Ver. 13.-The Word of God. I. BT. PAUL OLAIXED TO BE A TEACHER OJI' THE WORD OF Gon. 1. He did not admit that his teachings were merely hun,an specula- tions on religious BUbjects. His position was entirely different from that of the most gifted philosopher, more exalted since he stood forth as the apostle of superhuman truth, aud also more humble since he subordinated his own private ideas to the message of which he was but the bearer. 2. St. Paul did not prcfess to be simply a witness of the facts of the gospel. 'l'hat was the position of the first Christian teachers. St. Peter and bis companions of the day of Pentecost pre~ented themselves as witnesses of the great transactions of the life of Christ, and chiefly of his resurrection. They narrated what they had seen and heard (Acts ii. 32; 1 John i. 1). St. Paul had uot been a companion of our Lord. But he had something higher than the knowledge of experience and observation. He did not learn his gospel of men; it was revealed to him in the solitudes of Arabia. 3. St. Paul claimed to be inspired with a Divine revelation. It was not his thought, nor even his testimony of Divine facts, but the Word of God that he proclaimed. It is plain that the apostle used his own language, and spoke in a characteristic and individual style. He also reasoned with his own intellect; for inspiration does not simply breathe through a man as through a mechanical instrument. But his language and thought and whole being were illumined and elevated by the Spirit of God, so that he saw the truth of God and was able to speak the Word of God. II. THE TH~:BSALONIANB ACCEPTED ST. PAUL'S MESSAGE AS THE WORD OF Gon. 1. 'They admitled the fact. They did so, no doubt, first because the power and personal influence of the apostle impressed them ; then because they were convinced by his arguments; then because they must have felt the inherent beauty and greatness of what he taught; and lastly because they saw the good effects of his gospel. By these four gradations we are led on to a more and more consisteut belief in the Divine authority of the gospel; viz. by authority, by argument, by the excelleucy of the gospel itself, and by its fruits. 2. The Thessalonians received the message as befitted its Divine origin. (1) They believed in its truth. God only speaks what is true. To establish a message as the Word of God is to prove its truth. (2) They submitted to its authority. There may be many things in the gospel which we cannot account for. Our faith in God should be implicit. (3) They yielded to its influence. Thus they let it work in them. 'fhe Word of God is a word of grace and a word of command. To ll008JI' it aright we must avail ounelvee of the grace and obey the command. To 3 52 THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. [oB. u. 1-20
receive a "'Ord of pardon Ill! from a king is to leave the prison when the door is open To receive a mes~age as from a master is to carry out the order. Ill. ST. PAUL'S TEAOHINO PROVED ITBELF TO BE THE Wonn OF Goo nv 1TB EFFEOTS. It was found to be working in the Church at 'l'hessalonica. 'l'he Word of God is powerful (Beb. iv. 12). Christ's words were spirit and life (John vi. 63). This Divine Word is no be.rren revelation of far-off celestial curiosities. It is " message concerning lluman and earthly as "'ell as heavenly affairs. Like the first creative word when God epake and it was done, the message of the new creation is a word that ~ffects. God's words are deeds. But that they may be deeds in us it is necessary for us to receive them in faith. And in proportion to our faith will the energy of God's Word work in us.-W. F. A.