The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Thessalonians — Section 17

Vars. 1-12.-Manifestation of solemn interest. .Address and salutation. "Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the Church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." The address is the same as in the First Epistle to the Thessa.lonians, with the exception of the substitution of" our Father" for "the Father." The saluta- tion is also the same, with the addition of the twofold source from which grace and peace are invoked, which is the same as in many of Paul's Epistles, with the exception of the substitution of" the Father" for "our Father." I. RECOGNITION OF THE SATISFACTORY CONDITION OF THE TBESSALONIA.N CBUROB, 1. Befure God. "We are bound to give thanks to God al way for you, brethren, even as it is meet, for that your faith groweth exceedingly, aud the love of each one of you all toward one another aboundeth." We are to understand that information had reached Paul and his companions from Thessalonica since the despatch of their first letter to t.hat place. It was information of faith and love on the part of the Thessa- lonian converts, of such a nature as to make Paul (taking him as representative) feel inwardly bound to thank God alway for them. This inward feeling answered to an outward fitness of circumstances. In the previous letter he had shown a deep interest in the perfecting of the lacking elements in their faith. We may think of a tree that has not come to its full proportions. It could now be said of them, after an interval of less than a year, that their faith was growing exceedingly. It was exhibiting such increase u a healthy faith always exhibits, and this in a marked degree. For such large realization of his wishes in the time it was only meet that he should thank God. He had also expressly prayed that the Lord would make them to abound in love one toward another. It could now be said that this was in the way of fulfilment. Their love waa in process of enlargement as all love should be, and in a marked degree as the word would seem to imply. Their love was markedly individual. There was love toward the circle as a whole which was real and commendatory, but there was also personal attachment between the various members of the circle, individual toward indi- vidual '!'heir love was also markedly universal within the circle. The abounding was in the love of each one of them all toward one another. That testified to a har- monious circle. "When we love in part," says Theophylact, "this is not love, but division. For if it is for God's sake thou lovest, see that thou love all." There is a symmetry in love which requires that, loving our heavenly Father, we should love all bis children ; that, loving Christ, we should love the whole Christian circle. In the Thessalonian circle no exception is made of the busybodies afterwards referred to as loved or loving. In being busybodies they were not doing their duty by the other members of the circle; but the obstacle thus presented to their brethren loving them was commendably surmounted. As for the love of the busybodies themselves, it was not sufficiently characterized by wisdom, and did, thererore, contain something to be subtracted. Still, his prayer had been in so large a degree answered that it was only meet that he should give thanks to God for them. What obstacles there are to our loving in the Christian circle let us try to surmount, and let us not ourselve11 present any obstacles. And let us be thankful before God for what harmony is enjoyed. 2. Before the (Jh:wrches. "So that we ourselves glory in you in the Churches of God for your patience and faith in all yonr persecutions and in the afflictions which ye endure." Formerly there was no need to say anything of their faith to God-ward. Their conversion to Christianity, with joyfulness in attendant persec11tion, was widely known. It was not now that others were behindhand; for they had warm friends, and these not a few, who gloried in tlwru. But Paul and his companions were s•• over- joyed that they were moved to join with others in glorying in them. The spl,cre o/ glorying was the Churches of God, i.e. C'-0rinth, from which this letter was written. and oa. 1.1-12.) 'fHE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. 15