((/.) Timothy was despatched to Thessalonica, not from Athens, but from Bercea, a supposition quite con- sistent with the apostle's expression of "consenting to be left alone at Athens." In this case Timothy would take up Silas somewhere in Macedonia on his return, and the two would join Paul in company ; not, however, at Athens, where he was expecting them, but later on at Corinth, some delay having arisen. 'J'his explanation, however, supposes that the plurals "?re consented, we sent" {ti'SoKijrraiJev, tTre /.ixpa^Bv), can refer to Paul alone.
(b.) The alternative mode of reconciling the accounts is as follows: Timothy and Silas ilid join the apostle at Athens, where we learn from the Acts that he was expecting them. From Athens he des]iatched Timo- thy to Thessalonica, so that he and Silas (///iMf) had to forego the services of their fellow-laborer for a time. This mission is mentioned in the epistle, but not in the Acts. ' Subsequently he sends Silas on some other mis- sion, not recorded either in the history or the epistle; probably to another Macedonian Church — Philippi, for instance, from which he is knovvn to have received con- tributions about this time, and with which, therefore, he was in communication (2 Cor. xi, 9; comp. Phil, iv, 14-lG; see Koch, p. 15). Silas and Timothy returned together from IMacedonia and joined the apostle at Cor- inth. This latter solution, if it assmnes more than the former, has the advantage that it preserves the proper sense of the plural "jce consented, ?fe sent," for it is at least doubtfid whether Paul ever uses the plural of him- self alone. The silence of Luke may in this case be ex- plained either by his possessing only a partial knowl- edge of the circumstances, or by his passing over inci- dents of which he was aware as unimportant.
Whether the expected meeting ever took place at Athens is therefore a matter involved in much uncer- tainty. Michaolis, Eichhorn, De Wette, Koppe. Pelt, and others are of opinion that, at least as respects Timo- thy, it did take place; and they infer that Paid again remanded him to Thessalonica, and that he made a sec- ond journey along with Silas to join the apostle at Cor- inth. Hug, on the other hand, supposes only one jour- ney, viz. from Thessalonica to Corinth ; and understands the apostle, in 1 Thess. iii, 1, 2, as intimating, not that he had sent Timothy from Athens to Thessalonica, but that he had prevented his coming to Athens by send-
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ing l\im from Beroea to Tliessalonica. Between these two opinions there is nothing to enable ns to judge with certainty, unless we attach weight to the expression of Luke, that Paul had desired the presence of Timotliy and Silas in Athens wj raxicrrn, "as speedily as possi- ble." His desiring them to follow him thus, without loss of time, favors the conclusion that they did rejoin him in Athens, and were thence sent to Thessalonica. See Silas; Tijiothy.
V. Occasion of the Epistle. — We are now prepared to consider the circumstances of the Church at Thessalo- nica which drew forth this letter. These were as fol- lows : Paul had twice attempted to revisit Thessalonica, and both times had been disappointed. Thus prevent- ed from seeing them in person, he had sent Timothy to inquire and report to him as to their condition (iii, 1-5). Timothy returned with most favorable tidings, reporting not only their progress in Christian faith and practice, but also their strong attachment to their old teacher (ver. 6-10). The First Epistle to the Thessalo- nians is the outpouring of the apostle's gratitude on re- ceiving this welcome news.
At the same time, the report of Timothy was not un- mixed with alloy. There were certain features in the condition of the Thessalonian Church which called for Paul's interference, and to which he addresses himself in his letter. (1.) The very intensity of their Christian faith, dwelling too exclusively on the day of the Lord's coming, had been attended with evil consequences. On the one hand, a practical inconvenience had arisen. In their feverish expectation of this great crisis, some had been led to neglect their ordinary business, as if the daily concerns of life were of no account in the immedi- ate presence of so vast a change (iv, 1 1 ; comp. 2 Thess. ii, 1; iii, (>, 11, 12). On the other hand, a theoretical difficulty had been felt. Certain members of the Church had died, and there was great anxiety lest they should be excluded from any share in the glories of the Lord's advent (iv, 13-18). Paul rebukes the irregularities of the former, and dissipates the fears of the latter. (2.) The tlame of persecution had broken out, and the Thes- salonians needed consolation and encouragement under their sore trial (ii, 14; iii, 2-'l). (3.) An unhealthy state of feeling with regard to spiritual gifts was manifesting itself. Like the Corinthians at a later day, they needed to be reminded of the superior value of " ]iropliesying," compared with other gifts of the Spirit which the}' ex- alted at its expense (v, 19, 20). (4.) There was the dan- ger, which they shared in common with most Gentile churches, of relapsing into their old heathen profligacy. Against this the apostle offers a word in season (iv, 4-8). We need not suppose, however, that Thessalo- nica was worse in this respect than other Greek cities. See Thessalonica.