11 even as ye have known, how each one of you, as a father his own children, we are exhorting you, and comforting, and testifying,
Not `as' putting you to shame do I write these things, but as my beloved children I do admonish, for if a myriad of child-conductors ye may have in Christ, yet not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus, through the good news, I -- I did beget you;
I do fully testify, then, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is about to judge living and dead at his manifestation and his reign -- preach the word; be earnest in season, out of season, convict, rebuke, exhort, in all long-suffering and teaching,
As to the rest, then, brethren, we request you, and call upon you in the Lord Jesus, as ye did receive from us how it behoveth you to walk and to please God, that ye may abound the more,
But we became gentle in your midst, as a nurse may cherish her own children,
Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him: `What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows? Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings. Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink. Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction. Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul, He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again. Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'
This, then, I say, and I testify in the Lord; ye are no more to walk, as also the other nations walk, in the vanity of their mind,
and such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness working, their own bread they may eat;
I charge thee, before God, who is making all things alive, and of Christ Jesus, who did testify before Pontius Pilate the right profession,
Those rich in the present age charge thou not to be high-minded, nor to hope in the uncertainty of riches, but in the living God, who is giving to us all things richly for enjoyment; --
Servants -- to their own masters `are' to be subject, in all things to be well-pleasing, not gainsaying,
these things be speaking, and exhorting, and convicting, with all charge; let no one despise thee!
My son! go not in the way with them, Withhold thy foot from their path,
and hast caused him to stand before Eleazar the priest, and before all the company, and hast charged him before their eyes,
And Jehovah saith unto Moses, `Lo, thy days have drawn near to die; call Joshua, and station yourselves in the tent of meeting, and I charge him;' and Moses goeth -- Joshua also -- and they station themselves in the tent of meeting,
`Now, my son, Jehovah is with thee, and thou hast prospered, and hast built the house of Jehovah thy God, as He spake concerning thee. Only, Jehovah give to thee wisdom and understanding, and charge thee concerning Israel, even to keep the law of Jehovah thy God; then thou dost prosper, if thou dost observe to do the statutes and the judgments that Jehovah charged Moses with concerning Israel; be strong and courageous; do not fear, nor be cast down.
`And thou, Solomon, my son, know the God of thy father, and serve Him with a perfect heart, and with a willing mind, for all hearts is Jehovah seeking, and every imagination of the thoughts He is understanding; if thou dost seek Him, He is found of thee, and if thou dost forsake Him, He casteth thee off for ever.
And David saith to Solomon his son, `Be strong, and courageous, and do; do not fear nor be affrighted, for Jehovah God, my God, `is' with thee; He doth not fail thee, nor forsake thee, unto the completion of all the work of the service of the house of Jehovah.
Come ye, children, hearken to me, The fear of Jehovah I do teach you.
And they give a charge for Joseph, saying, `Thy father commanded before his death, saying, Thus ye do say to Joseph, I pray thee, bear, I pray thee, with the transgression of thy brethren, and their sin, for they have done thee evil; and now, bear, we pray thee, with the transgression of the servants of the God of thy father;' and Joseph weepeth in their speaking unto him.
My son, if thou dost accept my sayings, And my commands dost lay up with thee,
Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding. For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not. For, a son I have been to my father -- tender, And an only one before my mother. And he directeth me, and he saith to me: `Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live. Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee. The first thing `is' wisdom -- get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her. She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely. Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life `are' multiplied to thee. In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness. In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.
My son! to my wisdom give attention, To mine understanding incline thine ear, To observe thoughtfulness, And knowledge do thy lips keep.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 2
Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 2 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 2
In this chapter the apostle puts the Thessalonians in mind of the manner of his preaching among them (v. 1-6). Then of the manner of his conversation among them (v. 7-12). Afterwards of the success of his ministry, with the effects both on himself and on them (v. 13-16), and then apologizes for his absence (v. 17-20).
1Th 2:1-6
Here we have an account of Paul's manner of preaching, and his comfortable reflection upon his entrance in among the Thessalonians. As he had the testimony of his own conscience witnessing to his integrity, so he could appeal to the Thessalonians how faithful he, and Silas, and Timotheus, his helpers in the work of the Lord, had discharged their office: You yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you. Note, It is a great comfort to a minister to have his own conscience and the consciences of others witnessing for him that he set out well, with good designs and from good principles; and that his preaching was not in vain, or, as some read it, was not fain. The apostle here comforts himself either in the success of his ministry, that it was not fruitless or in vain (according to our translation), or as others think, reflecting upon the sincerity of his preaching, that it was not vain and empty, or deceitful and treacherous. The subject-matter of the apostle's preaching was not vain and idle speculations about useless niceties and foolish questions, but sound and solid truth, such as was most likely to profit his hearers. A good example this is, to be imitated by all the ministers of the gospel. Much less was the apostle's preaching vain or deceitful. He could say to these Thessalonians what he told the Corinthians (2 Co. 4:2): We have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully. He had no sinister or worldly design in his preaching, which he puts them in mind to have been,
1Th 2:7-12
In these words the apostle reminds the Thessalonians of the manner of his conversation among them. And,
1Th 2:13-16
Here observe,
1Th 2:17-20
In these words the apostle apologizes for his absence. Here observe,
The apostle here puts the Thessalonians in mind that though he could not come to them as yet, and though he should never be able to come to them, yet our Lord Jesus Christ will come, nothing shall hinder this. And further, when he shall come, all must appear in his presence, or before him. Ministers and people must all appear before him, and faithful people will be the glory and joy of faithful ministers in that great and glorious day.