Julian Pe 51. SECTION XIV. riod, 4762. St. Paul writes his First Epistle to the Thessalonians, to 34 Silas and Timothy, with St. Paul, bad preached the Gospel to The immediate design of St. Paul in writing this epistle, seems to have been to supply the converts with arguments against the reasonings of the philosophers and men of learning, who might have endeavoured, as mere theoretical speculatists have uniformly done, to argue against facts, by suggesting their improbability or have called the doctrines of Christianity foolishness-its precepts severe-its discipline superstition. The exceeding utility of this epistle to the preachers of Christianity, is particularly evident. In all his epistles, or, as they may be called, his written sermons, he uniformly enforces Christian morality, upon Christian principles; but in this epistle he enters into the evidences on which those principles were founded. In the Greek Vulgate, the present reading of Acts xvii. 4. is rev σεβόμενων "Ελληνων πολυπλῆθος, which is rendered by our translators" Of the devout Greeks, a great multitude." The Codex Alex, and Codex Beza, with some others, read rŵv oɛbóμɛvwv kai Anvwv, which Dr. Paley would render-those who worshipped the true God, and of the Greeks-that is, of those who had been previously Heathens, (1 Thess. i. 9.) He would infer, from the passage thus translated, that the Church at Thessalonica consisted of some few Jews, many who worshipped the one true God, and many of the Heathens, and of the chief women. It was highly necessary therefore that St. Paul, under these circumstances, should strengthen the faith of these his converts, who had turned to God from idols," by every possible argument and encouragement. Corinth. Julian Period, 4762. Vulgar Era, 51. § 1. THESS. i. 1-4. The Introduction and Salutation. 1 Paul and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians, which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; 4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. § 2. 1 THESS. i. 5—10. St. Paul derives his first Argument for the Truth of Chris- 5 For our Gospel came not unto you in word only, but 6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost; 7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. 9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God; 10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. § 3. 1 THESS. ii. 1—13. From the Character, Conduct, and Sufferings of the 1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto 2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were Corinth. Julian Pe- bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God Corinth. riod, 4762. with much contention. Vulgar Æra, 51. 3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile : 4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: 6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. 7. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: 8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. 9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail : for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. 10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and 11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and 13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, § 4. 1 THESS. ii. 14-20. St. Paul shews the persecuting Spirit of the Jews, by 14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches 15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men ; Julian Pe 16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they Corinth. riod, 4762. might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. Vulgar Æra, 51. 17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. 18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 20 For ye are our glory and joy. § 5. 1 THESS. iii. 1-5. St. Paul declares his Anxiety for the Thessalonians, and 1 Wherefore, when we could no longer forbear, we 2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellow-labourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith; 3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. 4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. 5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. § 6: 1 THESS. iii. 6-13. St. Paul declares himself to be comforted by Timothy's 6 But now, when Timotheus came from you unto us, 7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you, in all our affliction and distress, by your faith: 8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; 10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might Corinth. see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? 11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. 12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you : 13 To the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. § 7. 1 THESS. iv. 1-12. St. Paul shews the Gentile Converts the Necessity of Holi- 1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by 3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, 4 That every one of you should know how to possess 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God : 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter; because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. 9 But as touching brotherly love, ye need not that I write unto you; for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren, which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more: 11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. |