The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 39

extreme. 1. T/IIJ Jew, were 'TTn1,rderer, of Jtsua and a~ prophet.. Though the Saviour was executed by the Romans, the responsibility of the terrible deed rests on the Jews, who "for envy" delivered him up, and "killed the Prince of life." They likewil!O killed their own prophets, whose very sepulchres they afterwards built and garnished. What wonder, then, that the Thessalonian converts should escape I 2. The Jews, though zealous for God, did not please him. "They pleased not God," but rather provoked him to anger by their unbelief and their wickedness. 3. Tht:y were at crou-pwrposeA with all mankind. They were" contrary to all men." They were anti-social, exclusive, and bitter, so that the heathen Tacit11s could describe them as "holding an attitude of hostility and hatred to the human race." But it was specially manifest in their resistance to the calling of the Gentiles-" forbidding us to speak to the Gentilea that they may b':! saved." The Acts or the Apostles supply abundant evidence of this fact. 4. T/IIJ end to which all thia wickedneSB toward God and man wos tending. "To fill up their sins at all times." (1) God often allows nations to complete the sum of their wickedness before bringing upon them final retribution. "The iniquity of the Amorites was not yet full" (Gen. xv. 16). (2) The judgment upon the Jews wu at band-" but the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost." "There is now nothing between it and them." The destruction of Jerusalem was still future, but "the day1 of vengeance were already come." The fire was already burning, which would never be quenched till the vengeance was complete. The apostle seems to regard the moment of the rejection of the Messiah as marking the outpouring of the Divine wrath. The history of the Jews from that moment ii & significant commentary Oil the passage. -T.O. Vera. 17, 18.-'I'he apostle'a ana:iety to viait the Tlieuaumiana. His departan had been very sudden, but he bad never ceased to regret his separation from them. I. His GRIEF AT THE SEVERANCE OF PERSONAL INTERCOURSE WITH THEM. .. But we, brethren, being bereaved of you for a short season in presence, not in heart." The term is expresHive of the orphan-feeling felt by children deprived of their parents, or of parents bereaved of their children. He seems to say like Jacob, "If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved." 1. His grief was a proof of his deep affection for them. Grace intensifies all right human affections. 2. Absence, instead of weakening, rathtT ,trengthened hill desire to see them again factJ to face. Neither time nor distance coui,i diminish his interest in them. II. THE SEPARATION WAS IMl(KDIATELY FOLLOWED BY BEVEBAL ATTEl.tPTS TO REVISIT THEM. " We endeavoured the more exceedingly to see your face wiLb grel\t desire." The difficulties were great, but he tried once and again to get b1 ck to Tbessalonica, probably in the period when Silas and Timothy were temporaril, gone from him. III. THB OBSTACLES TO HIS RETURN. "But Satan hindered 118." 1. The apo~tle believed in the existence of a personal evil spirit as well as in his stel\dfast rti,istance to the kingdom of God in all its interests. He was "not ignorant of ::--atan's devices." 2. The obstacles may have arisen thr01J,flh Satan inciting evil men to rai-<e confict, and tri"lmlations round the apostle, so as to allow of no leisure for the projected visit.. IV. THE GROUND OF me ANXIETY TO REVISIT THEil. " For what is our h,,pe, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye before our Lord Jesus at his coming?" He did not desire to have his labour in vain. 1. They 1Dffll closely identified with his own future honour and happiness, by the hope that they would not be " ashamed at Christ's coming," but would be "his joy and crown of rejoicing." He would tbdn "rejoice in the day of Chri~t that he had not run in vain, neither laboured in vain ' (Phil. ii. 15, 16). Therefore he longed to be near to them that "be might impart to them some spiritual gift,'' and watch over the walk of his spiritu•I children. 2. His wish implies (1) that there will be degrees of glory in heaven according to the measures of a minister's UBefnlneBB; (2) that he will be able to ideutify his converts in heaven. -T.O. Vers.1-12.-77iedaaracteriaticso/ 81. Pauf,preaching al 7'lu.,alonica. L A.PPBAL TO THE REOOLLEarlON OF THB THEBSALONIANS, 1. His first appearance •mong ,Jae. ~ad nol been ,n win. Others had borne witness to its results. That teiltimc,ny wu voe; 36 THE FIRST EPISTLE •ro 1'HE THESSALONIANS. [cH. n. 1-20.