THE
PULPIT COMMENTARY EDITED BY THE
VERY REV. H. D. M. SPENCE, D.D. DEAN OF GLOUCESTER
AND BY THE
REV. JOSEPH S. EXELL, M.A.
WITH
INTRODUCTIONS BY THE
VERY REV. F. W. FARRAR, D.D., F.R.S., DEAN OF CANTERBURY RIGHT REV. H. COTTERILL, D.D., F.R.S.E. VERY REV. PRINCIPAL J. TULLOCH, D.D. REV. CANON G. RAWLINSON, 1\1.A. REV. A. PLUMMER, M.A., D.D.
NEW EDITION
FUNK & WAG NALLS COMP ANY LONDON AND NEW YORK Hl13 THE
PULPIT COMMENT ARY EDITED BY THE
VERY REV. H. D. M. SPENCE, D.D.. DEAN OF GLOUCESTER
AND BY THE
REV. JOSEPH S. EXELL, M.A.
I. THESSA.LONIANS <lftpo~ition anb l~omilttic,; BY REV. P. J. GLOAG, D.D.
REV. PROF. T. CROSKERY, D.D. REV. W. F. ADENEY, M.A. REV. B. C. CAFFIN, M.A. REV. R. FINLAYSON", B.A.
NEW EDITION
FUNK & WAGNALLS COMPANY LONDON AND NEW YORK 1D13 THE FIRST EPISTLE OF
PAUL TO THE THESSALONIANS. INTRODUCTION.
§ 1. THE AUTHORSHIP OF TIIE EPISTLL THERB is no doubt that the author of this First Epistle to the The1111&lonian1 is the Apostle Paul. This is one of those scriptural writings the genuiue- neee of which has been almost universally acknowledged. It has been called in question only by theologians of the most extreme school of critioism,1 and has even been admitted by some belonging to that school 1 The external evidence in its favour is strong. It is indirectly alluded to by the apostolic Fathers; it is directly referred to by such early Fathers as !rename, Clement of Alexandria, and Tertullian; it is contained in the Muratorian Canon, and in the early Syriao and Latin versions belonging to the second century; and its genuineness has never been challenged until recent times. To quote only one of these Fathers; Irenams (A.D. 179) thus writes: "And on account of this the apostle, explaining himself, has set forth the perfect man of salvation, saying thus in the First Epistle to the Thessalonittns: • And may the God of peace sanctify you wholly, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved without complaint until the advent of the Lord Jesus Christ " (' Adv. Hmree.,' v. 6, I). Nor is the internal evidence less strong than the external. The character of Paul is distinctly impressed upon this Epistle; his intense love for hie converts, his anxiety about their spiritual welfare, hie joy when he receives a fav"ur- able account of their faith and charity, his zeal for the cause of the Lord for which he is ready to sacrifice everything, hie noble independence of spirit,-all these characteristics of the apostle are seen in this Epistle. So also the style and mode of expression are Paul's. We have the same employment of emphatic terms, the same rioh use of synonyms, the same 1 See author's ' Pauline Epistles,' pp. 79-106,
• Baur ,1nil the 'l'tibiugen sohool: Hilgenfeld, however, asserts its ge11uint1D6IL ii INTRODUCTION TO
accumulation of id01ui, t.he same digrcRRions suggested by a word, the !!la.me preference for participial constructions e.s are elsewhere found in Paul's other EpiRtles. In ishort, &11 Professor Jowett ol1serves, "It has been objeot.ed against the genuineness of this Epistle that it contains only a single statement of doctrine. But liveliness, personality, similar traits of disposition, are more difficult to invent than statements of doctrine. A later age might have supplied these, but it could hardly have caught the very likeness and portrait of the apostle. . . . Such intricate similarities of language, suoh lively traits of character, it is not within the power of any forger t.o invent, e.nd, least of all, a forger of the second century." 1 Nor is there anything in the contents of the Epistle at variance with the opinion that it was written by Paul. It has, indeed, been asserted that it is devoid of individuality and doctrinal statements. Its perusal will show that it is at once lively and specially adapted to the wants of the Thessalonians. And that it is devoid of doctrinal statements is an assertion which may also well be disputed; but even admitting that there is a partial truth in the remark, yet this is easily accounted for by the oiroumstanoes under which the Epistle was written. • The coincidences between the Epistle and the incidents in the life of Paul, as recorded in the Acts, is another striking proof of its authenticity.1 In the Acts we read of the persecution to whioh Paul and Silas were BUbjected at Philippi, when, in violation of their rights as Roman citizens, they were publicly scourged and cast into prison. In the Epistle, written in the name of Paul and Silas, there is reference to this shameful treatment : " Even after we had suffered before and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention" ( oh. ii. 2). In the Acts we are informed that Paul and Silas encountered a similar persecution at Thessa.lonica. " The Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people" (Acts xvii. 5). In the Epistle Paul appeals to the knowledge of the Thessalonians concerning this treatment: "For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation ; even as it came to pass, and ye know" ( oh. iii. 4 ). In the Acts we are informed that Paul parted from his companions, Silas and Timothy, at Bero:ia, and was rejoined by them at Corinth: "And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia (to Corinth), Paul was pressed in the 1pirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Chrit1t" (Acts xviii. 5). And the Epistle, written, as we shall afterwards see, from Corinth, is in the joint names of Paul and Silvanus and 'fimotheus. Not only are there these coincidences, but also additional statements in the Epistle Sllpplementing the hi.story, thus proving that the one record could 1 Jowett'• • St. Paal'11 Epilltlea.' vol. i. pp. 24-26 Iat edit., pp. 28, 29 2nd edit. 1 Pe.ley'11 'lio1'81 P .. ulinm:' on I 'l'heue.looiana. nm 1"JW-i'l' El'lSTLE TO THE nrn~SALONIANS. iii,