It reveals a quick, intelligent sympathy with the burdens and sufferings of the church, and a full appreciation of their patience and fidelity. They are the subject of the Apostle’s thoughts, wishes, and prayers; they are his joy and his crown. The tone of the Epistle, while peculiarly affectionate, is never- theless decided, and exacting in moral demand. It has nothing of the legal or ecclesiastical character. Itis pervaded, in parts, with the tension and anxiety of the interval between Paul’s departure from Thessalonica and the reception of Timothy’s report. Timothy’s news had been substantially good. The church had remained true to the faith against all assaults. But a degree of mistrust had arisen concerning the sincerity of Paul’s interest for the church, which must have come from the outside. Accordingly in the second chapter he takes on an apologetic tone. Some lack of religious steadfastness among the members has made itself evident, and some signs of not fully appreciating the relations of their faith to Christian morality. There has arisen a tendency to assume that the second coming of Christ is close at hand, and that all old relations and duties are therefore done away. On the other hand, an opposite tendency has shown itself, a reaction against the enthusiasm evoked by the expectation of the parousia, which calls for the admonitions, “ Quench not the spirit: despise not prophesyings: prove all things: hold fast that which is good.” Mistakes have become current respect- ing the lot of such Christians as may die before the Lord’s coming. There is a possible hint of strained relations with the church-superintendents (v. 12-15) and of occasions given to the enemies of Christianity for malicious criticism (iv. 12). But the main objects of the letter are, to strengthen the bond between the writer and the church, to detach the church from the errors and abominations of heathen life, and to correct misunderstandings and give comfort as regards the dead in Christ.
The language of the letter is simple, taking on a rhetorical character only in certain isolated passages (ii. 19f.; iii. 8 f.). It is not without picturesqueness (i. 8, 9; ii. 1, 6, 16, 17, 19, itd, 8 113 iv. 1, 6,123 voe28,,0, 8,19)... There is an