2 Thessalonians 1

Chap. I. Ver. 1—12. Paul thanks God for the conversion of the Thessalonians, and comforts them under persecution. —" This Epistle,” says Prebendary Z’ownsend, “is generally supposed to have been written by St. Paul, a few months after the former. It is [or rather ought to be] dated from the same place, Corinth: and Silvanus and Timotheus are both mentioned in the Introduction, [as in that of the former.] It was most probably written a little before, or a little after, the insurrection of the Jews at Corinth, when St. Paul was dragged before Gallio, ((Acts 18:12);) as the apostle [(2 Thessalonians 2:2), of this Epistle] seems to anticipate this violence,…. or else prays to be delivered from these unreasonable and unbe- St.

Paul having been informed that some expressions in his first Epistle had been either perverted or misunderstood by the Thessalonians, (see (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17); v. 4, 6,) who suppaces the end of the world and the coming of Christ to be at and, immediately addresses them, for the purpose of refuting ‘this error; which, while resting on apostolical authonity, would be alike injurious to the Christian converts, and to the continued propagation of the gospel.’’ (New Test. Arr.) The apostle opens this Epistle, as he had done the former, by thanking God on their behalf, and rejoicing in their consistent an ornamental profession of the gospel; and, at the same. time, denouncing the awful judgments of God against their infidel and relentless persecutors.

For “when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,” then shall he take vengeance—not on them who never heard the gospel; but on those who, having heard it, refuse either to this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of al Th. L1, his goodness, and the work of faith with power: 260.93 ou u Col. L.12 so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. he might be revealed in his time. e Is.14.13, Re. 13,6. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already brightness of his coming: believe or to obey it; who ‘‘put from them the words of eternal life,’ and reject the “only name given under heaven among men, whereby we can be saved.” (See (Acts 13)

46; iv. 12.) Our apostle then prays for the Thessalonians, that they might be counted ‘‘ worthy of this calling;” namely of being reckoned among the saints; and that “ the Lord would in then; fulfil the good pleasure of his goodness,”—an expression which the ingenious Mr. Blackwall has noted as ‘ the most charming representation any where to be found, of that infinite oodness which surpasses all expression; but was never so happily and properly expressed as here.” To this quotation, Dr. Doddridge adds, ‘‘ that the [Greek] word seems at once to express that it is (God’s) sovereign pleasure; and also that e feels a sacred complacency in the display of it.’’

Notes on the verses

Chap. I. Ver. 3. Your faith groweth exceedingly.—’ This teaches us not to satisty ourselves with a general belief that the gospel is from God, nor with a superficial view of its doctrines and precepts. Our persuasion of [its] divine or‘gin ought to become more clear and extensive.’—Macknight. [The word wperaucano signifies, as Dr. Clarke remarks, to grow luxuriantly, as a good and healthy tree in a good soil; and, if a fruit tree, bearing an abundance of fiuit toscompensate the labour of the husbandman. Faith is one of the seeds of the kingdom: this the Apostle had sowed and watered, and God gave an abundant increase. Their faith was multiplied, and their love abounded; and this was not the case with some distinguished characters only; it was the case with every one of them.

For this the apostle felt himself hound to give continual thanks to God on their behalf, as it was ‘‘ meet” and right. J]—B. Ver. 5. A manifest token.—Doddridge, “ Display.” Ver. 7. His mighty angels.—Greek, ‘‘ Angels of his power.” Ver. 8. Taking vengeance.—Macknight, “ inflicting punishment.”; Ver. 9. With everlasting destruction.—It seems impossible to reconcile this with the doctrine of Universal Restoration ——From the Bessencs— Bp. Hopkins explains this as implying, not only banishment, but positive punishment, as it were, by the lightning of his eye. We think, with Macknight, that it is an allusion to the glory of the Shechinah, from which a flume came out and destroyed Nadab and Abihu, and afterwards 250 of Korah’s company.

(Leviticus 10:1). (Numbers 16:35). ‘ Ver. 11. Count-—That is, pecousy consider you as worthy for this high and holy calling, and “ fulfil in you all the good pleasure of his goodness,” &c.