The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 31

.vhioh the apoetle afterwnrds alludes. Or of wards alluded to by the apostle. The guile. Ae wo were not our•ulvos deceived, reference here is not to maintenance, but to ao 11eitlwr did wo 11llc111pt lo deceive others. glory ; we diil not seek glory hom yon, 'J'ho apo~lle di<l not a<lapt his religion BI when we might have been burdensomP, M 11homet, to suit tho prejudices or po.sAions wl,en we might have done so. Hence the of nwu; lw did not employ any seductive or wnr,I is to be taken in the sense of honour, temporizing arts; but he boldly went in the importance; when we might have claimed f11ce of Lho prevailing religions of the age, honour. As-in virtue of our character e.s-- Loth of the J ewe and of the Gentiles. the apostles of Christ. Paul does not apeak Ver. 4.-Jlut; in contrast. As; according of himself al.one, but he includes Silas e.nd as. We were allowed. The old Englisl1 Timothy, and therefore the word" apostles" for "approved." Of God. The word ren- is to be taken, not in its restricted, but in dered "allowed" signifies tried, tested e.s its wider meaning. gold is tested in the fire, and hence also the Ver. 7.-Jlut. The apostle now describes result of that trial, "approved." As we were his conduct positively. We were gentle; esteemed worthy to be put in trust with a word used of the amiable conduct of e. the gospel; entrusted with its publication. superior toward an inferior, as of a master Even so; in this condition of Rpproval and toward a servant, a prince toward his trust. We speak, not as pleasing men, but subjects, or a father toward his children. God, that trieth. The same verb that is "The servant of God must not strive, but rendered "allowed " in the first part of the be gentle toward all men" (2 Tim. ii. 24). verse; hence " proveth," or "approvetb." Some manu,cripts read, "We were babes Our hearts. Not a g,·neral stnt"ment, nmong you "-the dul'erence being only "God who is the Discerner of tlie 1,eart;" the addition of another letter. AD1011f but "our hearts," namely, of us, the pub- you; in our intercourse with you. Even lishers of the gospel-Paul and Silas and as a nurse; or rather, a nursing moth.er, Timothy; thus appealing to God, as the for the children are her own. Cherisheth; infallible Judge of their sincerity. the word employed for birds warming and Ver. 5.-For; confirming the statement cherishing their young. Her children. A that the preachers of the gospel did not seek stronger expression of tenderness and love to please men, but God. Neither at any could hardly be made. .1!:ven as a nursing time used we flattering words; endeavouring mother dedicates her I ife for her infant; BO. to gain you by flattery and praise; we did says Paul, we are willing to dedicate our- not pander to your feelings; we did not selves for you. Some important wanuscripts soften the demands of the gospel. As ye read the verse thus: "But we were be.bes know, nor a cloak--or pretext--of covetous- among you, even as a nurse cherisbeth her ness. We did not use the gospel as a pretext children;" but this arises from an obvioua to mask our real motive, which was cove- error of the transcriber. tousness, pretending to seek your spiritual Ver. 8.-So being affectionately desizvua good, whereas in reality we sought our own of you; a strong expression in the original: advantage. Paul could with perfect con- "being filled with earnest love for you." fidence appeal to his converts, and say, "I We were willing. The word denotes a pre- have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or determination of the will: "we esteemed it apparel" ~Acts xx. 83). He was free from good." To have imparted unto you, not the all sinister motives. "He did not use words gospel of God only, but also our ow:n aoula. such as flattery uses, or pretexts such as An evident climax: not only were we willing covetousneBB" (Jowett). God is witnese. to preach the gospel of God to you, but Paul appeals to the Tbessalonians them- more than this, to sacrifice our own Ii ves for selves that he had not used flattering words; your advantage. The word here rendered so now be oppeals to God that the motive •·souls" denotes lives; and the meaning is of his conduet was not covetousness. Men tbitt the apostle was willing to submit to can judge the external conduct, they can death for the sake of the Thessalon.ians. hear the fle.tteriug words; but God only The plural "we" still implies Paul and can know the motive of action-he only oan Siles e.ud Timothy. The thought ia-Aa a discern the covetousness. nursing mother not only nourishes her Ver. 6.-Nor of(or,/r<m1) men sought we children, but is also ready to sacri.fl.ae her glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when life for them; so the apostle not only we might have been burdensome. These nourished hia spiritual cbil,lren with th" words admit of two meanings. The apostle pure milk of tile gospel, but was ready to may refer to his refusal to seek mainten- sacrifice his own life for their spiritual main- ance from the Tbessalonians, and in this tenance ; thua exp~g in the strongest sense become a burden to them. But such manner the womanly tenderness of the a m111~ni.ng does not suit the oontext; and apostle toward bis convert.. J I - - 1• besid1111. thia refusal of maintenance is after- ware dear 1Ul&il u.  !Cl THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSAL0NIANS. [oe. n. 1-20.