THESSALONIANS, EPISTLES TO THE.
I. First Epistle. The authenticity and ca nonical authority of this epistle have been from the earliest ages admitted ; nor have these points ever been called in question, either in ancient or modern times, by those who have received any of Paul's epistles.
This epistle has generally been regarded as the first written by Paul of those now extant. In the Acts of the Apostles (xvii :5, sq.) we are told that Paul, after preaching the Gospel with success at Thessalonica, had to flee from that city in conse quence of the malice of the Jews; that he thence betook himself to Berea, in company with Silas; that, driven by the same influence from Berea, he journeyed to Athens, leaving Silas and Timothy (the latter of whom had probably preceded him to Berea) behind him; and that after remaining in that city for some time, he went to Corinth, where he was joined by Timothy and Silas. It appears also from this epistle (iii n, 2, 5), that while at Athens he had commissioned Timothy to visit the infant church at Thessalonica ; and from Acts xvii 16, we learn that he expected to be joined by Timothy and Silas in that city. Whether this expected meeting ever took place there, is a matter involved in much uncertainty.
(1) Time and Place of Writing. But what ever view we adopt on this point, it seems indis putable that this epistle was not written until Paul met Timothy and Silas at Corinth. The an cient subscription, indeed, testifies that it was written at Athens; but that this could not be the case is clear from the epistle itself. It must, however, have been written very soon after his arrival at Corinth; for at the time of his writing, Timothy had just arrived from Thessalonica (1 Thess. iii :6), and Paul had not been long in Corinth before Timothy and Silas joined him there (Acts xvii :I-5).
(2) Design. The design of this epistle is to comfort the Thessalonians under trial, and to en courage them to the patient and consistent profes sion of Christianity. The epistle may be conveni ently divided into two parts. The former of
these, which comprises the first three chapters, is occupied with statements chiefly of a retrospective character : it details the Apostle's experience among the Thessalonians, his confidence in them, his deep regard for them, and his efforts and prayers on their behalf. The latter part of the epistle (iv :5) is, for the most part, of a hortatory char acter : it contains the Apostle's admonitions to the Thessalonians to walk according to their profes sion; to avoid sensuality, dishonesty, and pride ; to cultivate brotherly love, to attend diligently to the duties of life, to take the comfort which the prospect of Christ's second coming was calcu lated to convey, but not to allow that to seduce them into indolence or idle speculations; to ren der due respect to their spiritual superiors; and, by attention to a number of duties which the Apos tle specifies, to prove themselves worthy of the good opinion he entertained of them. He con cludes the epistle by offering fervent supplication on their behalf, and the usual Apostolic benedic tion.
2. Second Epistle. The Apostle's allusion in his former epistle to the second coming of Christ, and especially his statement in chap. iv :15-18, ap pear to have been misunderstood by the Thessa lonians, or wilfully perverted by some among them, so as to favor the notion that that event was near at hand. This notion some inculcated as a truth specially confirmed to them by the Spirit ; others advocated it as part of the apostolic doctrine ; and some claimed for it the specific support of Paul in a letter (ii :2). \Vhether the letter here referred to is the Apostle's former epistle to the Thessalonians, or one forged in his name by some keen and unscrupulous advocates of the notion above referred to, is uncertain.
(1) Design. On receiving intelligence of the trouble into which the Thessalonians had been plunged, in consequence of the prevalence among them of the notion (from whatever source de.