The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 13

recollection of the three preachers of the gospel-" As ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake." The 'l'hessalonians would have a very vivid recollec- t ion both of the preaching and the preachers, 'l'he three brethren were conspicuous by their holiness, their zeal, and their interest in the welfare of the 'l'hessaloniana. This was no self-flattery, for it was confirmed by the knowledge of their converts. 2. Tlie obfeclive widence of their election. "And ye became imit,'ltors of us, and of the Lord having received the Word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost." Their read)'. imitation of the apostle and his colleagues-which was, in truth, an imitation of Christ so ~ as t_hey were_connecte~ with him_ i~ hi_s life and tr~th--:--was a P!actica.l proof of the Bmoer1ty of their conversion. The 1m1tat1on was manifest m the spuit and circum- stanoa of their reception of the truth. (1) The truth was received "in much afflic- tion." The history of their conversion confirms this statement (Acts xvii. 6 9). But the persecution continued after the departure of the apostle. The gospel had° ita draw- backs, but the Thessalonians were steadfast in their allegia.nce to the truth. (2) Yet i I WBS received "with joy of the Holy Ghost;" that is, the joy tha.t sprinaa from his presence in the soul. They were thus imitating that apostle who "took "plea.sure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake" (2 Cor. xii. 9, 10). The joy in question is (a) a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. v. 22); (b) it is eSl!entia.lly connected with the kingdom of God as part of its bleasedness (Rom. xiv. 1i); (c) it is capa.ble of increase through the very presence of affliction (Acts v. 41); ( d) it is the strength of the believer-" The joy of the Lord shall be your strength" (Neh. viii. 10); (e) its advent ma.rks a distinct change in the world's history; (f) it ought oo be constant (Phil iv. 4); (g) it is maintained through abiding in Christ (John xv. 10, 11).-T. C. Vers. 7, 8.-fie profound impression made by the conversion of the Thessalonian,. Having become imitators of the apostles and of our Lord, they soon became examples for the imitation of other Churches. Their convenri.on lifted them up into a sudden and distinct visibility in two directiollL I. THE GOSPEL WAS THUS 0ARBDm THBOUGH NOBTHBBN .A.ND SOUTHERN GREECE LIKE THE BINmNG BOUND OF .A. TROMPET. "For from you bath sounded out the Word of the Lord in Macedonia. and Achaia." These two divisions of Greece, included in the Roman empire, received the report of the gospel, which went forth like a joyful sound, proclaiming with no nncertainty liberty to the captives. 1. .& work of grace in one place quicldy leads to a work of graa in other places. The tale of wonder is repeated with solemn surprise, gratitude, and expectation. 2. Oh'Urches already in ezi.stencit were titirred and stim'Ulated by the visi1ile work of grace at Thessalonica. !L THE REPORT OF THEIR FAITH RECEIVED .A. WIDE PUBLICITY EVERYWHERE, EVEN OUTSIDE THE LnUTB OF GREECE. This was not wonderful, for the city was, as Cicero says, in the very bosom of the Roman empire, a centre of business and influence which touched it.s furthest limits. Their faith must have had the solid stamp of reality to produce such a widespread sensation. It must have been practica.l and self-manifes- tative, for they did not hide it in their own breasts, but decla.re<l it by words and deeds. There was, therefore, no necessity for the apostle speaking about it-" so that we need not to ■peak anything."-T. C. Vers. 9, 10.-The nature of the impression made 'Upon the world by the spectacle of TliaMilonialn pidy. It WBB a truly providential foresight that led the a.postles at tho i:>eginning of the gospel to plant it first in the great cities of the world. Thus it first appmred at Jerusalem, Antioch, Ephesus, Thessa.lbnica, Rome, and Corinth. L TJIE WORLD Wil FIBST Dll'RESSED BY THE RAPID AND IMMEDIAT~ BUC0EBS OP THE .A.POSTLES. "For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we ha.d unto you" The world seemed to appreciate the boldness, the sincerity, the uprightness of the preachers, as element.& of their success; for there was no dexterous fla.ttery, there was no spirit of ■elf-seeking, there was no guileful strategy, in the proclama.tion of the gospel. II. THE WORLD WAS STILL HORE DEEPLY DlPRESSED BY THE BLESSED EPP'E<11'8 OP TJIB .il'OBTLEB' PREACHING, "And how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and irue God." I. It wa, a CQ11,version from Uolatrg. Immediately and. at once they oa. 1. 1-10.] THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE 'fllESSALONIANS. 9