1 Thessalonians 2

You have an anointing from the holy One. 2. God calls them to glory, as if a man were called out of a prison to sit upon a throne (1 Thessalonians 2:12). Who has called you to his kingdom and glory.

God's glory is much promoted in the preaching of the word, because it is his engine whereby he converts souls. Now, such as would hinder the preaching of the word, these fight against God's glory (1 Thessalonians 2:16): Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles, that they might be…

Ministers are but as the pipes and organs; it is the Spirit of the Living God breathes in them: when we come to the Word, we should think thus with ourselves, God speaks in this preacher. The Thessalonians heard the Word Paul preached, as if God himself had spoken to them (1 The…

As disobedience reproaches the ministry, so obedience honors it. The apostle calls his Thessalonians, his crown (1 Thessalonians 2:19): What is our crown of rejoicing, are not you? A thriving people are a minister's crown.

This sin can dress itself in the attire of virtue. It is called the cloak of covetousness (1 Thessalonians 2:5). Covetousness is a sin that wears a cloak; it cloaks itself under the name of frugality and good husbandry.

Secondly, God's wrath has something in it positive. That is, his frown and enraged fury, which is [in non-Latin alphabet], wrath come upon the sinner to the uttermost (1 Thessalonians 2:16). Here, three positions or maxims.

His policy is either to hinder from duty, or discourage in duty, or put men on too far in duty. 1. To hinder from duty, as (1 Thessalonians 2:18): I would have come once and again, but Satan hindered me. So many duties of religion had been performed, but Satan hindered.

(4) That the Lord having called them to faith, repentance, and newness of life by Jesus Christ, they give up themselves to be saved by him, and to obey him in all things; and therefore (5) are willing and ready through his grace, to walk in subjection to all his commands, and in…

So the first Church in the Province of Judea was in Jerusalem: But when that Church was compleat, as to the number of them who might Communicate therein to their Edification, the Apostle did not add the Believers of the adjacent Towns and places to that Church, but Erected other…

We condemne onely those that sinne through a wilfull contempt; because the evill of their halfe-way Reformation is discovered by them, whom God has raised up to declare his truth in an evill day. Now, when these sorts of men shall bee so farre from repenting of all the evill tha…

Fourthly, if we join with them that deny Jesus the Christ (1 John 2:22), and will be partakers of their sins, we shall be partakers of their plagues (Revelation 18:4). And for our unbelief, in persisting to persecute them that contend for the faith of Jesus the Christ (Matthew 1…

The Syriac renders it in this place by [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] pure; which is an inherent qualification; as it does (1 Timothy 2:8 and Titus 1:8) by [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] Pious, Holy, [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], says Hesychius: [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉]; Pure, Right…

He does not say, those that believe not, and obey not the Gospel, as he does elsewhere, when he treats absolutely of the day of judgment; as in that place (2 Thessalonians 1:8, 9) now mentioned; but it confines them to those that are adversaries, who from a contrary principle se…

And this season he seems to reflect upon in particular, because he mentions his own bonds at that time, and their compassion with him. However, certain it is, that all the Churches of Judea had suffered those things here mentioned from their countrymen, as the Apostle himself de…

And this wrath seems to be come upon multitudes in the world to the utmost. So the Apostle describes this condition in the Jews when they were under it (1 Thessalonians 2:15, 16): Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own Prophets, and have persecuted us, and they please not…

The Reverend Author gives this reason; because that text (Romans 11:20) speaks only of such as have been received into membership by their personal faith, and covenanting with the Church visibly. A. The text clearly speaks of the people or nation of the Jews, of whom it is said,…

Do but compare these persons in question, whom the hasty and rigid severity of man here pronounces to be justly deemed breakers of the Covenant, and to have put themselves out of it, with those whom the holy, but merciful and gracious God does in Scripture call and account such…

Which place must thus be understood: not that the gospel must be preached to the whole world at any one time, for that (as I take it) was never yet seen, neither shall be; but that it shall be published distinctly and successively at several times: and thus understanding the wor…

It is an holy calling, because of the effect and purpose of it: man's calling may put dignity and honor upon us, but it cannot infuse grace; it may change our condition, but not our hearts. It is an heavenly calling, because of the author of it, God by his Spirit; and because of…

And this was among the things with which Augustine comforted the lady Italica after the death of her dear husband, telling her that she should know him in the world to come among the glorified saints. Indeed, a greater than either of these — Paul — comforted himself that the The…

Ergo. That Churches are distinct Societies, is plain in the Scripture, where we have mention of many Churches in one Country or Province (Galatians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:14), of seven Churches in Asia (Revelation 1:4), and of all the Churches (1 Corinthians 14:33; Revelation 2:…

You have heard of mortification; you have heard the doctrine of changing from death to life; apply them, and take heed how you hear; you that heard it negligently shall grow worse and worse. The second means to hear profitably, is that which is set down in (1 Thessalonians 2:13)…

Sometimes we read of ministers of the Gospel weeping over souls, who, for their too intent minding of earthly things, are called enemies to the cross of Christ (Philippians 3:18). Sometimes they are ready to breathe out their own souls toward them among whom they labor (1 Thessa…

And so those terms, as far as the sacred Scripture is concerned, are unwritten (agrapha). Indeed, evangelical doctrine is called "the word of life" (Philippians 2:16), "the word of the cross" (1 Corinthians 1:18), "the word of faith" (1 Timothy 4:6), "the word of Christ" (Coloss…

It has, inward feeling (Philippians 1:9; Philippians 2:13); outward works (Ephesians 5:10). By feeling of the heart, we choose, love, desire, delight, are zealous in the good thing itself, that it may be done; to refuse, hate, abhor, and are zealous against the known evil (Amos…

Faithful pastors take in cities, and subdue crowns and kingdoms, to Christ. Paul conquered many crowns to Christ (1 Thessalonians 2:19). For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?

All things are delivered to mee by my Father: and presently after for all this he says, Come to me all you that are heavie laden,—[I am meeke and lowly;] verse 28, 29. Look therefore what lovely, sweete, and delightfull thoughts you use to have of a deere friend, who is of an am…

If a man be in a wrong, and will not see his error, will not see the evil he has done in God's sight, his stiffness is a sign of his dead-heartedness; so much stiffness here, so much deadness in his heart, and so much nearness to the chambers of death: For a living Christian if…

Abraham knew Lazarus (Luke 16:25). Ministers (1 Thessalonians 2:19): What is our hope or joy or crown of rejoicing, are not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming. Christ's argument (Luke 16:9): Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness…

The word is a torment, rather than a comfort to you, you are afraid it will be found too true. 4. Do you receive it as the word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13) It may be you do not contradict the divine authority in the Scriptures, but do you soundly believe them, and know the cer…

By this the Ministers of the Gospel are taught to handle their doctrine with modesty, and humility, without ostentation, with reverence, and with a consideration of the majesty of God whose the doctrine is which they utter, that God may be glorified (1 Peter 4:11). Secondly, the…

By this we are taught, that we may not fix our love, and our confidence upon riches: and they that buy, must be as though they bought not, and they that possess, as though they possessed not, because riches steal away the heart. The second cause of their poverty was, that they w…

Answer: Carnal Ishmaelites, such as are of the same religion and family with Isaac. Thus the Jews persecuted their own Prophets, and the Thessalonians were persecuted of their own people (1 Thessalonians 2:14). Thus Priests and Jesuits, that have been heretofore born, baptized,…

The reason was this. The Roman Emperor had given liberty to the Jews to live according to their own laws, and that without molestation or disturbance, in all places of the Roman Empire, so that if a Jew became a Christian, he had the privilege of a Jew, so long as he kept the ce…

Although all Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorified: for in this place we may see that two contraries are opposed one to another. If the ministers of the word be ordained to save men, it is a great honor to them when many are brought to salvation; if not, it makes them…

Of his abundant Love, 2 Corinthians 2:4. And of his affectionate and [tender] Love, as of a Nurse towards her children, 1 Thessalonians 2:7, 8. [So] being affectionately [desirous] of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of [God only], but also [our own…

'Whereunto I also labor, striving, according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.' 1 Thessalonians 2:2. 'We are bold in our God, to speak unto you the gospel of God, with much contention.'

Love is the fountain of all duties, the substance of all rules, that concern the Saints; the endless bond of communion; the fulfilling of the Law; the advancement of the honor of the Lord Jesus, and the glory of the Gospel. The primitive Christians had a proverbial speech, recei…

They were a people that had for many Generations been harrased and oppressed, by all the principal Empires in the world; this caused them to hate them, and to have their minds always possessed with revengeful thoughts. When our Apostle affirmed of them, that they pleased not God…

Therefore when this design of the love and wisdom of God was brought to light, it filled the Jews who had lost the faith of it with envy and wrath. See (Acts 13:45, 46, 47, 50; Acts 22:21, 22, 23; 1 Thessalonians 2:15, 16). The stories of all ages from there to this day testify…

(1.) Such as who although they had not embraced the faith, yet were free and willing to attend to the Doctrine of it, searching the Scriptures for a discovery of its Truth, and in the mean time instantly serving God, according to the Light of the Old Testament, which they had re…

For thus I guide all my counsel, whom I afterward receive to glory. The first direction (go your way forth by the foot-steps of the flock) holds forth, 1. That all believers, of old and late, are of one flock, of one common concernment, and under the care of one chief shepherd:…

3. This is in respect of the glory, that results to Christ from their submission and acknowledgment, even as sinners despising him, put (as it were) a blot on him, put him to open shame, and say we will not have him to reign over us; so believers, yielding up themselves to Chris…

Now, this may relate either to the reward that faithful ministers shall have from Christ, spoken of, Daniel 12:3. O what joy and glory will result to them, from the people's fruitfulness (among whom they have labored) in the day of the Lord! that they have not run in vain, but w…

This is the inward glory of the king's daughter, which faith sees and approves of, as that which becometh God to require in us; whatever is contrary hereunto, as a sensual, carnal, worldly frame of mind, it looks on as vile and base, unworthy of God, or of those who design the e…

James 1:3. The TRYING of your Faith works Patience. 1 Thessalonians 2:4. God who TRIES our Hearts. The same Word is used in 2 Corinthians 8:8. To PROVE the Sincerity of your Love.

And effectual to melt the heart! And as the warm rain is most refreshing, so when the word comes warmly, from the melting affections of the preacher, who imparts not only the Gospel, but his own soul with it (1 Thessalonians 2:8), this does abundantly more good than that which d…

1. To walk worthy of the Gospel; it is a Kingdom. The Apostle has an exhortation and charge to this purpose (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12), that you would walk worthy of God, who has called you to his Kingdom and glory. Walk in obedience to Christ, that's one thing.

1. The precepts are a part of the divine revelation: the object of faith is the whole Word of God, and every part of divinely inspired truth is worthy of all belief and reverence. The word works not unless it be received as the Word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13): For this cause…

1. On the one side there is the law of God's mouth, it is God's own Word, and we should be as sure of it as if we had heard him utter it and pronounce it with his own mouth, or had received it immediately by oracle from him. And indeed that is one way to raise this esteem (1 The…