PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians
Paton James Gloag [1823–1906] · 127,583 words · 138 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 61
Ver& 8, 8.-SteadfrtRlnes8 in faith and ajftidion. "Tb11t no man lhould be moved 1,y theee affllotione." We are certainly not now exposed to pereecution11, but etill there l\re afflictions peculiar to the Chrietian life. We are forewarned of them, anrl therefore ,re not to regard them RB strange or unexpected calamities…
956 wordsSECTION 62The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 62
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-5.-77ie design of Timothy's mission to Thessalonica. When the apostle could no longer control his longing to see his converts, he sent them Timothy by way of relieving his solicitude in their behalf. His love for them was.manifest in all the circumstances of this mission. I. HE…
1,215 wordsSECTION 63The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 63
Vers. 9, 10.-The a:p'Jstle's gratitude to God and his farther solicitude for hia C011tlet'18. I. IIIB GRATITUDE FOB THE JOY IMPARTED BY •r1MOTHY'S TIDINGS. "For what thanks can we render t,o God again for you, tor all tbe joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God?" 1. He haa no words to express his gratitude t…
1,061 wordsSECTION 64The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 64
shakes believers by fears and temptations and delusions. 3. It implie8 that withoul perfect holine8B we cannol appear without, /,lame befwe God. 4. It implie.• that perfect holine88 is reserved for the second comin,q. (1) It is not attainable in this life. We are not here "without spot or wrinkle." . (2) It is connecte…
852 wordsSECTION 65The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 65
II. Tim PURPOSE OP TmoTHY'B JUl!III01', 1. To stablish them. They were bul neophytee-Christi1rns of a few months. The first work of drawing men to t11.ke an interest in religion is often easier than the work which follows of 1tablisbing and building them up in the faith. It is hard to persevere; we know it from our …
918 wordsSECTION 66The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 66
toms of his disease, he la not so terrified when they come. Thus the TheBBaloniam were prepared to see the sufferings of St. Paul and hiR companions-prepared themselve, to follow th.em as they followed Christ. The preacher mmt not rlwell exclusively on the bright side of religion, its beauty and its joys; he must point…
890 wordsSECTION 67The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 67
gaw ~m MW life. He knew what it was to die dnily, to bear about always in the bo<ly the dymg of the Lord Jesus. But if death, as he says, wa.s working in him, there w11~ a new life that more than balanced it; a new life, full of warm, glowing feelings, full of hi_gh hopes and eRger aspirations. A~d. thllt life w:as …
884 wordsSECTION 68The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 68
Vere. 11-13.-Bt. Paul'R prayer for h'9 wnf/M18. I. Go» HIMSELF IB TRll onY GIVER 01' ALL GOOD THINGR, 1. He Clm give the apostui a'fld his conutl'1't8 tM fl"l!Jllt joy of another muting. The Thesseloniens might be zealous in their religious duties; St. Paul might prey exceedingly, above measure; but it is God himself, …
921 wordsSECTION 69The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 69
that they ahould come to him with all speed. Here cornea in the link which i11 given here: Wherefore (i.e. on account of his ende&vour to see the TheBBalonlane having l wice proved abortive) when he could no longer forbear (i.e. when he was nece~sitated to give some relief to his feeling of being orphaned), he thoug…
913 wordsSECTION 70The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 70
It wu the sovereign, e.ll-wi~e decree of God the.t, through the e.flliction of hie peoplP,, the gospel we.e to be epree.d e.hroe.d, e.nd tre.nemitted to future generations. And that we.a e. ree.son why they were not to be moved in e.ffliction. They were not being made the sport of cha.nee, or simply left to the will …
947 wordsSECTION 71The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 71
from • far oountr)'," When Jacob knPw that Joseph was alive, his spirit revived. Paul had not a little of dist.ress and affliction, of trouble from without, that was ~traitening a.nd oppressive, at Corinth as elsewhere; but, when the good newB came regarding his ThessaloniRn converts, he forgot his ,listn•ss and aff…
859 wordsSECTION 72The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 72
perso?al att;achment is, if there are not the ma~ks of it in Pan!._ Did he merely gather up Ins feelings and pass on, when he was driven by persecution from Thessalonica? No; the Thessalonians, in the short time, had obtained a place in hiR heart, which was not transient, which they have to this day in heaven. And n…
944 wordsSECTION 73The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 73
finding • home by him in other&. And the more truly and deeply we are attached to men 11B persons, the more shall we with Paul feel prom~ted to view them as oppointed ror the tran~mission of the trnth. (2) mumatdy. "'lo the end he may stablish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father, at the comi…
892 wordsSECTION 74The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 74
Ver. 8.-Bt. Paul's devotion to his converts. I. A PIOTUBB o:r CHRISTIAN LOVJ:, St. Pnul is intensely devoted to his converts. Their prosperity is his life, their unfaith- fulness hie death. Love of the brethren is a conspicuous feature in the early Ohristian character-more conspicuous than, alas I it is in the modem Ch…
877 wordsSECTION 75The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 75
□ atural kindnell8 of persons of an affectionate disposition, II lte breadth. It le not led by fancy :rnd confined to the arbitrary selection of a merely human love. 1. It hey/ins with Christ. Though St. Paul does not here express this truth, he implies it, For he is writing to a Christian Church, not to a mixed cro…
1,208 wordsSECTION 76The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 76
OHAPTEB IV. rise first, and. along with the living, 'W01l]d be caught up to meet the Lord at hfa Oo1ft'Dl'l'II.-With this chapter the second coming, and BO they shall all be llllited In portion of the Epistle-its practical appli- one holy fellowship with him. cation--oommences. The apostle exhorts Ver. !.-Furthermore…
463 wordsSECTION 77The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 77
would abound more and more. The apostle this treMUre,'' namely, the gospel, "In aelmowledgea their Christie.n we.lking ; earthen veeeels" (2 Oor. iv. 7; comp. also they had already entered upon the road; l Sam. ui, 5). The body may well be their oonduct WlU! snnctifie<l; but he exhortll compared to a vessel, e.s it …
960 wordsSECTION 78The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 78
organ of God. De11pUeth; or, rejecteth. Not rality of the richer members of the CbUl'Ob man; that. le, not me, as If the commands wes abused and perverted, so o.e to promote were given from myeclf-were of mere indolence. And to do yonr own busineu; to hume.n origin. But God; the Giver of theee attend. to ~he duties of …
993 wordsSECTION 79The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 79
not. or t.he dead generally that the &Jl(letle word of the Lord.; or mther, by a word oj •peBkR, but of the dead in Christ, and espe- • Lord. The apostle does not refer to citt!l'I' of those membe!'B of the Thessalonian those •portions of the gospel which record Chu~ch who bad died. That ye sorrow not. ou! Lord's di…
1,003 wordsSECTION 80The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 80
It might oocur e.t e.ny period; e.nd, by renson the judgment; and it la futile to inquire of their proximity to the first advent the who this leader of the angels is. And the primitive Cl.irislians would be deeply im- trump of God; even as '.he trumpet sounded pressed with the possibility or even proba- at the giving o…
1,194 wordsSECTION 81The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 81
Ver. 11.-Quietness and faithfulness in worldly duties. 1. Quietness. A true Christian is of a quiet and retiring disposition; he shrinks from worldly bustle; he is free from worldly ambition; like the lily of the valley, he loves the shade; he knows that this is not his home, and he looks for a better country, even a h…
1,200 wordsSECTION 82The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 82
ui a M agaimt our neigh'b.Jur. This is implied in the seventh commandment. 8. It i, a ntt agaimt our nwn 'bodiu. (1 Cor. vi. 18.) Sinners dishonour their own bodie~ (Rom. i. 24). 4. It i8 a sin against the soul. "Whoredom takee away the heart" (Hos. iv. 11). II. CoNSIDER THE FATAL OONSEQUENOES OF THIS BIN. 1. It wa…
843 wordsSECTION 83The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 83
same Father. (Gal. iv. 26.) Members of the same "household of faith" (Gal. 'ri. 10). "Every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that ie begotten of him" (1 John v. 1). 2. It is a practical love. "Not in word only, but in deed and in truth" (1 John iii. 18). It showed itHelf in "labours of love," and especial…
994 wordsSECTION 84The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 84
Vers. 14, 15.-Reasons against IOfT'01D for the dead. The apostle giv• 1everal reasons why the Thessalonians ought not to sorrow for their dead. I. THE F'Ul,'DAMEXTAL REASON IS THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF CBBIBT. "If we believe that Jesus died and rose again." These are the primary facts of Christianity. They are …
705 wordsSECTION 85The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 85
2. It will be a descent with awe-inspiring auompani'111fflt1. (1) "With e. Rignal ehout" by th" Lord himsclr, which will be taken up and prolonged by (2) "the voice of the archangel j" for he ie to come, "bringing with him all the holy angele" (Matt. :uv. 31); 11.nd (3) "the t_rump of <J:od," for " the trumpet ehall…
851 wordsSECTION 86The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 86
1. He reminds them of Ms former teaching. He had given them a ohe.rgc, 11.nd thl\t thr011gh the Lord Jesus. He had received of the Lord the.t which he delivered unto them. The commRndments were not his; they were the commandments of Christ. He he.d received them from Christ; and through Christ's 11.ppointment, guida…
885 wordsSECTION 87The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 87
Be abldeth in his ['eople's heart by the indwelling o( the Holy Spirit. All holy desires all _go_od coun~els, all jnst w?r~s, come from him-from his inspiring, ~levating presence'. This 1s the will of God; this 1s what God would h~ve us to be. It 1s a very high and heavenly state; yet in its various de;.:ree.s it mu…
904 wordsSECTION 88The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 88
the form of love ; nnoleanneBB usurps and degrades the MCred name of love. The ~enaual man ruin& in body and in soul those whom he prof88888 to love. He uses words of tendernees. He i11 the most cruel, the deadliest enemy in hie wicked selfishness. He cares not for the nearest and holiest ties. He sins against. the …
902 wordsSECTION 89The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 89
There la a Chri ■tian ambition; it~ object is not to be first in the arena of political lltrife, but to preach the gospel, to plea8o God, to live a quiet, holy life (compare in the Greek, Rom. xv. 20; 2 Cor. v. 9). Political ~,>..o-r,µl<L, Bengel says, blush,·s to be quiet. The Greeks were eager, bustling, restless, …
1,251 wordsSECTION 90The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 90
Vers. 1-8.-Sanctification. With this chapter commences the hortatory part of the Epistle. l. Ell!BOBTATION TO ADVANCE IN AOOOBDANOE WITH WHAT BAD BEEN DELIVERED TO THEM oF THE DIVINE WILL. "Finally then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received of 118 how ye ought to walk and to p…
523 wordsSECTION 91The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 91
ro THEJI OF THE DIVINE WILL, "For ye know what charge we gave you through the Lord Jesus." There is not a happy change made from" commandments" in the old translation to " charge" in the revised translation here. There is an ob3curing of the idea, which is that the Divine will has been delivered in the form of commandm…
1,180 wordsSECTION 92The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 92
Vers. 9-12.-The (Jhristian cirde and accounting by them that are without. I. BROTHERLY LOVE. 1. The disposition. "But concerning love of the brethren ye have no need that one write unto you : for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another." There is a rhetorical touch here which is called "passing-over "-no…
600 wordsSECTION 93The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 93
prescribeth, In work e.nd in truth; not only in mente.l desire, but in effectual perform· ance; not only in verbe.l pretence, but in real effect." 3. Ita increase. "But we exhort you, brethren, that ye a.bound more e.nd more." What Paul had prayed for (eh. iii. 12) is now made subject of affectionate exhortation. The…
934 wordsSECTION 94The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 94
qni<'tly work." The language here seem! t.o point to this, that many of the members of the Thessalonian Church were handicraftsmen. From t.his injunction, and the way in which the eecond coming is introducerl in the next paragraph, it would seem that the disturbing influence in the Church of Thessalonica was religio…
926 wordsSECTION 95The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 95
lift the gloom from the extinction of personal existence. Let no rude hand rob u1 of the comrort which our Ohristianity brings. It tells us here that we a.re not to sorrow for the state of our Christian dead. We may indeed sorrow for our being deprived o1 t~eir earthly society. Th~ Master himself gave relief to his …
948 wordsSECTION 96The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 96
e.t a great dill&dvantage? Would they have any share at all in hia coming? Were they not to be sorrowed over e.s those who he.d missed the great object of their hope? For the relief of the Thessalonians Paul tells them this, to begin with, that the Christian dead are to be brought with Jesus. We are not to think of …
887 wordsSECTION 97The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 97
then, to think of the shout 88 given by the archangel in the Name of God, and 118 oom- prehonding the two things which follow. First, the moment that the Lord descends from his heavenly throne, the archangel, apprised of what is to happen, marshals bis innumerable host. The shout of command he gives in this case wit…
931 wordsSECTION 98The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 98
his pathwsy to earth. When it is Mid that the fallen asleep God will bring with Jesus. the meaning plainly is (taken in connection with the language which has just been u~ed) the.,, joining our Lord in the air, they will be brought with him to earth, We may think of the earth as transformed, in preparation for the L…
877 wordsSECTION 99The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 99
which 11 respectable to-day will become despicable if it le not exceeded to-morrow. The growth is double-a greater achievement according to our present capacities and an eolar)!ement or those capacities, The precious wine rises higher in the vessel; and the vessel itself expnnds. Il. THE DJBTJNOTIVE CHARACTERISTIOB OF…
962 wordsSECTION 100The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 100
Ver. 11.-fte industrial life. Christianity has eomething to say on the indl18trial life. It has been charged with discrediting industry. No calumny could he more false. It certainly discourages engrossing worldly cares, and hitls men remember their heavenly citizenship. But it only inculcates a more faithful dischar…
720 wordsSECTION 101The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 101
kind tbe.t must be done, It ie cowardly to shirk it. Cultivated people do not object t.o hard work for amuRement, e.g. rowing, Alpine climbing. Why should it be ehunnerl when it is useful? 2. Manual labour ia honourable. Any work done with a good purpose is honourable. The work uf the carpenter is often more honourable…
812 wordsSECTION 102The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 102
prellent day ancient tomb& on which are to be read inscriptions expressing hopeleBB regret for the dead. The Church address~d by St. Paul was a little community which had learnt to enJoy a strange, new view of the state and prospects of the departed, planted 1D the midst of a great pagan populace that held the melan…
847 wordsSECTION 103The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 103
rire entirely beyond the reach of speculation. We have no data wha.tever to go upm. beyond the authoritative declarations of the Word of God. 8t. Paul himself was not prepared to reason about them. He could simply declare what was revealed to him. But this he di<l rlecla.re with marvellous, unhesitating positiveness…
845 wordsSECTION 104The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 104
EXPOSITION. Lord's coming. But of the times and the 1ea- OHAPTER 't. 1ons, brethren; that is,or the time nnd the pre- CoNTlllffl!.-With regard to the time cise period of the Lord's adrnut. "Times" of that glorious nih•ent when believers, and "se":~?ns" aree!~ewhere united together (Eccles. m.; Dau.· n. 21 ; Acts i…
849 wordsSECTION 105The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 105
thia conjunction : the description is con- even by day," observes St. Cbrysoetom, "if tinuous. When they ehall se.y; namely, the one watches, bnt ia not sober, he will fall unbelieving world. Pe11oe and 1afety; peace into numberlese dangers." The sam~ exhor- denoting internal rest, and safety external tation is 0 ven b…
974 wordsSECTION 106The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 106
hope of Hlvation," why we may with <'On• oiate, and llsteem. Them whioh labour fidenc(' put on snch a hope as B helmet. amoD.IJ you. It was Pr1Ul's cust<,m to or- God hatb not appointed ua to wrath, but to ganize the Churches which he had fo111,ded, obtain-or. lo the acq11i,it,'on ~f-alvation by and to Appoint presb…
2,013 wordsSECTION 107The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 107
Ablf'; a different word rrom that rendered There are Riso tracea or it in the Old TeslA- " gn<ld" in vcr. I!'>. We are to rct1<in wh1<t- ment, the spirit, or breath of God, hei11g e.-er is good in those •· Rll things" whioh we distinguished from the soul. Be presened are to prove or test, namely, in the pro- ble.mel…
1,004 wordsSECTION 108The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 108
HOMJL ETJCS. Ver. 8.- WatchfulneBB and 1obriety. The day of the Lord is uncertain as regards its time. The early Christians were mistaken in regarcling that time as at hand, and we perhaps may be equally mistaken in regarding it as distant. But there is an event which to each of us is, to all intents and purposes, the…
888 wordsSECTION 109The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 109
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-5.-0'erlainty of the time of the second ndvent. There is a natural ouriosity to know "the times and the seasons" connected with an event so transcendently important to the human race. "But of the timos and the seasons ye have no need that I write unto you." I. Goo BAS TIMES AND…
709 wordsSECTION 110The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 110
Vers. 6-8.-.A warning against watchlessness. The apostle says that, a.a children of light and of the day, believers ought to exercise vigilance and sobl'iety in view of the solemn prospects before them. I, THE BIN AND DANGER OF SPIRITUAL BLEEP. "Let us not steer, 88 do others." There are three kinds of sleep spoken…
1,017 wordsSECTION 111The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 111
Vera. 12, 13.-~ due reoo_qnitwn of Christia,i, pastora. The apostle ne:r.t touches upon the relation of the Church to its teachers. I. THE APPOINTMENT OF PASTORS IN THE CHUROB. 1. This was by Divine appoint- m.e,i,t. "He gave pastors and teachers" (Eph. iv. 11). There is no hint given in Scripture of a time when past…
717 wordsSECTION 112The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 112
Ver. 14.-Mutual duties of Church members. The Church must act as well a11 its pastors. I. ADMONITION TO THE DISORDERLY. "Warn them that are unrulv." 1. The unruly are, literally, those who break rank, taking ezceptional courses, to the injury of the peace or unity of the Church. Probably the apostle refers to the unhi…
809 wordsSECTION 113The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 113
Ver. 1 i.-The duty of comtant prayer. •• Pray without ceasing." There is a mutual affi~it~-~tween joy, i:irayer, and thanksgiving, as wa see by other passs.ges of Scripture (Phil. Ill. 4-6; Col. IV. 2). I. PRAYER THE DUTY, THE PRIVILEGE, THE INTEREST, OF ALL BELIF.VERS. 1. It ia a c.ommanded duty. (Matt. vii. i.) 2…
714 wordsSECTION 114The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 114
one subject, the extraorilinary manifestations of the Spirit eo frequent In the Church at this perioil, but Bpply likewise to his ordinary influence in believers. I. TeE BIN AND DANflEn OF QUENCHING THE SPIRIT, "Quench not the Spirit." Perhaps there wns a tendency to repress spiritual utterances, either because they h…
819 wordsSECTION 115The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 115
l>fi~ I. IT n A PRATER FOR PBRll'ECI' RANCTIFI0ATION, "And the very God of pellet! Mnctify you wholly." l. It i,• the de.~ign. of the God qf peace to do thi,. Our I,ord came to" s1Lve his people from their sins," to "redeem them from all iniquity." 2. 1'1,,i.s 111Jnctificati0fl is to ext,end to body, soul, and spiri…
887 wordsSECTION 116The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 116
longing "'to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in bis own power." Such knowledge was not for the flpostles ; it is not for the Church. "Of thflt day and that hour knoweth no man." But, in sf.ite of these words of Christ, hum><n thought has ever busied itself, it busies itself stil, to pry into thi…
938 wordsSECTION 117The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 117
ence and apathy aN deadly enemiee or the soul. The unbelieving multitude sleep; t.hey are thoughtle!!B about their souls, careless of the awful destinies which lie before us. The believer will watch; for he will remember the reiterated comn111ndment of his Lord," Watch, therefore. . . . What I say unto you, l say un…
943 wordsSECTION 118The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 118
c11n never re11ch the depths of mysterious, blessed meaning which lie hid In thOBe two simple words. He died th11t we, whether we watch or sleep, while we remain 11mon" the living, w11tching for his coming, and while we sleep with those who are l11id to sleep through Jesus, should evE>r live together with him. His d…
903 wordsSECTION 119The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 119
~II C~ri8tiRn8 must te.ke their pa.rt in the great work of saving souls; a.II a.re rcspon- s1ble, m a greater or less degree, for the welfare of the souls the.t come within their influence. All true Christians must admonish when admonition is needed· all must comfort those who ste.nd in need of comfort. All must sup…
910 wordsSECTION 120The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 120
11nd the evil le turned to good." He practised what he taught ; ID the midst of cruel 11ffiictions he died with the words, "Glory be to God for all things," on his lips. Thi, is the will of God-God would have the Christian's life to be a life of joy, a. life ol unceasing prayer, of perpetual thanksgiving. Thie is hie w…
1,239 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.