ludes to some particular fact which had been communicated to him by Timothy.

^ In this concern.] sv rcy Tfpa.yfji.ocTi. Sec W^akefield, New- come, &c. Raphelius and Chandler produce several quotations from ancient authors to show that tlie words have this sense. See2Cor. vii, 11.

^ Will punish all such offences.] " vv'ill punish all these things." Wakefield. " skSikos' he who punishes another justly for his crimes." Chandler, " is an avenger of all such." New-

Sect. V. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 2. 67

and deed. To please God you must be well skilled C'l. iv. in the art of governing yourselves, and restraining your passions within the limits of virtue and ho- nour. You must utterly forsake those lascivious practices which are so common amongst your hea- then neighbours, and so disgraceful to their cha- racter. They, indeed, have an apology which you have not. They have no just conceptions of the character and attributes of God, of his word and will ; they worship deities of their own invention, whose example encourages, and whose rites require the most odious impurities. The true God whom you have learned to worship is of a very opposite character. He is purity itself. He strictly pro- hibits every violation of the law of chastity, and has solemnly declared that such offences shall be visited with condign punishment. And this doctrine we inculcated upon you when we were with you, though I fear that some of you have almost forgotten it ; and we at the same time solemnly assured you that what we delivered to you upon this subject was dic- tated by the highest authority.

J^oi' God hath not called us to impurity y hut to 7.

holiness: hey therejoreywho scorneth^, scomethiiot 8.

* He who scorneth.'] " 6 aSsTcuv, aOerej, arii/.a^£i." Hesy- chius. " Proprie, loco suo moveo, contemno et contumeliose tracto." Schleusner. " to reject any thing with contempt as false and groundless ; or to throw it away with dishonour and scorn." Chandler, Gal. ii. 21 ; Jude ver. 8 ; comp. 2 Pet. ii, 10 ; Luke X. 16 ; John xii. 48, Dr. Benson observes, that " as the apostles honestly informed their converts that they must expect persecution, so thev told them the truth notwithstanding their

f2

68 Sect. V. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 2.

Ch. IV. man hit God, who hath given his spirit, that holy

^"' ■ spirit', unto us.

1 speak and write by the authority of God, who hath invited us to participate in the privileges of the gospel, not to indulge ourselves in the uncon- trouled gratification of the inferior powers of our nature, but to separate and distinguish us from the rest of mankind by purity and self-government. I fear that some of you, who are but imperfectly con- verted from the immoralities of your heathen state, may dislike the restrictions of the gospel, and may even be disposed to sneer and scornfully to reject my advice as unreasonable and impracticable, and contrary both to the doctrine and example of the most celebrated sages of the heathen world. But, let the presumptuous scorner know, that his con- tempt falls not upon weak and fallible men, but upon that God whose ministers and messengers we: are ; who, whatever they may think, has inspired us by his own spirit, the spirit of holiness and pu- rity, to denounce in his name the most awful judge-

prejudices, and did not draw in converts by the baits of sen- sual pleasure." He further adds, " that perhaps some of the younger or the more gay and thoughtless converts might be apt to smile at the apostle's strictness, considering how their heathen neighbours judged and acted, and the principles in which they had been educated. ITie apostle, therefore, here puts on an air of uncommon seriousness and gravity, ami lets them know that the ridicule and contempt reached higher than they imagined." Dr. Chandler gives an excellent summary of the apostle's advice.

' His spirit, that holy spirit.] to ttvsv^x aura ro ur/iov. See Macknight.

Skct. V. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 3. 69

ments against those who violate the laws of chas- Ch. iv. tity ; and who will, another day, assuredly vindicate ^^'' ' the honour of his word.

3. The apostle commends the affectionate and benevolent spirit of the Thessalonian believers, and exhorts them to cherish and extend it, ver. 9, 10.

N^oiv^ concerning brotherly kindness, we have no 9.

occasion to wrke 2 to you, for ye are yourselves divinely instructed to love one another 3 ; and in- 10.

deed ye do this toward all the brethren throughout Macedonia : bat we exhort you, brethren, to excel therein still more.

I lament that the corrupt habits of your former life, and the imperfection of your views of that sub- limity of character to which the gospel is intended to elevate us, has made it necessary for me to insist so much at large upon the virtue of chastity. It is with pleasure that I now advert to another duty in which you are known to excel, the duty of sympa- thy and kindness to your brethren in the faith, who are also, generally speaking, your brethren in afflic- tion. To your honour be it spoken, you readily learned that divine lesson which is one of the first

- We have no occasion to write.'] Dr. Benson observes, that this form of speaking plainly supposes that there was great need to write to them, to recommend purity and ehastity. Some of ' the most approved manuscripts and versions read «%o/x£y. See Griesbach.

^ Divinely instructed, &c.] i. e. " by the precepts of God in the gospel." Newcome. Benson remarks, " that the expres- sion implies that they had not only been taught, but that they hud also followed divine instruction." See Isai. liv. 13,

70 Sect. V. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 4.

Ch. IV. that is taught in the school of Christ, to love and ^"■" ^^* to be kind to one another. And this lesson I re- joice to hear that you have practised, not only in your own city, but throughout your whole province : so that there is not a Christian brother in all Ma- cedonia who needed your assistance to whom that assistance was denied. Go on, my brethren, in this honourable course. Aspire after yet greater excellence in this godlike virtue. The spirit of kindness and good-will is the genuine spirit of the gospel of Jesus.

4. The apostle exhorts them to prudence, peace, and industry, and to a conduct which might be cre- ditable to their profession, ver. 11, 12. 11. And that ^je be ainbitious^ to be quiet '^, and to 7iiind your mvn concerns 3, arid to ivork with your

' That ye beambU'mis.'] So Wakefield. " that ye earnestly strive." Newcome. " (piXoTj/x£<cr6ar ' to be actuated by the love of praise and honour ;' hence it denotes great diligence and vigour in any affairs whatsoever. This is the true import of the word in the place before us ; and it should have been ren- dered, ' that ye diligently or earnestly study,' " Chandler,

^ To be quiet.'] r^'xv'xjx'^siv . " to live an orderly, quiet, and peaceable life j not to intermeddle with affairs which did not belong to them. Timothy had probably informed him that the Thessalonians were too much given to this busy, impertinent spirit, 2 Thess. iii. 6, which was too much the temper of the Grecians in general." Chandler. Perhaps some of the Chris- tians at Thessalonica boasted that they were ambitious to ma- nifest a public spirit, and were willing to neglect their own private affairs in order to become benefactors to the public ; vvliercas the apostle's advice is, that they should be ambitious to be quiet, and to let other men's business alone.

^ And to mind your own concerns.'] irpacaativ to, iJw " to

Sect. V. I. T H p: S S A L O N I A N S. 4. 71

own hatids^, as ive formerly charged j/ou, that y on ch. iv. Tnai/walk vreditably '^ toivards those who are 2vith- ^^^^' ^'" oui^i and may warit nothing''.

I have reason to fear that some of you abuse the privileges of your profession to idleness and imper- ^;inence; and that in expectation of being main- tained out of the common stock, and under pre- tence of zeal for the gospel, you neglect your proper

confine themselves to their own particular attairs, without offi- ciously meddling with the concerns of others." Chandler.

* To icork, &c.] " The original word denotes labouring and ivorking of any kind, and is particularly used of agriculture, and the employments which fall to the lot of the poorer sort of man- Ivind," Chandler. It should seem that the converts atThessa- lonica consisted chiefly of persons who maintained themselves by their industry.

" Creditably^ £U(rynijjxvwg, " Hesychius says, the word sig- nifies those who move gracefully in dancing. Hence it signifies (/ece«</?/ in general." Chandler, "becomingly." Newcome.

^ Without:'] i. e. the heathen who are without the pale of the church, Mark iv. 11 3 I Cor. iv. 12 j Col. iv. 5.

' Atid may want nothing.'] f^i^Ssvos %fl£<ay s^ijre, or may have need of no man. Dr. Chandler observes, that " these admoni- tions were necessaiy in the beginning of Christianity, to pre- vent the reproach, that it took persons off from their labours and employments, and encouraged idleness in tliose who pro- fessed it," " Perhaps," says Dr. Benson, " under pretence of spreading Christianity, and of a zeal for the spiritual good of others, they neglected their own affairs, and brought on po- verty. This led them to frequent the houses of those who were richer, by base flatteries to court their favour, pragmatically and officiously to concern themselves in their affairs, and to live upon their substance. Upon the rise of new sects such idle busy-bodies are more common. But they are out of the way of their duty, and bring up an ill report of religion 5 even though they should be daily and hourly talking upon religious subjects, or at every. body's table^ and in all companies, pro- claiming their zeal against errors and heresies, and for pro- moting truth and purity. They are a common nuisance, and ought to be discouraged if the churches woidd have peace."

72 Sect. VI. I. THESSALONIANS. 1.

Ch. IV. business, and officiously obtrude yourselves into the "' " houses and company of persons with whom you have no concern, and thus, in a busy commercial city like Thessalonica, you expose the Christian religion to the scoffs of unbelievers, as though it encouraged an idle, intrusive, meddlesome disposi- tion. Let such persons remember the advice we gave them when we were ourselves at Thessalonica. Let it be their ambition not to obtrude themselves where they are not wanted, and to proffer advice where it is not asked, but to live quietly at home ; to attend to their own business, to maintain them- selves and their families by their own industry : and thus to procure themselves an honourable inde- pendence, and to recommend Christianity to their neighbours, as a religion which not only insures future felicity, but which, by enjoining prudence and diligence, contributes likewise to the temporal advantage of its consistent professors.

SECTION VL

The apostle forbids all eitravagant lamenta- tions over deceased Christians; and comforts the Thcssalo7iians, by represcntijig to them the Christian doctrine concerning the resurrection of the dead, Ch. iv. 13—18.

1 . The apostle forbids extravagant lamentations

Sect. VI. I. THESSALONIANS. 1. 7^]

over the Christian dead, because of the assured ex- ch. iv. pectation that God by Christ would raise them from the grave, ver. 13, 14.

Ahiv, we ' would Jiot have you ignorant, brethren, Ver. 13. concerning those luho are fallen asleep-, that ye grieve not^ even as othei's ivho have no hope^. For as^ ive believe that Jesus died and rose agaiuy 14.

* We would not, <Sfc.] ^eXofj^ev. This is the reading of the best manuscripts, and is adopted into the text by Griesbach and Newcome.

* Fallen asleep.} Dr. Chandler observes, that " under this image of sleep death is frequently represented in the ancient writings both of Greece and Rome ; and he produces some beautiful passages to this purpose. He adds, that " it is with unspeakably greater propriety that revelation speaks of death under the similitude of sleep ; not only on account of its being release from all the labours and afflictions of life, but because it is to be succeeded by a resurrection to new life and vigour."

^ That ije grieve not.'] Dr. Benson justly remarks, that " Christianity aims not at rooting out the affections, but to moderate and duly regulate them. The apostle does not forbid them to sorrov/ at all, but to sorrow like those without hope.

* Others who have no hope:] i. e. the heathen world. The wisest philosophers spoke very doubtfully upon the subject. And the generality of the heathen world had no hope whatever concerning the dead : for if they believed them to exist at all, it was, even though in Elysium, in a state far inferior to what they enjoyed on earth. See Dr. Chandler, and the references in his notes. Lucian, in his treatise on mourning, gives an ac- count of the popular belief concerning the dead ; who were supposed to be confined in a deep place under the earth, void of all light. He also describes the extravagance of their mourn- ing and lamentation upon the death of any of their valuable friends : " All were dissolved in tears, and nothing was to be seen but beating of breasts, pulling their hair, tearing their cheeks, rending their garments, throwing dust upon their heads, rolling upon the earth, and beating their heads against the ground ; uttering the bitterest complaints, and breaking out into the most passionate laraentatioiiii."

■^ For as we, &c.] "^£< signifies ' seeing that,' Rom, v. 10, Li j

74 Sect. VI. I. THESSALONIANS. 1.

Ch. IV. c^^n so we believe that God through Jesus * ^vill Ver. 14. l)ylfig with him those who are fallen asleep.

It gives me pain to learn that some valuable mem- bers of your society have been removed by death ; and the more so as I hear that you have allowed yourselves in some extravagant expressions of grief upon the occasion which were quite unworthy your profession and expectations as believers in the go- spel : especially as your sorrow was in a considerable degree enhanced by some erroneous opinion which you had taken up concerning the solemn appear- ance of Christ to judgement. Such passionate ex- pressions of despair only become those who are utter strangers to the hope of the gospel. Allow me, then, to repeat, what you have so often heard before, the doctrine which the gospel teaches con- cerning the state of departed believers : who are not so properly speaking dead^ as fallen into a deep, sound sleep, from which they are soon to be awak- ened, refreshed and vigorous, to a new and heavenly life. And with these views you will easily see how unreasonable it is for you to indulge in the same extravagance of grief which is pardonable in your

1 Cor. XV. 11; Gal.iv. 7." Benson. Dr. Chandler observes, that the sentence is evidently defective ; and ought to be thus translated : " If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so we also believe," &c.

' Through Jesus.'] So Wakefield and Newcome. Chandler also prefers it, though it is allowed that $ta with a genitive sometimes signifies iw. Rom.ii. 27, iv. 1 1 3 2 Cor. v. 10; 1 Tim. ii. 15. Observe, the apostle consoles his friends with the hope of a resurrection : he says nothing of their present happiness in an intermediate state.

Sect. VI. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 2. 75

heathen neighbours, who have no hope of a future Ch. iv, life. Recollect then, my brethren, that the funda- ^^'* * mental article of the Christian faith is, that Jesus died and rose again ; that he did not suffer in ap- pearance only, but in reality ; and that he really, and in very deed, rose to a new and immortal life. If we do not know and firmly believe this fact, we are not the disciples of Jesus. But if we do be- lieve, there is another equally important fact, which is inseparably connected with it ; namely, that God by Christ will raise all those who now are, or who at his final appearance will be, asleep in their graves. And that he will return again for this glorious pur- pose is as certain, and as firmly believed by us, as that he himself is risen and is now alive. We can- not believe one without the other ; for the event which has already taken place is the proof and pledge of that which is to succeed. When Jesus appears, God will by him raise the Christian dead, and introduce them into a state of glory and happi- ness with him, their revered and beloved master and Lord.

2. The apostle consoles them with the assurance that believers who are living when Christ returns will have no advantage over those who will then be dead ; but that these likewise will be raised in time to bear their part in the awful solemnities of the scene, ver. 15 — 18.

Moreover J this ive declare to you hy the command 15.

70 Sect. VI. I, T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 2.

Ch, IV. of the Lord^f that we who are left alive ^ at the Ver. 15. cQjiiing of the Lord shall not anticipate'^ those who are fallen asleep,

I am informed that some of you apprehend that your dead friends will sustain some peculiar disad- vantage, and in particular, that they will be deprived of that glorious and interesting spectacle which will be exhibited to the astonished world at the final awful appearance of Jesus Christ ; when he

^ B!j command.'] £v Koyai. See Macknight; and Chandler, who observes, that the subject was of such a nature as could not be known without express revelation.

* Wc ivho are left alive, &c.] Grotius observes here, that Paul thought it possible that he might live to the time of the general judgement. To this opinion Dr. Chandler accedes, upon the principle " that the time of the general judgement is absolutely uncertain, and that it will come suddenly and unexr pected." Our Lord expressly says, that the times and seasons the Father has reserved in his own power. Acts i. 7 ; and Mark xiii. 32 he declares, that the day and the hour when the Son of Man should come was concealed even from himself. It is of importance to remember, that the prediction of an event does not necessarily imply either the knowledge of the event, or of the season when it was to happen ; and it seems not impro- bable that the apostles and primitive converts expected that the day of judgement would take place before the end of the generation then living. Most interpreters, however, under- stand the apostle in this passage as speaking of all Christians in all ages as constituting one body or people. See Deuti xxvi, 6 — 9 ; Ps. Ixvi. 6 ; Matt, xxiii. 35. Benson, Newcome.

' Shall not anticipate^ a /7.13 (p^aa-wij.sv " shall not be "be- fore, or go before." Newcome, — Mons. Saurin's conjecture, in his note upon this text, may possibly be just. The Thessalonian Christians were earnestly desirous of seeing the splendid spec- tacle of Christ's appearance to judgement, and bitterly la- mented that their departed friends would be deprived of thig grand exhibition : to alleviate these apprehensions, the apostle communicates to them the information in this paragraph. See Doddridf>-e'u note in loc.

Sr.r.T. VI. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 2. 77

returns to raise the dead and to judge the world, ch. IV. of which those of us who shall be then living will ^*^'^'- *^' be the admiring witnesses : and I hear that this is the excuse which you offer for the extravagant tokens of your grief. But for this suspicion I assure you that there is no foundation. I am authorized by Jesus our revered Master himself, to declare that those of us, whosoever they may be, who may hap- pen to live to the awful period of his second com- ing, shall in this respect have no advantage over our sleeping brethren ; and that we shall not be introduced to this magnificent scene a moment sooner than those who will be at rest in the tomb.

For the Lord himself'^ ivill descend from heaven ' 6.

■• Vor the Lord himself, &c.] This pompous representation of the descent of Christ to raise the dead and to judge the world, is intended to excite in the mind of the reader an awful sense of the solemnity and importance of that great event. How far it is to be accomplished in any thing like a literal sense the event itself can alone explain. The representation seems to be that of a conqueror advancing in a triumphal procession, at- tended with the acclamations of the spectators : a herald pro- claiming his commission, and trumpets announcing his ap- proach. Some suppose that the shout is the voice of Christ himself; but the word more properly expresses the acclama- tion of numbers. The word archangel, ox principal messenger, seems to mean nothing more than the officer appointed for the purpose ; as we say " the principal herald at arms." And the trump of God is a loud-sounding trumpet, alluding probably to the trumpet on Mount Sinai. Mr. Evanson thinks that the apostle here refers to the sound of the archangel's trumpet in the Apocalypse, Rev. xvi. 17 ; and infers from it that this epistle was written after the Apocalypse, and that the apostle bears testimony to it as divinely inspired ; but the argument, though ingenious, does not appear to be so conclusive as the learned writer seems to apprehend. See Evanson. — With acclamation. VVonsley.

78 Sect. VI. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 2.

Ch. IV. with acclamation, with the voice of an archangel, and with the timmpet of God; and the dead in Christ ivill rise first,

A most magnificent and awful spectacle it will indeed be ; such as no human tongue can tell, no human heart conceive. Jesus, who was once dead, but is now alive and ascended into the highest hea- vens, will then descend from his throne of glory in all the pomp of a conqueror in a triumphal proces- sion. His followers and friends will joyfully greet him, and with loud acclamations will hail his ap- proach : celestial heralds will proclaim his commis- sion ; and a trumpet, far louder and more energetic than that which once sounded upon Mount Sinai, will rouse the astonished universe, will even pene- trate the tomb, and summon the whole race of man- kind to appear at the dread tribunal. Under such imagery, though infinitely short of the sublime rea- lity, may some faint conception of the grandeur and solemnity of the scene be conveyed to the mind. One fact, however, is literally true ; that is, that all who have died in the faith of Jesus shall be raised to life before any change takes place in those who will then be the living inhabitants of the earth. 17. Afterward, we who are left alive will be caifght

up

1 together ivith them i?ito the clouds, to meet the

^ Caught up .'I literally, " snatched up;" it expresses not a voluntar}' act of their own, but an effect suddenly, forcibly, and supernaturally produced. See Chandler. What will really happen, in this as in the former case, the event alone can dis- close.

Sect. VI. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 2. 79

Lord in the ah'; and so we shall ever he with the ch. IV.

Immediately after this astonishing event, and not, as you apprehend, before it, we whose lives may be prolonged to this awful period, shall under- go a great and instantaneous change ; for we shall be exempt from the stroke of death, and shall be suddenly transformed into the resemblance of our glorified Master. And then, in company with those who have been raised to life, we shall be at once, by a divine energy, transported into the clouds to meet our descending Lord in the regions of the at- mosphere ; and after having been acquitted at his

^ And so we shall ever, &c.] Dr. Priestley observes, that " the phrase ' being with the Lord ' evidently refers to the state after the resurrection. It is after the meeting of the Lord in the air, and not before, that any persons are said to be with him. On the hypothesis of the dead being supremely happy, and continuing to be so till the resyrection, it would have been so far from being necessary to have' informed them, that those who should be alive at the coming of Christ would have no ad- vantage over those who had been dead ; that these would have had a great and manifest advantage over their brethren, hav- ing enjoyed the greatest happiness in the presence of God and of Christ many ages before them. All that the apostle was able to say was, that they who are now dead shall not be upon the whole' in a worse condition than those who shall be alive, because they would be raised to immortal life before any change should take place in the living." It is evident that the apostle is here speaking only of the resurrection of the just : the dead in Christ, true believers. His subject did not lead him to treat of the resurrection, of the wicked. It is a very unjust insinuation of Orobio the Jew, in his controversy with Lim- borch, and afterwards of Mr. Gibbon, that the apostle made proselytes to Christianity by persuading men that believers should be translated to a state of happiness without dying. See Doddridge and Macknightj also Limborch's Call. p. 75.

80 Sect. VI. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 2.

Ch. IV. bar, and acknowledged by him as his friends, we Ver. 17. g]^jjii i^g admitted to his society, and shall spend a happy eternity with him and with each other, in the best company and in the most delightful and useful employments. 18. TVhercforc comfort 1 ye one another with these declarations.

These important facts, which I have thus stated, you may firmly depend upon as a revelation from God, which it will be your wisdom to improve both for exhortation and comfort. Exhort one another, my Christian brethren, to be diligent and unwearied in your preparation for this awful scene, that when 'u'^your Lord cometh, whether it be sooner or later, you may be in a proper posture to receive him, and may not be ashamed in his presence. Also, console one another with these glorious truths. When you lose your pious friends by death, remind each other that they are only fallen into a sound and undisturbed repose, from which they will soon awake, refreshed and vigorous, to a happy and im- mortal life. And, in the prospect of your own speedy dissolution, let not your spirits be unreason-

' Comfort ije, &c.] The word signifies both to comfort and to exhort ; and, as Dr. Chandler observes, " the apostle might in- tend to be underetood in both senses." Dr. Priestley remarks, " This is abundant consolation. It may, indeed, appear more desirable to enter upon a state of happiness immediately after death ; and this may be a reason why Christians are so ready to adopt this opinion. But we ought to be satisfied with the happiness which God has promised us, and which will be re- vealed in due time : viz. at the resurrection of the just."

Sect. VI. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. Appendix.

81

ably depressed. Jesus, your pattern and your chief, Ch. iv. died and rose again ; and because he Uves, we shall live also.

APPENDIX TO SECT. VI.

The interpretation which is given to this passage by the late learned and ingenious Newcome Cappe, in his Essays on Sanded Scripture, vol. ii. is so extraoJIpary, and so remote from the common in- terpretation, that it would not be doing justice to the reader not to state it. ^

He supposes that the Thessalonian Christians expected that Christ would soon return to establish a temporal kingdom in the world, from the privi- leges and blessings of which those would of course be excluded who were not converted to the Chris- tian faith. That on this account many were in distress because of their unconverted friends, who, in the language of the apostle, are said to be asleep. And that the design of the apostle is to console them with the hope that many of their friends who were now heathens and idolaters would be con- verted, not in time to become subjects of the tem- poral reign which was never to take place, but in time to enter nearly at the same time with them, that is, at death, upon their future everlasting re- ward in the presence of Christ.

" Ver. 13. Your concern for those friends who are not yet awakened to receive Jesus and his go-

VOL. IV. G

82 Sect, VI. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. Appendix.

Ch. IV. spel, is indeed to be commiserated, yet it is not al- together a hopeless case.

"14. The coming of Christ is not a personal but a figurative advent. Personally, Jesus is in heaven. The awakening of these sleepers is not beyond the power of him who brought Jesus from the dead. The power to which Jesus is exalted encourages some hope that by means of Jesus, that is, through the holy spirit, many who have hitherto been insensible to his call, God will col- lect and unite to him, to partake in the glories of the heavenly state.

" 15. For this I must tell you c-v Xoyc^, in the language of the Lord, that we who are already Christians shall not be beforehand with them who are yet unawakened, if, in the end, they be reco- vered, and brought to the acknowledgement and obedience of the truth.

" 16. Christ will indeed come from heaven while many are yet living ; as heretofore by the holy spirit, so by and by in many signal and alarming events. But this coming does not promise to those who are Christians any advantage over those who hereafter may be such. The resurrection of the friends whom we are now lamenting may happen first.

*' 17. And it will not be till after that, together with them, and not before them, or without them, we and they indiscriminately, as we are sum- moned out of this world, shall be conveyed in clouds to dwell with Christ in heaven. Thus^ not otherwise ; ihen^ not sooner ; there, not elsewhere,

Sect. VII. I. THESSALONIANS. 1. 83

shall we be with the Lord, and with each other, ch. iv. for ever.

** 18. Wherefore, comfort one another concern- ing the spiritually dead, whom ye lament and love, with considerations such as these."

I am almost tempted to say that, if such an in- terpretation is admissible, it is impossible for words to convey distinct ideas. But I correct myself: for it often happens that interpretations which ap- pear most natural to one, appear the reverse to an- other. And, as Dr. Price says, we are apt to wonder at one another. I have no doubt that the pious and ingenious author was fully satisfied of the just- ness of his interpretation ; and it helped him over a great difficulty in his hypothesis, that the resur- rection takes place immediately after death. But it may be permitted to ask, if this be the true sense of the text, how came it to escape every preceding interpreter, ancient and modern ?

SECTION VII.

The apostle exhorts the Thessalonlans to pre- ch. V, pare for the apj)earance of Christy arguing par- ticularly from the uncertainty of the precise time when this great event shall take place, Ch. v. 1^11.

1 . He reminds them that Christ will appear at g2

84 Skct.VII. I. TH ESSALON I ANS. 1.

Ch. V. a season when he is least expected by the unbeliev- ing world, ver. 1 — 3.

Ver. 1. But concerning the exact timely hrethren, there is no occasion ^ that I should write to you.

With respect to that awful event which is the subject of our discourse, the final appearance of Jesus Christ to raise the dead and to judge the world, I have already stated all that is necessary to confirm your faith, to govern your practice, and to administer to your consolation; and particu- larly to remove the apprehensions you entertained with respect to the superior advantages of the living believers above the dead at that interesting crisis. As to the exact period when this important event will take place, I have nothing to add to what I mentioned to you while I resided among you, and which you no doubt recollect. 2. For ye yourselves know perfectly 3 that the day of the Lord^ is coming ^^ even as a thief by night ^.

* The exast time.'] So Wakefield. Literally, " the times and seasons :" XP^^'^^> '''»^*5 denotes large periods ; xaipoi, seasons, particular times When particular events were to take place. See Chandler. Acts i. 7; Eccles. iii, 1 ; Dan.ii. 27.

* There is no occasion.'] Some good copies read '/^psix srt. See Griesbach. ' *' it need not be written to you." Wakefield.

' Know perfecting " from the tenor of my instructions." Newcome. See also Benson and Chandler.

* The (lay of the Lord.] Hammond interprets this phrase, " of the destruction of Jerusalem." Dr. Benson believes him to be singular in this interpretation, and confuted by Le Clerc and Whitby ; the latter expositor thinks that the apostle is treating of both events.

* Is coming.] So Wakefield. Macknight remarks, that " the verbs are in the present tense in this paragraph, to denote the

Sect. VII. I. THESSALONIANS. 1. 85

You cannot have forgotten what I taught you by Ch. v. the authority of Christ himself: that the awful ^^^''•-• crisis is rapidly advancing, and that it will eventually come upon us when least expected ; just as a thief breaks into a house at midnight, when all the fa- mily are asleep and secure, not entertaining the least apprehension of so disastrous an event. In fact, the hour of our Lord's appearance is absolutely unknown to all of us ; nor will he give notice of the precise time of the event, any more than a thief gives notice of the hour when he intends to rob the house.

JVhile men are saying peace " and security^ then 3.

sudden destruction is coining upon them^ as pangs upon a woman ivith child, and they shall not escape.

The event of Christ's coming to judgement will be as sudden and as calamitous to the generation

certainty and instantaneousness of the event." This might lead to the mistake which gave occasion to the second epistle.

® A thief by night.'] By this comparison our Lord himself illustrates the unexpectedness of his coming, Matt. xxiv. 43 j see also 2 Pet. iii. 10, Rev. iii. 3. " to denote," says Dr. Chand- ler, " the uncertainty of the time, the unexpectedness of the event, and the state of security and fearlessness in which man- kind should be involved." " The apostle's expressions of un- certainty as to the precise time of this event are so far (says this learned writer) from being any reflection upon his authority, that it is rather a proof of his integrity and prudence, in that he plainly acknowledges that he had no revelation in tliis ar- ticle."

' PfHiile smj'mg peace, Sec] Tliis circumstance is taken notice of by our Lord himself, " from whom (says Dr. Chandler) I doubt not but the apostle had it," Matt. xxiV. 39^ 40 ; sec also 2 Pet. iii. 4.

86 Sect. VII. I. THESSALONIANS. 2.

Ch. V. then living, as the deluge to the generation which ^^'' * were overwhelmed by it. Men will be thinking of nothing less than the catastrophe that is approach- ing ; they will be immersed in vanity and pleasure, and will ridicule the expectation of Christians as a weak and unmanly superstition. But in an hour when they least expect it, the awful catastrophe will burst upon them, like the pangs of child-birth, and will overwhelm them in universal and inevita- ble ruin.

2. Christians being forewarned of this event, ought to hold themselves in a state of habitual preparation for it, ver. 4 — 6.

4. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness ', that the day should overtake you as a thief.

The heathen world do not know, and will not believe, that such a catastrophe will ever take place : whenever it shall come, therefore, it must be to them a day of surprise and terror. But you, my brethren, are better informed: you are assured that • this event is actually approaching, though you know not the exact hour of its arrival : it ought not, there- fore, to be an object of surprise or dread to you ; you ought to be, and I trust you are, in a state of habitual preparation for it.

5. Ye all are sons of lights, and sons of day ; we

• In darkness.'] " Darkness/' says Dr. Benson, " does not here mean wickedness, but gross ignorance in matters of reli- gion. John iii. 20, Eph. v. 8." " HaTX?^a,Syi, should surprise you." Wakefield.

Sect. VU. I. THESSALONIANS. 2. 87

are not sons of night and of darkness : therefore c hv. let us not sleep 3 as others do, but let us keep ^"^' " ^' watch 4 and he sober.

The idolatrous and unbelieving world are in- volved in midnight darkness ; they see nothing be- fore them, and they sleep or riot in the midst of danger and on the verge of destruction. But you, my brethren, who are believers in the doctrine of Christ, are brought out of darkness into broad day- light : you see your true state, you know what im- portant events are at hand. You have learned how you may best prepare for them ; so that what will to others be a season of terror and dismay, will to you, if you improve your knowledge, be a time of joy and triumph. From us believers the thick veil of ignorance and of prejudice has been removed : we are no longer under the dark and dangerous

' Sons of light, &c.] " A usual Hebraism, which implies that one thing- is in some respect the cause of another. Light is properly the parent and original of every Christian as such : they are formed as Christians in their principles, tempers, and lives, by the heavenly light of gospel truth." Chandler. " vlos, hebraismus : scepe dicitur de eo qui studiosus, vel parti- ceps est alicujus rei." Rosenmuller.

' Let us not sleep.'] " Sleep is here taken in the figurative sense, to denote the thoughtless, indolent, careless, secure and fearless temper of mind, vi^hich is the condition of persons op- pressed with natural sleep." Chandler.

"* Let us keep ivatch,'] " that v/e may guard against surprise, and prevent danger." Chandler j who adds, that" Christians are to consider themselves as engaged in a hazardous warf?ire against subtle and powerful enemies ; in which the want of vi- gilance and sobriety would be as truly criminal, and as certainly destructive, as in a soldier to be dissolved in sletp^ or enfeebled bv drunkenness."

8 Sect. VII. I. THESSALONIANS. 3.

Ch.v. delusion of idolatry and superstition. Our con- ^'* ' duct, therefore, ought to correspond with our ad- vantages. We have not the same excuse that others have for negligence and vice. Enlightened as we are by the cheering beams of the gospel, let us avoid the indolence, the false security, the cri- minal excesses, of our idolatrous neighbours : let us rouse ourselves to the active discharge of duty, and, like soldiers upon guard, let us by vigilance, fidelity, and temperance, approve ourselves to our exalted Chief,

3. It is the indispensable duty of those who pro- fess themselves the faithful disciples of Christ, to gird on the armour of the gospel, and vigorously to perform the duties of their post, in expectation of the promised reward, ver. 7 — 10.

7. For those who sleep, sleep hy night ; and those who are drunken, are drunken hy night '.

The darkness of heathenism affords some plau- sible excuse for indolence and indifference ; and countenances, or shelters, the most licentious prac- tices : as the shades of the night are by some al- lotted to repose, and by others they are made the screen for intemperance and excess, of which they Would be ashamed in open day.

8. But let lis who are of the day be sober, putting

' Drunken by night.'] " Raphelius produces passages from Polybius, to prove that it was regarded as disgraceful by the heathen to be seen intoxicated in the day-time." Dr. Chandler j who adds, " I \\h\\ this wavS universally true in our times."

Sect. VII. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 3. 89

on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a heU ch. v. met the hope of salvation 2. ^'^'■' ^•

Let us then, my brethren, who have emerged from the dark gloom of heathenism and prejudice, and who enjoy the glorious light of the gospel-day, renounce the disgraceful deeds of darkness, and carefully avoid all intemperance and excess. As faithful and vigilant sentinels upon guard, let us gird on the armour of the gospel. And, in parti- cular, let us defend the heart, and guard against all unreasonable and criminal affections by a steady and practical faith in the discoveries of the gospel ; and by ardent active love to God and man. And let the glorious hope of immortality, founded on the promises of the gospel, be a helmet to defend us from the poisoned arrows of popular superstition, and to preserve the intellect ever calm and clear for the investigation of moral and Christian truth.

« Putting on the breastplate, &c.] The apostle here pursues the allegory of a soldier upon duty; and gives the Christian suitable armour for the parts most exposed, and where the wounds would be most dangerous. I have adopted Dr. Chand- ler's explanation of the fitness of the armour for the part to which it is applied : "faith and love for the breast, the seat of the affections ; and hope of salvation for the head, the seat of reason." I am not, however, without some doubts whether this be not carrying the allegory further than the apostle intended ; who perhaps meant nothing more than that faith, and love, and hope, were the best defence of a Christian against the super- stitions and the vices of the heathen world. " Ostendit quo- modo prceparare se debeant Christiuni ad diem ilium, nempe fide, amore, spe. Instructus his virtutibus, paratus est quandocunque ille dies venerit. UtriS, firmissima persuasio Jesum esse Mes- siavi, auctorem nostrce salutis. ayairrj, benevolentia erga omnes homines. b\vi$, spes (cternce salutis." IlosenmuUer.

90 Skct.VII. I. THESSALONIANS. 3.

€h. V. For God hath not appointed ^ us to wrath, but

^^'' ^' to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ ;

10. who died for us^, that whether ive be awake or

asleep^ when he appears, we may live together with

him.

It is with good reason that I remind you of the hope of salvation ; for though the appearance of Christ will be for the destruction of the unbelieving world, it will issue in the final triumph of his faith- ful disciples. For let me assure you, God does not intend our punishment, but our deliverance from sin and death, at that awful season, when his son shall return to raise the dead and to judge the world. He once appeared in a humble form, and suffered death to ratify that covenant which imparts to us the blessings of life ; and which insures final and everlasting felicity in the presence of God and

1 God hath not appointed, &c.] See John iii. 15^ to which there is perhaps an allusion here.

* Who died for us.} " Christ died for us men, and for our salvation ; inasmuch as by his blood he sealed and established that new covenant, wherein pardon of sin, and a resurrection to eternal life, are promised to all sincere penitents, and pre- vailingly holy persons." Benson.

^ Asleep.'] We have here a remarkable instance of the apo- stle's custom of changing the ideas which he annexes to his words, without previous notice to the reader. In this passage the word sleep is used in no less than three different senses : ver. 7, it signifies natural rest ; ver. 6, it expresses remissness and negligence in the practice of duty ; and here, ver. 10, it is unquestionably used to express the sleep of death. See Benson. — " SensKS est, ut sive superstites, sice moriui deprehendamur die iilo extremo, pariter omnes beate cwn Christo vivamiis. dikd, pariter omnes, ut Rom. iii. 12." Rosenmuller. q.d. we may all live with one another, and with him.

Sect. VII. I. THESSALONIANS. 4. 91

Christ to every sincere believer, whether it be his ch. v. lot to be found alive or dead at the season of the ^^' ' great consummation of all things.

4. The apostle closes the subject with a suitable exhortation, ver. 11.

Therefore encourage'^ one another and edify ^ ^'* each other y as indeed ye do^.

Upon the whole, therefore, considering the cer- tainty and importance of the second advent of Christ, the uncertainty of the time when it shall take place, and your own interest in it, let me ear- nestly exhort you seriously to reflect upon it, and to apply these weighty considerations to the best purposes. Encourage one another in the practice of duty ; comfort one another under suffering and bereavement : improve each other in faith and love, in fortitude and piety. But I need not enlarge upon this topic. It is with great satisfaction that I hear how solicitous you are to promote each others ad- vancement in Christian virtue ; and I am persuaded that you are making rapid progress towards Chris- tian perfection.

* Encourage^ TrapocKaXsire. The word is the same as that which is used ch. iv. 18 j which shows that the apostle is still insisting upon the same subject. It signifies either to comfort or to exhort.

* Edify :'] or, build up. " improve each other." Wakefield. ' Js indeed ije rfo.] Dr. Benson observes that " the apostle

took every opportunity of speaking well of them where there was a foundation for it 5" and adds that " praise mixed with exhortation renders it both more agreeable and of greater effi- cacy."

92 Sect, VIII. I. THESSALONIyVNS.

SECTION VIII.

Ch. V. The apostle concludes with some appropriate exhortations, with a general salutation, and with the apostolical benediction. Ch. v. 12 — 28.

1 . The apostle recommends respectful and affec- tionate behaviour to their faithful teachers and su- perintendants, ver. 12, 13. Ver. 12. Nolu we intreat you, brethren, to acknowledge those who labour ' among you, and preside over 13, you in the Lord^, and admonish you: and to

' Acknowledge those, &c.] As no mention is made of bishops and deacons in either of the epistles to the Thessalonians, if is conjectured that the church was not then completely organized, and that its officers had not, at the time when the apostle wrote, assumed those names. But when a church was formed in any city, it was customary, and indeed absolutely requisite for the good order of the society, to select a few of the most intelligent and experienced persons to superintend the affairs of the so- ciety and to conduct public worship. These, whether regular presbyters or temporary officers, are the persons of whom the apostle is here speaking ; and their office, as Dr. Chandler ob- serves, was threefold : they were labourers in the ministry of the word, see 1 Cor. xv. 10, 1 Tim. v. 17 3 they presided in the meetings of the society, 1 Tim. ibid.; and they admonished, i. e. they exhorted and reproved, their hearers. The word denotes, says Dr. Chandler, affection and authority. The duties en- joined upon the Thessalonians towards their teachers were also threefold : they were to know, i. e. to reverence and respect them ; to love them exceedingly ; and to live in peace with them. See Chandler and Benson.

* In the Lord.'] " in things relating to Christianity." New-

Sect. VIII. I. THESSALONIANS. 1. 93

love them exceedingly on account of their office ; ch. V. and live in peace with them 3. ^^^■' ^^*

1 now proceed to offer a few hints of advice, as to your conduct towards the officers of the church. I mean those respectable persons who on account of superior age, experience, wisdom, and piety, were selected from among you to labour in the ministry of the gospel, to preach the doctrine of Christ to their unbelieving countrymen, and to preside in your Christian assemblies, to preserve order and decorum when you meet together for public wor- ship ; whose duty it is to instruct the ignorant, to admonish the irregular, and to maintain discipline and order in the church. Their office, while it is exercised with prudence, fidelity, and kindness, is both honourable and laborious, and in a high de- gree useful: it also exposes them to peculiar hazard. I intreat and I charge you therefore, my Christian brethren, to acknowledge these your superintend- ants under the character with which they are in- vested; to submit to their authority, to listen to their instructions, and to receive with humihty and thankfulness their just and faithful animadversions and reproofs. Treat them with respect, provide liberally for their subsistence. Love them exceed-

' hive in peace with them.'] avroi;. This is the reading of the Clermont and other manuscripts, and of many of the an- cient versions. The common reading, kxvroii, is also well sup- ported, and gives a very good sense ; though the other seems more agreeable to the connexion, and is marked by Griesbach as probable. " to live in peace with them^ because of their of- fice." Wakefield,

94 Skct. VIII. I. THESSALONIANS. 2.

Ch. V. ingly, as indeed you ought, for the firmness and *''• ^^' faithfulness with which they discharge the hazard- ous and painful duties of their station. Do not re- sent the freedom of their reproofs ; and do not put them into competition with each other, and split yourselves into parties under different leaders.

2. He reminds the presidents of the Christian society of the duties of their office, ver. 14. 14. But we exhort you^ hretkreii ', admonish those who are disorderly^; comfort the feeble-minded'^^

' We exhort you, brethren.'] " I think," says Dr. Benson, " with the Greek and Latin interpreters, that the apostle here turned his address from the people to their spiritual ofuides and teachers ; and that he exhorted them to do what in the preced- ing verses he had intimated to be their peculiar work and of- fice." Dr. Hammond thought these officers to have been the bishops of the several churches subject to the metropolitan church of Thessalonica. " But," says Dr. Benson, " what may we not say if we indulge to fancy, or give way to warm ima- gination r The scripture is an utter stranger to metropolitan bishops with their suffragans, or to metropolitan churches with their subordinate churches : every congregation was a Chris- tian church, and none of them subject to any other." Mac- knight agrees with Benson, that this exhortation is addressed to the teachers.

^ Disorderly.'] aracKtss. " This," says Dr. Chandler, " is a military term, and denotes a soldier that breaks his ranks, de- serts his post, or neglects his duty." It here alludes to that impertinent intrusion into other men's affairs, upon which the apostle insists more at large in the second epistle. 2 Thess. iii. 11,12.

^ Feehle-mincled.] oXiyo^'v^sg, those of little souls. It is used in the Old Testament as a translation of what in the Hebrew signifies the humble in spirit. Isa. Ivii. 1.5. Dr. Chandler, from Aristotle, explains it of a person " who has a mistaken opinion of himself, and indulges worse thoughts of his own condition than he ought to do." Some of the Thessalonians might be o])pressed with a sense of guilt, and others with a dread of per-

Sect. VIII. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 2. &5

succour the tueak 4, be of a patient spirit toward ch. v.

alio. Ver. J4.

And as to you, my brethren in the ministry, I earnestly beseech you to persevere faithfully in per- forming the duties of your office, even such as re- quire no small share of resolution and self-denial. Remind those who neglect their own concerns to meddle with the affairs of others, that the Chris- tian religion requires that every man should attend to his proper business. Administer comfort to the dejected and desponding mind that distrusts its own resolutions, despairs of its final safety, and always bodes the worst. Afford needful assistance to those whose faith is feeble and wavering ; who do not en- ter thoroughly into the liberal spirit of the gospel, and are in bondage to former superstitions. Teach them the rational and manly simplicity of the doc- trine of Christ, and help them to throw off the yoke

sedition. These were men who needed consolation and encou- ragement. " Eos qui in adversis animo sunt dejecto.'" Rosen- muller.

* Succour the weak^ avrs^^^eaSe. It signifies, to assist a per- son who is holding a burden at one end, by laying hold of it at the other, q.d. lend a helping hand, &c. See Rom. viii. 26. The weak were probably persons of scrupulous consciences, who laid stress upon rites and ceremonies, distinctions of food, and observance of days, &c. ; being ignorant of the liberal spirit of the gospel. The superintendants of the church were to bear with their prejudices, and gradually to instruct them in the li- beral spirit of the gospel. See Rom. xiv., xv., I Cor. viii. Ben- son and Chandler.

^ Of a patient spirit^ So Worsley. /xaxjsoSojtiEjre. " The pre- judices of some, the stupidity and want of capacity of others, and the infirmities of mankind in general, call for tenderness and great patience." Benson.

96 Sect. VIII. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 3;

Ch. V. of servitude. Finally, bear patiently with those who

Ver. 14. j^j.g ignorant and dull, and even with those who are

obstinate and refractory, and do not hastily give up

your attempts to be useful, nor relax your exertions

to instruct or to reclaim.

3. The apostle recommends mutual forbearance and universal good-will, and presses the duties of habitual cheerfulness, prayer, and thanksgiving, ver. 15—18. 15. Beware • that none render evil for evil to any one ; hut always pursue kindness to each other and to all men.

Acquire, my brethren, (and I now address you all,) the magnanimous and forgiving spirit of the gospel. Among your heathen neighbours it is ac- counted as honourable to avenge yourselves upon an enemy, as to requite a friend. Be you vigilantly upon your guard against this revengeful spirit. On the contrary, make it your study and your ambition to do good, and to show kindness to all men, upon all occasions ; not only to Christians, but to unbe- lievers ; not only to friends, but even to enemies :

• Beware.'] " 'Opxrs," says Dr. Chandler, " often denotes, take heed, beware.'' The apostle, now addressing the society at large, forbids the retaliation of injuries; which was a practice very common, and much approved both by Jews and heathen. Matt. V. 43. " But the words," as Dr. Chandler observes, " are to be understood of private revenge only, not of seeking to the magistrate for protection from injury and violence. This is often necessary to the preservation of the public peace. But Christianity entirely forbids all private malice, enmity, and re- venge : the instruction is absolute and universal."

Skct. VIII. I. T H E S S A L O N 1 A N S. 3. 97

bless those who curse you, and pray for those who Ch. v. persecute you.

Be always joyful'^. ^"- ^^■

Let no losses, persecutions, or bereavements, de- press your spirits, and produce unreasonable dejec- tion. Your relation to God as your Father, your expectation of the speedy appearance of Jesus Christ, and your assured hope of Uving for ever with him in glory and happiness, may well comfort your darkest hours ; and inspire you with an habi- tual joy and triumph, which the vicissitudes of life can neither destroy nor interrupt.

Pray without ceasing^. *^*

' Joyful^ " The advice means. Ever maintain a cheerful, easy, happy disposition in every condition and circumstance of life ; not only in peace and plenty, but under affliction and persecution for righteousness' sake." Chandler. See Matt. v. 11,12 5 IPet.iv. 13, 14; Rom. v. 2.

' Prmj without ceasing.'] Prayer is a direct address to God : but it is not at all essential to prayer that it should consist wholly or chiefly of petition. Adoration, confession, thanks- giving, and the like, are at least equally becoming and equally important. The apostle could not mean to advise the Thessa- lonians to be always actually engaged in prayer, for that vpould be impossible. But he might mean to recommend an habitual impression of God upon the mind, and a spirit of habitual de- votion. " This," says Dr. Priestley, " it is our duty and great happiness to cultivate. It is the perfection of the religions tem- per and character." The apostle is generally and justly thought to allude to the morning and evening sacrifice in the temple, which is called the continual burnt-offering, Exod. xxix. 38 — 42, Numb, xxviii. 24 — 3 1 . The hours of sacrifice were nine in the morning and three in the afternoon j and these were the hours of prayer to the devout Jews, either in the tem- ple or in private. And it is in allusion to this custom that the expressions, " dwelling in the house of God for ever ;" " serv- ing him day and night in his temple j" " Anna departed not from the temple," Luke ii, 37 ; " the apostles were in the tem-

voL. rv. u

)8 Sect.VIIL I. TH ess ALON 1 ANS, 3.

Ch. V. Let your lives be scenes of habitual uninterrupted ^^^* ^^' intercourse with God. Meditate upon his charac- ter; adore his attributes; rejoice in his govern- ment; confide in his care; submit to his will; aspire after his favour ; and express these grateful and joyful emotions of your hearts in suitable and appropriate language in the proper stated seasons of secret or of social worship, which will be more acceptable to God than the morning and the even- ing sacrifice. And let the fear and love of God possess and govern your hearts. 18. At all times i give thanks, for this is the will of God, through Christ Jesus, concerning you.

Possessed of the privileges, and animated by the hopes of the gospel, it becomes you, my Christian friends, at all times to maintain a grateful spirit. Be thankful, therefore, in adversity as in prosperity ; in sickness as in health ; in persecution as in a sea- son of peace and liberty ; under losses and bereave- ments as in the enjoyment of wealth and friends ; in death as in life. This is the true spirit of the go- spel ; this is the spirit which God expects and re- quires of you, and for which the mission and doc- trine of Christ lay a just and ample foundation.

pie continually," Luke xxiv. 53 ; &c. are to be understood. In this view the apostle is understood to recommend praying con- stantly, morning and evening. See an excellent note of Dr. Benson's on the text.

' At all times ^ So Mr. Wakefield ; who thinks Haipcy, or yjovu.', to be understood here, as in 1 Tim. iv. 8, and elsewhere. " For every thing give thanks." Newcome. " Upon all suit- able occasions, and i;i all the various events of life." Chandler.

Sect. VIII. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 4. 99

4. The apostle offers advice concerning spiritual Ch. v. gifts, ver. 19—22.

Quench not the spirit^. Ver. 19.

Extinguish not that holy fire which has heen kindled amongst you. Neglect not those gifts of the spirit with which you are severally endowed ; use them not upon improper occasions ; apply them not to improper purposes ; interrupt not each other in the exercise of them ; value them in proportion to their real importance ; tempt not God to with- draw them from you ; improve them to promote the knowledge and the success of the gospel.

Undervalue Qiot prophesyings^; but (like good 20,21. money-changers) prove all things* ; holdfast the best^; abstain from every kind of evil ^. 22.

' Quench not, &c.] A beautiful allusion to Acts ii. 3, 4, where the descent of the holy spirit is said to have been accompanied with the appearance of tongues or spiral forms of flame, and to have resided upon each of the disciples present. A similar al- lusion is made by the apostle, 2 Tim. i. 6. " The spiritual gifts," says Dr. Benson, " like the fire upon the altar, could be kindled only from heaven ; but might be stirred up, fed with fuel, or quenched by men."

' Undervalue not, &c.] s^sSsvsirs- " the word signifies," says Dr. Chandler, " ' a supercilious contempt of another, arising from pride and hauglitiness, and overvaluing one's own quali- fications.'" itpoi^yiraia^, prophecy; which was of two kinds: foretelling future events, or public instruction ; sometimes, probably, by supernatural suggestion. It appears from 1 Cor. xiv. that this gift was greatly undervalued in comparison with the gift of tongues, which, though more showy, was of less use. That chapter is a complete commentary upon this text ; which, as is usual in epistolary writings, would otherwise have been totally unintelligible to us, though easily understood by those to whom the epistle was addressed. See Benson in loc.

* But (like good money-changers) prove all things.'] $£ (but) is found in the best copies, and is admitted by Griesbach. It

h2

100 SncT.VIII. !. THESSALONIANS, 4.

Ch.v. There is a diversity in spiritual gifts. Some Ver. 22. ^j.g more showy, and therefore more coveted, than others. To be enabled to instruct others in the doctrine of Christ is, however, a gift more useful than any of the rest, even though it may not be ac- companied with the graces of elocution. Let not, then, this gift be undervalued and made light of; but let it be most highly esteemed by you. I do not, however, mean to say that you are to admit as

connects this with the preceding verse. " Paulus dicit, yiveaSs (ppCivi[j.oi rpairs^itai, be skilful money-changers, 'prove all tilings." Cyril. This sentence is also cited by Origen^ Chrysostom, and many other ecclesiastical writers, as a text of scripture ; some ascribing it to Clirist, and others to Paul. It is not, however, to be found in any copy or version of the New Testament now extant. Perhaps, therefore, Lardner is right in the conclusion, that " a passage so often quoted, if it had ever been in the New Testament, could never have been lost out of it." The vmters, therefore, who cite it, could in this case only mean that the ad- vice was to be found in sense, but not in words : q. d. as dealers in money take great pains to distinguish the genuine from coun- terfeit coin, so do you take pains to distinguish between true and false doctrine. See Lardner's Credib. part ii. vol. iii. p. 37o. It may, however, reasonably be suspected that the words would not have been so often quoted had they not been found in some ancient copies, and believed tc be genuine. Upon the authority of Cyril, therefore, I introduce them in this place, where they suit the connexion ; but I introduce them \vith much hesitation. Dr. Whitby very justly observes, that " the apostle does not here bid the guides ofthe church try all things, and the people hold fast \that they deliver unto them j but gives an injunction common to all Christians."

* The best^ " to y.akw, a hebraism for ro xuXXtrov." Wake- field.

* Abstain, &c.] With Dr. Chandler, I connect this advice with the preceding. The word sihg signifies sort or kind, as well as appearance. " q. d. have nothing to do with such kind of prophecies as, after examination, do not appear to proceed from the spirit of God,"

Si^cT. VIII. I. T II E S S A L O N I A N S. 5. 101

true whatever any teacher may advance without due ch. v. and diligent examination. No, my brethren, there v^*"- --• is much error and false doctrine abroad, which as- sumes to be the doctrine of Christ. You must act like cautious dealers in the precious metals ; you must learn, like them, to examine and to weigh ; to distinguish counterfeit from sterling gold ; reject- ing what is spurious, and retaining, holding fast, and treasuring up, only that which is pure and ge- nuine. But as to that doctrine which will not bear the process of trial, whatever pretensions it may make to the character of sound and evangelical Christianity, after due examination, reject it with- out hesitation, as worthless dross.

5. The apostle prays that God would preserve and complete the virtues of their character, ver. 23, 24.

And may tkc God of peace "^ hwiself sanctifif 23.

' The God of peace.'] This expression, in comparison with 1 Cor. xiv. 33, seems to imply that some confusion and alter- cation had already taken place in the church at Thessalonica, in consequence of a competition and rivalship of spiritual gifts, which the apostle was desirous to suppress. Dr. Chandler con- siders the same subject as continued from ver. 19 — 23: viz, "' Quench not the spirit:' improve And exercise bis gifts, ' Despise not prophesyings :' neither undervalue the gift, nor those who possess it. ' Prove all things:' bring all prophe- syings to the test. ' Hold fast that which is good :' sucli as ap- pear worthy of the spirit embrace and adhere to. ' Abstain from all appearance of evil :' what is not consistent with truth and holiness reject. And that you may do all this with temperance and candour, may God himself, who is the God of peace, who loves, approves, and commands it, sanctify you wholly, keep you pure and unmixed from the disorders and vices of the

[02 Sect.VIII. 1. THESSALONIANS. 5.

Ch. V. yoti entirely. And may your entire person *, the

Ver. 23. ^p^if^ ^^^ (he soul, and the body, be preserved

unblameahle unto the coming of our Lord Jesus

24. Christ. Faithful is he who invited you^ and he

will perform his promise 2.

For the credit of the gospel, and for your own credit and improvement, I am anxious that you should live in peace ; that there may be no unplea- sant rivalry or jealousy with respect to your spiritual gifts ; and that your examination of doctrines may not be a source of personal animosity. And to this end, may that God, who is the author of the gospel of peace and the lover of concord, preserve you en- tirely in this, as in other instances, from the conta- mination of the unbelieving world. And O that every one of you might, in every respect, both as to

world ; a pecviliar separate people, devoted to his service and worship."

' Yoxir entire person.] See Chandler's note. The apostle here alludes to the philosophy of the Stoics, Platonists, and others, who represented man as consisting of three distinct parts : the spirit, or rational mind ; the sensitive soul, the seat of the affections ; and the body, the mansion of both. It is universally allowed that the apostle does not, in this passage, mean to countenance, much less authoritatively to teach, the pliilosophy to which he here alludes. The same principle is ap- plicable to other similar cases, v. g. to the doctrine of an inter- mediate state, and to those of apparitions and of demoniacal possessions, which were jrobably borrowed from the oriental philosophy. The apostkss and evangelists were plain men, who were authorized to teach the plain doctrine of a future life, and a judgement to come ; but who were not inspired to settle any nice questions in metaphysics or philosophy. See Benson in loc.

* His promise.] So the ellipsis is supplied by Mr. Wake- field : " He who called you may be relied on for the perfonn-. ance of his promise."

Sect. VIII. I. T H E S S A L O N I A N S. 6. 103

mind and body, in thought, in inclination, and in Ch. v. outward action, be preserved perfectly innocent, and pure, to that day when you will be summoned to the tribunal of our common Master, Lord, and Judge! And be assured, my brethren, that the merciful God, who invited you to participate in the invaluable blessings of the gospel, will prove faith- ful to every promise that he has made. Be you true to yourselves and to your profession, and you need not doubt that your best wishes will be ful- filled, and your highest expectations will be ex- ceeded.

6. The apostle requests an interest in their prayers ; he sends his affectionate salutations ; he requires the epistle to be publicly read, and con- cludes with a solemn benediction, ver. 25 — 28.

Brethren^ pray for us. 25.

My Christian brethren, those of you especially who are engaged in the work of public instruction, and who can, therefore, sympathize with us in our labours, our difficulties, and our perils, pray for us ; that we may be duly qualified for our work, and successful in it ; and that we may be delivered from the malice of unreasonable and wicked men. To know that we are the object of your prayers will be a source of comfort and encouragement to us.

Salute all the brethren luith a holy kiss"^. 26.

' A holy kiss.'] This was an ancient eastern custom, Gen. xxvii. 26, Prov, xxiv, 26. In the Jewish synagogues the men and women had seats in different parts of the synagogue; and

104 SjiCT.VlII. I. THESS ALON I ANS. 6.

Ch. V. Assure my Christian brethren of my affectionate **"■ • salutations and cordial good wishes for them. 27. I adjure you by the Lord^, that this epistle be read to all^ the holy brethren.

This epistle, though addressed to the whole church at Thessalonica, will of course be delivered into the hands of you, my brethren, who are the

this custom was adopted by Christians in their places of wor- ship. See Benson on 1 Pet. v. 14.

' I adjure you.'] 'Opxi^cu v[ji.as' I larj you under the solemn obligation of an oath. There were two forms of taking an oath among the Jews : when a man pronounced the oath himself, and when he was adjured by another. In all cases an execra- tion was supposed to attend the oath. Our Lord answered upon oath before the high-priest. And the example of the apo- stle in this instance shows that oaths are not unlawful upon solemn occasions. Matt, xxvi. 63. See Benson and Whitby. Beza supposes this and the two preceding verses to have been addressed to the elders of the church. " 7r^oerwcr<, sivepresby- teris primuni epistola in manus tradebatur. His salutem cceteris Christianis dicendam injungit apostolus, eosque monet, ne sibi soils epistolam servent, sedcum reliquis de plebe Christianis, prce- legendo commujiicent." Rosenmuller.

* Be read to all.'] Dr. Benson remarks, that " the epistle was to be read publicly to all the church. St. Paul was not for having the scriptures locked up from the common people } neither did he recommend it to them, before they read the scrip- tures, first to read a system of divinity drawn up by uninspired and fallible men." " St. Paul, by adjuring them in so solemn a manner to read this epistle, might perhaps design to introduce the reading of his epistles into the Christian churches. They would thereby be led to regard them as the rule of their faith and practice as Christians." " How easy was it," adds this learned expositor, " for the primitive Christians to distinguish Paul's genuine epistles from any counterfeit ones ? when he sent them to the several churches by trusty and well known persons ? when he ordered them to be read publicly upon the receipt of them ? when he wrote them with his own hand, or took care to affix the salutation written with his own hand ? And if the genuineness of them was once ascertained^ how easy was it to transmit tlieni to posterity '."

Sect. VIII. I.THESSALONIANS. 6. 1^5

superintendants of the church ; and, as it contains Ch. v. some things which may possibly give offence to some professed beUevers, you may perhaps be un- wilUng to incur the odium of communicating it to the society. But to save you from that difficulty, I now enjoin it as a solenm charge, and require you, as you will be responsible for your conduct to our . Lord and Master at his final appearance, that you do cause this letter to be pubUcly produced and read when every member of the society is present ; that all may hear, and that each may apply the ad- monitions and precepts to his own case; and so that all may be instructed, warned, and edified.

The favour of our Lord Jesus Christ ^ be with 2^* you. Amen.

I conclude with expressing my earnest desire and prayer for you all, that you may all participate in the everlasting blessings of that gospel which is the free gift of God by Jesus Christ ; and that you may be numbered amongst the faithful friends and fol- lowers of our great Master at his second coming. Amen.

' The favour, &c.] " The original word signifies \iOi\\ favour and the effect of itj the apostle doubtless included both." Chandler.

THE SECOND EPISTLE

PAUL THE APOSTLE

THE THESSALONIANS.

INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS.

1 HE apostle in his first epistle to the Thessalo- nians had expressed himself so strongly concerning the second coming of Christ, the near approach of the day of judgement, and the serious interest both of himself and them in this awful event, that he seems to have excited a very general expectation in the minds of the Thessalonian Christians, of the immediate arrival of that solemn event ; which ex- cited great consternation and alarm. This alarm having been reported to the apostle, perhaps by the person who was employed to carry the letter, he thought it necessary to write immediately to check their unfounded apprehensions. This letter, there- fore, he wrote from Corinth, while Silas and Ti-

108 INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS

motby were still with him ; whose names he joins with his own in the introductory salutation : and it is generally agreed that this epistle was written

A.D. 52. 1

Of the genuineness of this epistle no doubt has ever yet been entertained. The original was au- thenticated by the concluding salutation, which was written with the apostle's own hand. It is a public epistle, addressed to a considerable body of Christians, to whom no doubt it was publicly read, and by whom it would probably be preserved with great care. And though it is the shortest of Paul's public epistles, yet it contains several passages in which the apostle alludes to discourses which he had delivered when he was at Thessalonica, or to events which happened at the time: which allu- sions, though necessarily obscure to a modern reader, would be well understood by the persons to whom the epistle is addressed, and would never

' Grotius is singular in supposing that this epistle was writ- ten previously to the former, that it was dated in the second year of Caligula, about a.d. 39, in whose extravagance and ina- piety the prophecies of the second chapter were fulfilled, ac- cording to Grotius's interpretation, who was very unwilling to allow that any of the predictions in the New Testament re- ceived their accomplishment in papal Rome. He supposes the epistle to have been addressed to a small number of believing Hebrews who escaped from the persecution which followed Stephen's martyrdom, and who settled at Thessalonica. But he conjectures that the epistle was not sent till the reign of Vespasian. His arguments are trifling in the extreme j one is, that ch. iii. 17, he notes the manner of identifying his epistle : ch. ii. 13, he speaks of them as chosen to salvation from the beginning. The probability is, that this great man was in- fiucnced by his hypothesis more than he was lumscU' aware.

OF THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. 109

have occurred to one who had attempted to forge an epistle in the apostle's name. Also the language and sentiments of the epistle harmonize with the apostle's character and professions as represented in Luke's history, or in the other acknx)wledged writings of Paul ^. Finally, this epistle is inserted in all the ancient catalogues of undisputed canoni- cal books ; it is found in all the best and most an- cient manuscripts without exception, and in all ver- sions ; and it has been received and cited from age to age without dispute as the genuine production of the apostle Paul.

A more decisive proof, perhaps, of the genuine- ness of this epistle is the prophecy which it contains of the man of sin, chap, ii,, so palpably fulfilled in the corruptions and usurpations of the antichristlan church, and particularly in papal Rome.

It has been doubted whether the mistake of the Thessalonians originated in their misunderstanding the apostle's first letter, or whether some person had not forged a letter in the apostle's name, which he here disavows. The former supposition is probably the true one. No person who reads the first epistle to the Thessalonians can be surprised that the

^ See Paley's Horce Paulinee, chap. x. The ingenious writer argues from the apostle's referring to his conversations with tlie Thessalonians for an explanation of the language of his letter, ch. ii. 5 ; from his refusal to accept a subsistence from the Thessalonians, and maintaining himself by his own labour, ch. iii. 8 (comp. Phil. iv. 15, Acts xx. 34) ; and from his cor- rection of the mistake made by the Thessalonians of the an- nunciation of Christ's appearance in the first epistle.

no INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS

Christians to whom it was written should expect the speedy advent of Christ to judgement : though certainly the apostle gave no room for the expecta- tion which they seem to have taken up, that this event would arrive in less than a year.

It has been judiciously remarked, that as the apo* stle in this letter does not repeat his cautions against impurity, nor his exhortations to respect their spi- ritual superintendants, there is great reason to be- lieve that the advice he suggested in his former epistle had in these cases produced its proper effect. But the hints which he had given to officious and idle persons who neglected their own concerns to intrude into those of other men, to the great dis- credit of their Christian profession, not having been properly regarded by them, he animadverts upon them in the second letter with greater severity.

The apostle introduces the epistle with his usual evangelical salutation, joining the names of Silas and Timothy with his own, Ch. i. 1, 2. He then.

First, Thanks God for the constancy and forti- tude with which they suffered persecution ; and com- forts them with the assured expectation of the ap- pearance of Christ to reward their fidelity, and to punish their enemies and persecutors ; and prays that God would enable them to persevere to the end in their adherence to the gospel, ver. 3 — 12.

Secondly, He corrects the error into which they had fallen concerning the coming of Christ: He

OF THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. 1 1 I

denies that he himself, or any person authorized by him, had ever declared that this event would take place immediately: Reassures them that previously to this event a great and general apostasy would take place, the characters of which he particularly de- scribes ; but that even this apostasy would not hap- pen till some great obstruction was removed. Ch. ii. 1—12.

Thirdly, The apostle expresses his gratitude for their election to gospel privileges, and his hope that they will, by the grace of God, be preserved from the apostasy. He requests that they would pray for his success, and for his deliverance from persecution ; and expresses his confidence that they will comply with his advice, and persevere in faith and virtue. Ch.ii. 13— iii. 5.

Fourthly, He enters a strong protest against the character and behaviour of those impertinent, idle, and disorderly persons who infested the church at Thessalonica, and disgraced the Christian pro- fession. He earnestly admonishes such persons to reform their conduct ; and he exhorts the rest to mark and shun the society of those who are incor- rigible by other means, that they may be brought to shame and repentance, ver. 6 — 15.

Fifthly, The epistle concludes with the saluta- tion and benediction written with the apostle's own hand, ver 16 — 18.

" The sum of what has been said," says Dr. Ben- son, " comes to this : viz. That this epistle may be

It2 INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS, &C.

looked upon as a supplement to the former ; that the main point about which he wrote this second epistle was to rectify a mistake into which they had fallen concerning the speedy coming of Christ. But he has also added many other things of considerable importance: comforting