The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 64

shakes believers by fears and temptations and delusions. 3. It implie8 that withoul perfect holine8B we cannol appear without, /,lame befwe God. 4. It implie.• that perfect holine88 is reserved for the second comin,q. (1) It is not attainable in this life. We are not here "without spot or wrinkle." . (2) It is connected with the redemption of the body. (3) It is connected with the final glorification of the redeemed; for all the 11aints are to be assooiated with the Judge as assessors in the final judgment (Luke xxii. 30; John v. 28; 1 Cor. vi. 3). Therefore let us pray for the increase of faith and love, and live in the blessed hope of the "day ~f Christ."-T. C. Vere. 1-5.-Proof of Ila. t1postui's love for the The8salonian,. I. THE HIBBI01' OF TIMOTHY, 1. He could no longer forbear. Mark the intensity of his affection. He repeats the words twice, ver. 1 and ver. 5, first in the plural, then in the singular number, implying, perhaps, that while all the missionaries longed to know how it fared with the Thessalonians, his longing was the most overmastering. He must hear of his converts, cost him what it might. The suspense was agonizing; he could endure it no longer; 80 deep, so burning, wae his interest in their spiritual state. What an example to Christian pastors now I 2. He would ll'llhmit to any sacrifice ; he would be uift alm,,e 11t ~thens. " Alone in London" has almost passed into a proverb. Loneliness is nowhere felt 80 much as in a great city-a " Crowded wildemea, Where ever-moving myriads seem to say, • Go I thou e.rt nought to UB, nor we to thee-away I'• St. Paul felt Uke this at Athens. To the student of history, to the lover of claMlcal antiquities, Athens is one of the most attractive of cities. To St. Paul it was a.lmoet a desert. He does not seem to have found delight in natural beauty or in historic associations; the one object of his life was to extend the Redeemer's kingdom, to win souls to Christ. The Athenians of his day had much cnrioeity, much versatility, but no depth of character, no real longing after truth. They did not persecute ; they had not earnestness enough for that. But mockery and indifference were more painful to St. Paul than danger and suffering. He could not feel at home in Athens. And he was one of those men to whom sympathy is almost a necessity ; his one earthly comfort -~ the society of Christian friends. This Epistle shows the intensity of J,is affections ; he can scarcely find words strong enough kl express his love for the Thessaloniane, his yearning desire to aee them again. Yet he had spent only three weeks, or perhaps a short time longer, at Thessalonica. How, then, must he have prized the society of Timotheus, the dearest of all his friends! He was his brother, his fellow-labourer; he could ill spare him, especially while labouring in vain, as it seemed, in that most uncongenial place. But he would send him; he would endure that isolation which was 80 oppressive to him. Even for himself it was better than the cruel uncertainty which he could bear no longer; and the visit of Timotheus wonld be very useful to the inrant Ohurch at Thessa.lonica. So he thought it good; it pleased him, there was a pleasure mingled with the pain, to be left at Athens a.lone. There is a pleasure in self-sacrifice, severe but real; there is a peace in the conscious submission of the human will to the blessed will of God- peace not granted to all, for not all take up the cross, but very precious, very high and holy. 3. & he sent hi.a closest friend and comp:inion. His words show how he felt the separation. He describes him as his brother; elsewhere he calls him his son in the faith, his dearly beloved son. Hi~ presence, his loving care, his affectionate sympathy, were very dear to St. Paul. Hie help, too, was very needful; he was the minister of Gou, St. Paul's fellow-labourer in the gospel (the readings are somewhat confused, but the meaning is plain); he could BSSist him in his difficult and almost heartless labour at Athens. Like St. Paul, he delighted to serve God, to do God's work, to preach the glad tidings of the atone- ment, the resurrection of Christ, the life and immortality brought to light by the Lord Jesus. There was work, hard work, enough and more than enough, for both of them at Athens; but St. Paul, in his intense anxiety for the Thessalonians, sent to them his dearest companion and hie best helper. Old work must not be neglected for new • it is a common temptation. The oare of all the Churches presaed upon St. PauL The ~eter of God must care for all the souls entrusted to his charge.  II THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. [oe. w. 1-13