1 Thessalonians 1

1 Thessalonians 1:1

I would ye should understand. No doubt the Philippians grieved greatly that he was a prisoner, but he assures them that all things have turned to the furtherance of the gospel. He has been given an opportunity to reach those whom otherwise he never could have had access to.

1 Thessalonians 1:2

So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace. “Throughout the whole Praetorian guard” in the Revised Version. The praetorian camp was the great military camp of a body of soldiers stationed permanently at Rome, called the praetorian guards. Paul, as a military prisoner, was under charge of its commander, the praefect. The necessity of reporting regularly would make him well known, and would give him many opportunities to preach Christ there and elsewhere. Compare Acts 28:16.

1 Thessalonians 1:3

Many of the brethren . . . are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Taking courage from his boldness, though in bonds, the brethren were engaged in preaching the gospel with greater zeal than ever before. See Philippians 4:22 for some of the results of this preaching.

1 Thessalonians 1:4

Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife. The motives of all preachers are not pure. Some still preach Christ, full of envy for other preachers, and some from a love of strife. Those envious of Paul were probably Judaizing Christians. See Philippians 1:16.

1 Thessalonians 1:5

The one preach Christ from contention, not sincerely. Not from sincere love of the gospel, but from a factious spirit. While preaching, they sought to undermine Paul’s influence, supposing to add affliction to my bonds. For an illustration of this class, read the first and second chapters of Galatians.

1 Thessalonians 1:6

The other of love. These are the true and earnest preachers. They knew that Paul was not sent to Rome because he was an evil doer, but because he was set for the defence of the gospel. God had sent him there to preach it.

1 Thessalonians 1:7

Every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached. So anxious is he to have Christ preached, that, whatever may be the motives of men, whether their zeal is only “in pretence, or in truth”, still if only Christ is preached, he will rejoice. This is not a sanction of a false gospel, nor of the men themselves, but rejoicing, if by any means the knowledge of Christ is spread. See Galatians 1:8. How different this glorious unselfishness, and greatness of spirit, from the narrowness of those who higgle over “plans” and forbid “those who walk not with them”!

1 Thessalonians 1:8

I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer. All this envy and opposition will tend to promote his salvation. He will be delivered by God who will hear their prayers, and who will strengthen and direct him by the “Spirit of Jesus Christ”.

1 Thessalonians 1:9

That in nothing shall I be ashamed. Whatever may come, whether his bonds lead to death or life, his trust is that the Spirit will give him such boldness that Christ shall be magnified. There is no anxiety about himself, only that he may glorify Christ.

1 Thessalonians 1:10

For to me to live [is] Christ. Should he be suffered to live, his life would be for extending the kingdom of Christ, but personally, to die [is] gain. To die would be gain; a release from sufferings and an entrance upon eternal joys.