1

be those which are founded on excellence of character. What a powerful consideration this, to excite us to cultivate in our relations and friends, the noble and lasting qualities of knowledge and virtue, which will prove such a source of happiness to them, and to us, through the endless ages of eternity!

preached. The power of miracles, therefore, was not bestowed upon the apostles, that they might deliver themselves from persecution. They were to prove the truth of the gospel by their sufferings, as well as by their miracles. Besides Paul having foretold the very persecution which befel him in Thessalonica, his sudden flight could not be imputed to fear occasioned by any unforeseen evil, but to Christ's injunction to his apostles, when persecuted in one city to flee into another. Upon the whole, the apostle's fleeing from Thessalonica and Berœa, was no proof of the falseness of his miracles, as his enemies contended; neither was it inconsistent with his character as a missionary from God, ver 4,

Objection 4. A fourth objection was levelled by the philosophers against Paul in particular. They affirmed, that notwithstanding all his fair speeches to the Thessalonians, he did not really love them. For, he had left them to bear the persecution by themselves, without giving them any assistance, either by his exhortations or his example. And from this they inferred, that he was an hypocrite, who had deceived them with the professions of a love, which had no place in his heart. In answer, the apostle told the Thessalonians, that they might know how tenderly he loved them, from the following circumstances: That not knowing what impression the arguments of the sophists might make upon them, his anxiety for their perseverance in the faith was extreme; and that he sent Timothy to them from Athens, for this purpose also, that he might know their faith, ver. 5.-Farther he told them, that being informed by Timothy of their firm adherence to the gospel, and of their entertaining a most affectionate remembrance of him their spiritual father, at all times: and that they as earnestly desired to see him, as he to see them, ver. 6.—the good news had given him the greatest consolation in all his afflictions, ver. 7.-because their standing firm in the Lord, was life to him, ver. 8.-Wherefore, he could not be enough thankful to God, for all the joy which he felt on account of their stedfastness, ver. 9.-And having the greatest concern for their welfare, his daily prayer to God was, that he might be allowed to visit them, in order to supply the deficiencies of their faith, by giving them more complete views, both of the doctrines and

of the evidences of the gospel, ver. 10.-Withal he prayed, that God and Christ would remove every obstacle, which might hinder his prosperous journey to them, ver. 11.—And still farther to convince them how tenderly he loved them, he supplicated Christ in particular, to make them abound, as much in love to one another, and to all men, as he abounded in love towards them, ver. 12.—That their hearts might be established unblameable in holiness, and be found so at the coming of Christ to judgment, ver. 13.—

Answer to the Objection urged against the Preachers of the Gospel, for

Ver. 1. 1. No longer bearing our anxiety. Στέγοντες, literally signifies bearing or carrying, but never forbearing, the sense affixed to it by our translators. I have supplied the word anxiety, because from the following verse it appears, that the apostle was at this time in great distress, lest the Thessalonians should have been moved from the faith of the gospel, by the false arguments of the unbelievers.

2. Left at Athens alone. Though Timothy and Silas were ordered to fol. low the apostle from Berca to Athens, Acts xvii. 15. only Timothy came to him there, Acts xviii. 1. 5. It is plain, therefore, that when Timothy left Athens, the apostle remained in that city alone; which was a very trying situation, as he expected great opposition from the Athenian philosophers.

Ver. 2.—1. Our fellow-labourer in the gospel.—Acts xvii. 14. Timothy is said to have remained with Silas in Beroa, after Paul's departure. He had probably been with the apostle at Thessalonica, and had assisted him in con

Sentiments and affections of this kind never were found in the breast of any impostor. And therefore the apostle's tender feelings thus warmly expressed, the sincerity of which the Thessa lonians could not call in question, when they considered his known veracity, as well as all the other circumstances mentioned in this earnest apology, might well convince them, that the calumnies, whereby the enemies of the gospel endeavoured to discredit him as a missionary from God, were without foundation. not delivering themselves from Persecution by their miraculous Powers.

COMMENTARY.

CHAP. III. 1 In Athens Timothy informed me, that the unbelievers urged my fleeing from Thessalonica, as a proof of my being destitute of miraculous powers; and the argument being specious, I was afraid it might make an impression on you. Wherefore, no longer bearing my anxiety on that account, I was well pleased to be left in Athens, without any assistant.

2 And sent Timothy, our brother, who has devoted himself to serve God, and who was our fellow-labourer in the gospel of Christ among you, to establish you in the profession of the gospel, and to exhort you concerning the foundations of your faith.

3 One of the topics, I desired him to insist on, was, That none of you should be moved by these afflictions, which befel us. For yourselves know, that when Christ made me his apostle, I was appointed to suffer persecution, to shew my persuasion of the things which I preached.

verting the Thessalonians: which I think is insinuated in the expression, our fellow-labourer in the gospel.

Ver. 3.-1. That no one should be moved by these afflictions. Zaved Fab, denotes the motion which dogs make with their tails, either from joy or fear. The Thessalonians were not, on account of the afflictions which had

4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before, that we should suf

fer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

4 Και γαρ ότε προς μας ημεν, προελεγομεν ὑμῖν, ότι μελλομεν λιβεσθαι, καθώς

και εγενετο, και οιδατε.

Answer to the Objection raised against Paul in particular, on

5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, Iest 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 have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you ;

befallen the apostle, to be moved from the profession of the gospel, through fear of his being an impostor, because he had not restrained his enemies by his miraculous power; but had fled first to Berea, and then to Athens. 2. For yourselves know, that we are appointed thereto. Our Lord expressly forewarned his apostles, that they were to be persecuted to death, and that whoever killed them, should think he did God service. Moreover, when he called Paul to be an apostle, he shewed him how great things he must suffe or bis name's sake, Acts ix. 16. All the apostles, therefore, and Paul more especially, expected to be persecuted. And because the inference, which his enemies drew from his not having delivered himself from persecution by miracles, namely, that he did not possess the miraculous powers to which he pretended, was both obvious and plausible, he took care (as is plain from ver. 3.) to let his disciples in every place know, that he was ordered by his Master to suffer for the gospel, and that his suffering for it, was as necessary a part of the proof of its divine original, as his working miracles.

4 For even when we were with you, we foretold you that we were to be afflicted, as also happened (nai, 209.) as ye know.

4 For even when we were with you, we foretold you, that we were to be afflicted in your city; as also happened, as ye know. And we fled, because Christ commanded us, when persecuted in one city, to flee into another. So that we are not allowed to exercise our miraculous powers, for saving ourselves from persecution.

account of his not loving the Thessalonians.
5 For this reason also,
no longer bearing Mr ANXI-
ETT, I sent to know your
faith, lest by some means
the tempter1 may have
tempted you, and our la-
bour have become in vain.

6 But now when Timothy came to us from you, and gave us the good news of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us at all times,1 ardently desiring to see us, even as we also To SEE you.

5 For this reason also, no longer bearing my anxiety on your account, I sent Timothy to know your faith a fearing lest, by the calumnies propagated concerning me as having no real affection for you, the devil may have tempted you to think me 'an impostor, who in preaching to you, had my own interest only in view, and so my labour in converting you have become fruitless.

6 But now, when Timothy returned to us from you, aud gave us the good news of your perseverance in the faith, and of your love to Christ, and to all the brethren in Macedonia (chap. iv. 10.); and that ye cherish the most affectionate remembrance of me at all times, as your spiritual father, and that ye are as earnestly desirous to see me as I am to see you.

Ver. 5.—1. Lest by some means the tempter. These means I have mentioned in the commentary.-The tempter : ‘O mugav, the participle, is put for¿ @elgasns, the verbal noun, as Beza rightly observes.

2. May have tempted; that is, may have succeeded in tempting; the cause being here put for the effect.

Ver. 6.-1. And that ye have good remembrance of us at all times. The apostle, no doubt, means their remembering him with respect, as a teacher sent from God; and with gratitude, as one who had given them the know