1. A/o {ATix'sri dreyovrec, wherefore no longer being able to forbear) This is resumed at ver. 5, as if after a parenthesis. — ,aovo/, alone) Observe how highly Timothy was esteemed, since at Timothy's departure Paul and Silas seemed to themselves to be alone, in asmuch as in a city altogether estranged from God. Comp. Ord. temp., p. 278 [Ed. 2, p. 239].
2. ' Evr'sfA-^aftsv, we sent) I and Sylvanus sent.
3. 2a/v£<r0a/) [that no man should be moved, — seduced and cajoled out of his faith] : catvu from a'su, to move. Eustathius shows, that it is properly applied to dogs, when they fawn by wagging the tail ;* by metaphor sic rovg virovXovc nal xoXaKixws, applied to those that are deceitful at heart and prone to flatter ; and this is obviously the idea here. For in afflictions, relatives and opponents, and the heart itself, mingle their flatteries, and when these are overcome, believers are confirmed. — raura/c, in these (present) afflictions) The present time. — xsfasQa, we lie, i.e. are set, are appointed unto this) An argument from our calling : comp. ch. v. 9, God sdsro, hath appointed us.
5. *O treipa^uv, the tempter) i.e. Satan, ch. ii. 18. The expres sion contains an Euphemism. Often this enemy is near [lurks underneath] when one would not think that he is. Comp. at Matt. iv. 3.
6. " ApTi, now) Immediately after the arrival of Timothy, he writes these things with fresh joy and the most tender affection. Consonant with this is the euay<ysXiffa/j,svov, a striking participle. — Jflwo0oDi/rgc, desiring greatly [having a yearning desire]) This is the sign of a good conscience.
7. A/a T?}c, — <7ri6rsoj$, by — faith) Construe this with irapsjcXvidrr jjstv, we were comforted.
8. NDv £w/a,si>, now we live) now we feel that we are alive. The form of testifying the highest joy ; comp. Ps. Ixiii. 4.
1 So Latin ceveo in Persius ; Th. cieo, to move or shake, as aaivu from
fftU) aSlCa. ED.