The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Thessalonians — Section 41

TbeBSRloniRns knew the history of our Lord's life and death, and the doctrines of the Christian faith, only through the ornl teaching of St. Paul, The First Epistle was the only part of the New Testament Scriptures known to them; probably the only part as yet in existence. St. Paul had taught orally for several years before he began to write. Oral teaching was oftm misunderstood, often forgotten, as this Epistle shows. Uut the teach- Ing of an apostle, whether by word or by writing, was a precious deposit, for that which he deli\"ered to his converts he had himself received of the Lord. Be it ours to continue steadfast in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship. m. HE su11s UP ms HOPES IN A BENEDICTION. 1. He points eliem to God. The clause begins in the Greek with the emphatic 11b,-lls, himself. ,ve must stand fast, we must persevere ; but it is he who establishes the hearts of his chosen; he only is our everlasting Strength, the Rock of ages. The apostle in this place, as in 2 Cor. xiii. 14, puts the Sadour's name first, because it is by Christ that we have access to the Father. We feel that this order would have been incongruous, impossible, unless Christ were i11deed God; we feel that the singular verb could not be used, as it is twice, in ver. 17, unless he and the Father were one (comp. 1 Thess. iii. 11). God the Father is our F!!ther, St. Paul says emphatically. He loved us; on his fatherly love rests our election, our hope of !!lory. He has given already to his saints eternal comfort, a comfort independent of the changes and chances of this earthly life-a comfort eternal, for it rests on him who is eternal; and with that comfort which is present, though not temporal, not confined within the limits of time, he has given also 11, good hope of future glory, the blessed hope of everlasting life with God in heaven. And this he has given in grace, in the encompassing atmosphere of his favour, without merit or works of ours. 2. He prays that God's blessing may still rest upon them. He who loved them, and gave them eternal comfort and good hope, will surely comfort and establish them, His first gifts are a pledge of their continuance. He will not leave his work unfinished. His love is like himself, eternal He can sheJ that blessed comfort into the heart, the inmost seat of joy and sorrow. ,vhen there is hidden comfort there, outward troubles may cause sorrow, but cannot take away the fuluess of joy. He can establish our heart; he can give us that established heart, fixed, trusting in the Lord (Ps. cxii. 7, 8), which the world, the flesh, the devil, cannot shake. Then we shall speak only words of truth and love, and do only works of righteousness and faith through that inner comfort and strength which comes from God alone. LEssoNs. 1. In the midst of dangers there is comfort for the saints ; they are in the hands of God; God hath chosen them. 2. Look for the evidence of God's election in holiness of life ; without holiness we cannot see him. 3. Be steadfast; make your calling and election sure; take heed lest ye fall. 4. Only God can give "eternal comfort." Seek that precious gift of him ; it is given to those whom he stablishes in every good word and work.-B. C. C. Vers. 1-12.-.Antichrilt. L ErutoB BEGABDING THE COMING OF CHRIST. "Now we beseech you, brethren, touching the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him; to the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor _,·et be troubled. either by spirit, or by word, or by Epistle as from us, as that tl,e Jay of the Lord is now present; let no man beguile you in any wise." The apostle beseeches the 'l'h,-ssalonians as brethren, in the interest of correct views of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is his principal topic in both Epistles. The com- furting side of the coming is the gathering together of all believers unto him, never to be followed by a separation, as set forth in I 'l'hess. iv. 17, "'Then we that are alive, that arc left, shall together with them" (the d,ad in Christ who bav& been raised)" be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." By the way in which he introduces this gathering together, it can be seen that i., was very attractive to him. It was that in the corning which he especially wished to be conserved. In the beginning of 1 These. v. the apostle had distinctly taught the uncertainty of the time of the coming. But representations bad been made to the Tb-lonians that the day of the Lord was actually beginning. 'l'hree form• which these representations might take, or, more probably, did take, arespecifted. '!'here were representation, founded upon pretended prophecy. There were also representationa fowtded upon an alleged oral communication of the apostle. There were further repre- on. u. 1-17.J 'l'HE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS. 3~