The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Thessalonians — Section 69

that they ahould come to him with all speed. Here cornea in the link which i11 given here: Wherefore (i.e. on account of his ende&vour to see the TheBBalonlane having l wice proved abortive) when he could no longer forbear (i.e. when he was nece~sitated to give some relief to his feeling of being orphaned), he thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone. This w111< a chRnge of plan, but arising out of the very best feeling. He sent on to Berrea a second commandment, that Timothy should proceed to Tbessa- lonica before joining him, Silas meantime remaining at Bercea. In that case Paul was roo/ly left behind at Athens, thongh not with the greatest literalism. He was left behind from the point of view of Timothy going on to Thessalonica, and also of his intention t.o have bad Silas and Timothy with him at Athens. It was the being alone at Athens that made him think of sending for Silas and Timothy, while his conductors from Berrna bad not yet left. He felt the atmosphere to be so oppressive beyond bis expectat1011s that he longed for their fellowship. And while he was waiting for them, a.s we learn from the Acts of the Apostles, the feeling did not abate. He went forth into this beautiful city which was associated with the greatest intellectual refinement. And, though a man of gigantic intellect, he was not attracted to the study of its works of art or philosophies. No, it was the gospel sandals with which his feet were shod. It was in the light of Christ that he contemplated the city. Its principal works of art were temples. There on the Areopagus was a temple of Mars, with the subterranean sanctuary of the Furies. On the prominent Acropolis was the Parthenon, or temple of Atbene, the protectress of the city, snd, next to it in mngnificence, the Erectheum with its presiding deities. A third rock was associated with Jove. There was an altar of Prometheus within the groves of the Aca.ciemy ; the Lyceum was dedicated to Apollo. At every turn were structures connected with idolatrous worship, and, among the many, the eye of the apostle detected an altar with this inscription, "To the Unknown God," from which be afterwards took occasion to preach to the Athenians some of the elemen- tary truths of religion. It was wbile alone in this city full of i,d,ols, oppressed by its false forms of religion, that he longed for Silas and Timothy to come on to him. But, strong as his desire for their fellowship was, it was soon overmastered by another, -viz. desire toward the Thessalonians, for the gratification of which he was willing t.o make sacrifice by remaining alone at Athens. II. MmsloN OF TnroTHY WITH REFERENCE TO THE THSSBALONIANB. .. And sent Timothy, our brother and God's minister in the gospel of Christ." Timothy is some- times called Paul's son; he is here called his brother. He wa.s a 110n who had already grown up to be a companion and associate in work. He was one to whom Paul gave commandment, yet it was properly to God that he stood or fell The sphere in which he ministered to God was the gospel of Christ. It was hie duty generally to bring the gospel or Christ to the wants of men. But let us think of it ss his duty specially to bring the gospel or Christ to the wants of the Thessalonians. 1. Timothy was to BUk to infl'Ue'Tl,Ce them against their bei,'fl{J fflO'IJed by the pressi.'fl{J a.ffeictions. "To establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith; that no man be moved by these afllictions." The afflictions, not confined to the Thessalunians, but having the first reference to them, are regarded as present. It was Thessalonian afflictions that forced Paul to leave Thessalooica. mnch sooner than he had intended. lt was in a manner Thessalonian afflictions that followed him to Bera,a. At the time of sending Timothy he may have bad l&te information of the things suffered by the Thessalonians of their own country- men. By indicatwns, then, he could only think of the afflictions as what might any moment be experienced by them. In consequence of these afflictions 'l'iruuthy was aent to atahlish them. It was work which might expose him to the attacks of the virulent Jews of TheFsalonica; and tliis establishing work is usually committed to older men. But that by which he was himself established was his message. And it was to this that he was to look for establishing the Thessalonians. He was to exhort them (not comfort them) concerning their faith, that oo o,an should be moved by these aftlictions. He was to hold up persuasively before them the gospel of Christ, that their faith tliereby being strengthened, they might be kept from apostatizing. 2. There was rea,cm, for their not being 'f1l,Q'IJW, by the ajfiictions. "For yourselves know tlml l,ereunto we are appointed. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before- 1,IUMi that we a.re to suffer affliction; even as it come to pass, and ye know." The Thc.,ualonians, and Paul as well, and not they alone, were appointed to suffer aff11otion, oa. m. 1-13.] THE FIRST EPISTU; TO THE THESSALONIANB. ff