The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 47

of great moment, and especially where hidden motive is concerned. (3) In lhe/orm of a desire/or hon01J,r, "Nor seeking glory of men, neither from you, nor fron1 others, when we might have been burdensome, as apostles of Christ." This is an alternative to covetousness. Following the method of deceit, they might have been seeking, not money, but glory. Christ says," I receive not glory from u,en." And he declares this to be an obstacle to believing. "How can ye believe, which receive glory one of another, and tLe glory that cometh from the only God ye seek not?" Paul and his companions bed not sought glory which had its origin in men, neither more immediately from them nor from others. They had not dor:ie this when, as the meaning wo11l<l seem to be, they might have claimed honour as the apostles of Obrist. The idea of "burdensome- ness" seems out of keeping with the imruerliate context, the preceding thought bein" "glory," and the succeeding thought being" gentleness." It seems better, then, to adopt the other meaning which the words equally well bear: "When we might have claimed dignity, assumed consequence." They had an honourable status as apostles of Christ, that designation being taken widely. The honour connected with it came, not from men, but from Christ. It was a great honour to hold a commiBSion from Christ. But they did not put forward their official position; they did not exact a recognition of it from men. 2. On the positive .,ide their motl,erly unselfishness. " But we were gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherisheth her own children: even so, being affectionately desirous of you, we were well pleased to impart unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were become very dear to us." :Su far from being mere officials taken up with their dignity, they were gentle in the midst of them. Their whole bearing ill the midst of the Thes-alunians was like that of a parent in the midst of his children. Nay, that dues not suffice to bring out the nature of thf' )!entleness. It is not the father who is taken; but, as expressing greater tenderness, the mother. In another place (Gal. iv.19) Paul also makes use of the motherly: "My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you." Here lie not ouly takes the mother, but the mother at the time when she is nursing. As when a nurse· cherisheth her own children. It is then that the motherly feeling is most active in her, It is then that she uses the sweetest expressions, holds her child with the greatest fondness and solicitude. But the nursing mother is not only the picture of gentleness ; she is also the picture of unselfishness. She does not think ,,f , receiving from her child; she thinks only of givi11g. She gives from herself, and, i: that child's life were in danger, she would not hesitate to give her own life. So the motherly was very active ill them at Thessalonica. They were ,iff,ctionately dairou., of the 'l'bessalonialls, Desire ha.s a certain contrary nature to affection. Desire draws in; affection gives out. It is giving out that is referred to here. It would seem, there- fore, better to translate, "Having a fond affection for you," ln the workiug of this affection they gave to the ThessaloniBilll the milk of the Word-here called the gospel of God-what was given them by the great and tender Giver to give to the new-born. And such was the Ullselfishness of their affection that they had the willingness, if it qad been llecessary, to give their very lives for the 'l'hessalouia11s, because, in their craving for the Word, they were felt to be very dear. 3. Striking exemplification of unselfish'Mtle. "For ye remember, brethren, our labour 1\lld travail: working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God." The apostle and his companions "practically gave up their existence., to the Thes11&- lonians. Those addressed as brethren are called upon to call to mind the labour and travail undergone for them. 'l'he second word serves the purpose of intensification. There was giving out of strength in " heralding" the go,pd of God. A hernld does not spare himself; as gospel heralds they did not spare themselves in soul or bod_v. This work of heralding was by itself labour and travail; but it was added to by the circumstallces under which they heralded. They felt tbeU1selves Ullder the necessity of working-Paul, no doubt, at the work of tent-making. That also was labour 11J1d travail; for it was night and day-as we would say, day and night; not completed with daylight, but extending illto the night: There was no reason for h_is not rece!viug from the Pbilippians as he did at Thessalon1ca. There was reason for his not rece1v1Dg lrom the Tb,•s8alonians. The reason ginn is, the desire not to bur,l,-11 any of them. His not feeli.,g free to burden e.ny of them, wha·ever determined it, rn1s'.·d him now •~ve the 11u1pioion of 'beiDg covetous among thaw. He bed only beell a giver, like a nUl!llng  44 THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONlANS. [OB. n. 1-20.