Paul's love to Chap. ii. 2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi,a we were bold in our God to speak unto you the Gospel of God with much contention. 3. For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of unclean.ness, 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 cloak 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 apos tles of Christ. * But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children : s 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, & God also, how holily, and justly, & a Were shamefully entreated at Philippi. See Acts xvii. I—9, the Thessalonians. unblameably, we behaved ourselves among you that believe: 11 As ye know, how we exhorted & comforted, & charged every one of you, (as a father doth his children,) 12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. 13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God, which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. 14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God, which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: 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: 16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway :b for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. 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. So that the Jews are filling up the measure of their iniquities always, Paul sendeth I. Thessalonians. 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. CHAP. III. 1 Paul sendeth Timothy to them: 6 his joy for them, and desire to see them. WHEREFORE when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; 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 know. ye 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 But now, when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye Timothy to them. have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you; 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 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 stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesu Christ with all his saints. CHAP. IV. 1 He exhorteth to go on in godliness, 7 to holiness, 9 to love, 11 to quietness, 13 to moderate sorrow for the dead. 17 Of the resurrection, and of the last judgment. FURTHERMORE then we beseech you, brethren, and Of living a holy Chap. iv. exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk, and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 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 busi and just life, &c.. ness, 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, 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died, and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus, will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, That we which are alive, and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep.a 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 17 Then we which are alive, and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore, comfort one another with these words. a Shall not prevent, &c. Prevent here signifies to anticipate or go before. Paul's meaning is, that the righteous, who shall be found alive at the coming of Christ, should not anticipate, or go into glory before them, who were asleep, or had previously died. I. Thessalonians. to judgment, &c. salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, of Christ's coming CHAP. V. He sheweth Christ's second coming to judgment, 16 and giveth divers precepts, 23 and so concludeth. BUT of the times and seasons,a brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly, that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not eseape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken, are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet the hope of salvation : 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain a The times and the seasons, the duration of the world, and the particular season, at which Christ will come to judgment. 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Wherefore, comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now, we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men. 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesy ings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.. 22 Abstain from all ances of evil. appear 23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be TO THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE THESSALONIANS. IT appears from this Epistle, that Timothy, who carried Paul's first Epistle to the Thessalonians, gave him, on his return, a particular account of their affairs; and among other things told him, that many had mistaken some part of his former letter, by supposing he intended to inform them, that the day of judgment was to happen in that age; and that those, who had imbibed this sentiment, neglected all temporal concerns, as inconsistent with the care of their souls; and that false teachers were busy to inculcate the same ideas, which greatly alarmed the timid and credulous. Paul therefore wrote this second Epistle at Corinth A. D. 52, to correct these errors, so prejudicial to the good of society, and so inconsistent with the duties of Christianity; and also to fortel the rise and progress of the mystery of iniquity, and the coming and destruction of the Man of sin. N. B. It may perhaps not be improper here to observe, that the coming of Christ, the coming of the Son of Man, the day of the Lord, &c. denote in scripture four different events; and some pious persons in modern times, as well as among the ancient Thessalonians, have by misunderstanding these phrases, been needlessly alarmed by the apprehension, that the day of judgment was at hand. The first of these events was the destruction of Jerusalem, of the temple and of the Jewish state by the Roman armies, the abrogation of the Mosaic institutions, and the establishment of the Gospel. Matt. xxiv. 30. This event is sometimes called the end of the world or the age; meaning |
