The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 37

labours he was more abundant" (2 Cor. vi. 4, 6; xi. 23); exhausting Ill■ ltrength daily in his e1tgcr r111xicty to reach the people with the gospel of God. If ever man went to the edge ol' his possibility, it was tl,e .I postle Paul. The labour might be exha11~ting in itself, or on account of the obstacles thrown in his way, but it became the habit of hia daily life. II. IT WAS DOUBLY LABORIOUS AT THESSALONIOA ON' ACCOUNT OF THE NECESSITY HE IMPOSED UPON' HIMSELF OF WORKING FOR HIS LIVING. Occupied in preaching or teaching through the day, he devoted his nights to his crart as a tent-maker. 1. 'I'M necessity i11 question was not imposed by either the Mosaic or the Christian Law. He showed to tht Corinthians that alike natural justice, the Mosaic ordinance, and positive law, 1M' announced by our Lord himself, required them to support the ministers of the gospel (1 Cor. ix.). "They who preach the gospel shall also live of the gospel." 2. It was a necessity based upon a high Christian expediency. At Corinth he thought good '' not to use his power in the gospel," and therefore preached the gospel there" without charge." The malignity of Jewish enemies led him to avoid even the appearance of coveto•is- ness, or of attempting to "make a gain" of the Corinthians. We do not know under what circumstances he was led to punue a similar course at Thessalonica. It may have been from similar accusations, or from a tendency he had observed among certain saints in the city to forswear work and go about as "busybodies." But his policy was excep- tional, and affords no rule in modern times unless the circumstances sh0l1ld again become exceptional. 3. It was a necessity cheerfully accepted/or the good of the Thessal,onians. He had but two means of support in the city. (1) He was not supported by super- natural means, like Elijah in the desert. (2) He was occasionally helped by the thouv,htful kindness of the Philippians. "I robbed other Churches," he tells the Corin- thians," taking wages of them to do you service." He tells the Philipµians, "For even in 'l'hessalouica ye sent once and again to my necessities" (Phil. iv. 15-17). (3) He had to supplement these occasional gifts by "working with his own hands." Every Jew had to leam a trade. The apostle thus dignifies common industry.-T. C. Vers.10-12.-.Appeal alike to man and to God respecting his perscmal and hia o.ffici,al work at Thessalonica. This double appeal attests his profound sincerity. L CONSIDER ms PERSONAL DEPORTMENT. " Ye are witneSBes, and God, how holily, and justly, and unblan1ably we behaved ourselves among you that believe." He touches on the twofold relation,hip of the Christian life toward God and toward man, for he had always exercised himself" to have a conscience void of offence toward m,Ln and God,'' and strove "to give no offence in anything, that the mi uistry be not blamed " (Acts xxvi. 16; 2 Cor. vi. 3). He had striven to walk circumspectly in a world prone to suspect sinister ends even in the best of men. The apostle's walk was on high, even as his calling was high. II. CONSIDER HIS OFFIOIAL DEPORTMENT. It WBS manifest in his method of dealJng with his converts, and in the end which he kept steadily in view in all his ministry. 1. His method of dealing with his converts. "As ye know how we exhorted and com- forted, and testified to each one of you as a father doth his children." (1) Mark the varieties in his mode of dealing with his converts. (a) He exhorted them, for their position of persecution and temptation demauded that be "should give them much exhortation" (Acts xx. 2). (b) He comforted them, in the JJresence of many disquieting circumstances in their conditiou. (c) He testified to them, exhibiting gospel truth with all urgency. (2) Mark the affectionate spirit of his dealing with them: "As a rather doth his children;" for he combined a father's unwearying love with his power or direction and authority. (3) Mark the iudividualizing interest in their welfare: "F.ach one of you." Whether they were rich or poor, few or many, he passed by none of them. They all had a place in his heart. 2. The ai,n of all his affecti.onate und ii,dividualizing interest in their welfare. "That you would walk worthy of God, who ~alleth you into his kingdulll and glory." The duty here enjoined," \Valk worthy ol God." This implies (1) conformity to his revealed will; (2) ndoroment of the gospel by a holy walk; (3) supreme reganl to the obli~ations involved iu the high calling uf God-these being necessitated by (a) tl,o nature of tht! call, which is not external, but ~piritual; (b) by the consideration of him who calls us; (c) by tile holy ,mds of the call; (d) by the consideration of their high dest.i nv: for tbey are caiie,i io "his owo I. TBEIIBALONIAlfll. 9  ~ THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. [cB. u.1-20.