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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [First Thessalonians III].</TITLE>
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"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
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<body background="../sueback.jpg" bgproperties="fixed" >
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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<h3><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank">Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page</a>
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC52002.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC52004.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>F I R S T T H E S S A L O N I A N S.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. III.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter the apostle gives further evidence of his love to the
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Thessalonians, reminding them of his sending Timothy to them, with the
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mention of his design therein and his inducements so to do,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+3:1-5">ver. 1-5</A>.
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He acquaints them also with his great satisfaction at the return of
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Timothy, with good tidings concerning them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+3:6-10">ver. 6-10</A>.
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And concludes with fervent prayer for them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+3:11-13">ver. 11, to the end</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="1Th3_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Th3_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Th3_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Th3_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Th3_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Mission of Timothy.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 51.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good
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to be left at Athens alone;
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2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our
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fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to
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comfort you concerning your faith:
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3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for
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yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
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4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we
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should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
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5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to
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know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you,
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and our labour be in vain.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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In these words the apostle gives an account of his sending Timothy to
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the Thessalonians. Though he was hindered from going to them himself,
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yet his love was such that he could not forbear sending Timothy to
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them. Though Timothy was very useful to him, and he could not well
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spare him, yet Paul was content, for their good, <I>to be left alone at
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Athens.</I> Note, Those ministers do not duly value the establishment
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and welfare of their people who cannot deny themselves in many things
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for that end. Observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. The character he gives of Timothy
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+3:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>):
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<I>We sent Timotheus, our brother.</I> Elsewhere he calls him his son;
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here he calls him brother. Timothy was Paul's junior in age, his
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inferior in gifts and graces, and of a lower rank in the ministry: for
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Paul was an apostle, and Timothy but an evangelist; yet Paul calls him
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brother. This was an instance of the apostle's humility, and showed his
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desire to put honour upon Timothy and to recommend him to the esteem of
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the churches. He calls him also a minister of God. Note, Ministers of
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the gospel of Christ are ministers of God, to promote the kingdom of
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God among men. He calls him also his fellow-labourer in the gospel of
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Christ. Note, Ministers of the gospel must look upon themselves as
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labourers in the Lord's vineyard; they have an honourable office and
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hard work, yet a good work. <I>This is a true saying, If any man desire
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the office of a bishop, he desires a good work,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+3:1">1 Tim. iii. 1</A>.
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And ministers should look upon one another, and strengthen one
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another's hands, not strive and contend one with another (which will
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hinder their work), but strive together to carry on the great work they
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are engaged in, namely, to preach and publish the gospel of Christ, and
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to persuade people to embrace and entertain it and live suitably
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thereto.</P>
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<P>
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II. The end and design why Paul sent Timothy: <I>To establish you and
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to comfort you concerning your faith,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+3:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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Paul had converted them to the Christian faith, and now he was desirous
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that they might be confirmed and comforted, that they might confirmed
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in the choice they had made of the Christian religion, and comforted in
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the profession and practice of it. Note, The more we are comforted, the
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more we shall be confirmed, because, when we find pleasure in the ways
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of God, we shall thereby be engaged to continue and persevere therein.
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The apostle's design was to establish and comfort the Thessalonians
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concerning their faith,--concerning the object of their faith, namely,
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the truths of the gospel, and particularly that Jesus Christ was the
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Saviour of the world, and so wise and good, so powerful and faithful,
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that they might rely upon him,--concerning the recompence of faith,
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which was more than sufficient to balance all their losses and reward
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all their labours.</P>
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<P>
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III. The motive inducing Paul to send Timothy for this end, namely, a
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godly fear or jealousy, lest they should be moved from the faith of
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Christ,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+3:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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He was desirous that no man, no one among them, should be moved or
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shaken in mind, that they should not apostatize or waver in the faith.
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And yet,</P>
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<P>
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1. He apprehended there was danger, and feared the consequence.</P>
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<P>
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(1.) There was danger,
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[1.] By reason of <I>affliction</I> and persecution for the sake of the
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gospel,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+3:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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These Thessalonians could not but perceive what afflictions the
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apostles and preachers of the gospel met with, and this might possibly
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stumble them; and also those who made profession of the gospel were
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persecuted, and without doubt these Thessalonians themselves were
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afflicted.
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[2.] By reason of the tempter's subtlety and malice. The apostle was
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afraid lest by any means the tempter had tempted them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+3:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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The devil is a subtle and unwearied tempter, who seeks an opportunity
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to beguile and destroy us, and takes all advantages against us, both in
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a time of prosperity and adversity; and he has often been successful in
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his attacks upon persons under afflictions. He has often prejudiced the
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minds of men against religion on account of the sufferings its
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professors are exposed to. We have reason therefore to be jealous over
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ourselves and others, lest we be ensnared by him.</P>
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<P>
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(2.) The consequence the apostle feared was lest his labour should be
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in vain. And thus it would have been, if the tempter had tempted them,
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and prevailed against them, to move them from the faith. They would
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have lost what they had wrought, and the apostle would have lost what
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he laboured for. Note, It is the devil's design to hinder the good
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fruit and effect of the preaching of the gospel. If he cannot hinder
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ministers from labouring in the word and doctrine, he will, if he be
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able, hinder them of the success of their labours. Note also, Faithful
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ministers are much concerned about the success of their labours. No one
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would willingly labour in vain; and ministers are loth to spend their
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strength, and pains, and time, for nought.</P>
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<P>
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2. To prevent this danger, with its bad consequence, the apostle tells
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them what care he took in sending Timothy,
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(1.) To put them in mind of what he had told them before concerning
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suffering tribulation
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+3:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
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he says
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+3:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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<I>We are appointed thereunto,</I> that is, unto afflictions. So is the
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will and purpose of God that <I>through many afflictions we must enter
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into his kingdom.</I> Their troubles and persecutions did not come by
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chance, not merely from the wrath and malice of the enemies of
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religion, but by the <I>appointment of God.</I> The event only came to
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pass according as God had determined, and they knew he had told them
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before it would be; so that they should not think it strange, and,
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being fore-warned, they should be fore-armed. Note, The apostles were
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so far from flattering people with an expectation of worldly prosperity
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in religion that, on the contrary, they told them plainly they must
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count upon trouble in the flesh. And herein they followed the example
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of their great Master, the author or our faith. Besides, it might prove
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a confirmation of their faith, when they perceived that it only
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happened to them as was predicted before.
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(2.) To know their faith, that so he might inform the apostles whether
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they remained stedfast under all their sufferings, whether their faith
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failed or not, because, if their faith did not fail, they would be able
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to stand their ground against the tempter and all his temptations:
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their faith would be a <I>shield, to defend them against all the fiery
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darts of the wicked,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+6:16">Eph. vi. 16</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="1Th3_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Th3_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Th3_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Th3_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Th3_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Mission of Timothy.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 51.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us
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good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good
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remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also
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<I>to see</I> you:
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7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our
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affliction and distress by your faith:
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8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
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9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all
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the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
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10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your
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face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here we have Paul's great satisfaction upon the return of Timothy with
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good tidings from the Thessalonians, in which we may observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. The good report Timothy made concerning them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+3:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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Without question, he was a willing messenger of these good tidings.
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<I>Concerning their faith,</I> that is, concerning their stedfastness
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in the faith, that they were not shaken in mind, nor turned aside form
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the profession of the gospel. <I>Their love</I> also continued; their
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love to the gospel, and the ministers of the gospel. For they had a
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good and a kind remembrance of the apostles, and that constantly, or
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always. The names of the apostles were very dear to them, and the
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thoughts of them, and what they themselves had received from them, were
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very precious, insomuch that they <I>desired greatly to see them
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again,</I> and receive some spiritual gift from them; and there was no
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love lost, for the apostle was as desirous to see them. It is happy
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where there is such mutual love between minister and people. This tends
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to promote religion, and the success of the gospel. The world hates
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them, and therefore they should love one another.</P>
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<P>
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II. The great comfort and satisfaction the apostle had in this good
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report concerning them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+3:7,8"><I>v.</I> 7, 8</A>):
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<I>Therefore, brethren, we were comforted in all our affliction and
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distress.</I> The apostle thought this good news of them was sufficient
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to balance all the troubles he met with. It was easy to him to bear
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affliction, or persecution, or fightings from without, when he found
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the good success of his ministry and the constancy of the converts he
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had made to Christianity; and his distress of mind on account of his
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fears within, lest he had laboured in vain, was now in a good measure
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over, when he understood their faith and the perseverance of it. This
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put new life and spirit into the apostle and made him vigorous and
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active in the work of the Lord. Thus he was not only comforted, but
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greatly rejoiced also: <I>Now we live, if you stand fast in the
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Lord,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+3:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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It would have been a killing thing to the apostles if the professors of
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religion had been unsteady, or proved apostates; whereas nothing was
|
||
|
|
more encouraging than their constancy.</P>
|
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|
|
|
||
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|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. The effects of this were thankfulness and prayer to God on their
|
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|
behalf. Observe,
|
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|
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|
1. How thankful the apostle was,
|
||
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+3:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
|
||
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|
||
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|
He was full of joy, and full of praise and thanksgiving. When we are
|
||
|
|
most cheerful we should be most thankful. What we rejoice in we should
|
||
|
|
give thanks for. This is to rejoice before our God, to spiritualize
|
||
|
|
our joy. Paul speaks as if he could not tell how to express his
|
||
|
|
thankfulness to God, or his joy and rejoicing for their sakes. But he
|
||
|
|
was careful God should not lose the glory of the comfort he received in
|
||
|
|
the welfare of his friends. His heart was enlarged with love to them
|
||
|
|
and with thanksgiving to God. He was willing to express the one and the
|
||
|
|
other as well as he could. As to thankfulness to God, this especially
|
||
|
|
is very imperfect in the present state; but, when we come to heaven, we
|
||
|
|
shall do this work better than now we can.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. He prayed for them night and day
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+3:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
evening and morning, or very frequently, in the midst of the business
|
||
|
|
of the day or slumber of the night lifting up his heart to God in
|
||
|
|
prayer. Thus we should pray always. And Paul's prayer was fervent
|
||
|
|
prayer. He prayed exceedingly, and was earnest in his supplication.
|
||
|
|
Note, When we are most thankful we should always give ourselves to
|
||
|
|
prayer; and those we give thanks for have yet need to be prayed for.
|
||
|
|
Those whom we most rejoice in, and who are our greatest comforts, must
|
||
|
|
be our constant care, while in this world of temptation and
|
||
|
|
imperfection. There was something still lacking in their faith; Paul
|
||
|
|
desired that this might be perfected, and to see their face in order
|
||
|
|
thereunto. Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) The best of men have something wanting in their faith, if not as
|
||
|
|
to the matter of it, there being some mysteries or doctrines not
|
||
|
|
sufficiently known or believed by them, yet as to the clearness and
|
||
|
|
certainty of their faith, there being some remaining darkness and
|
||
|
|
doubtings, or at least as to the effects and operations of it, these
|
||
|
|
being not so conspicuous and perfect as they should be. And,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) The ministry of the word and ordinances is helpful, and to be
|
||
|
|
desired and used for the perfecting of that which is lacking in our
|
||
|
|
faith.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="1Th3_11"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="1Th3_12"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="1Th3_13"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Apostolic Prayer.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT VALIGN=BOTTOM><FONT SIZE=-1>A. D.</FONT> 51.</TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ,
|
||
|
|
direct our way unto you.
|
||
|
|
12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one
|
||
|
|
toward another, and toward all <I>men,</I> even as we <I>do</I> toward you:
|
||
|
|
13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in
|
||
|
|
holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord
|
||
|
|
Jesus Christ with all his saints.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
In these words we have the earnest prayer of the apostle. He desired to
|
||
|
|
be instrumental in the further benefit of the Thessalonians; and the
|
||
|
|
only way to be so while at a distance was by prayer for them, together
|
||
|
|
with his writing or sending to them. He desired that their faith might
|
||
|
|
be perfected, which he could not be the proper cause or author of; for
|
||
|
|
he pretended not to dominion over their faith, nor to have the donation
|
||
|
|
of it, and he therefore concludes with prayer for them. Observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. Whom he prays to, namely, God and Christ. Prayer is a part of
|
||
|
|
religious worship, and all religious worship is due unto God only.
|
||
|
|
Prayer is here made to God, even the Father and our Father; and also to
|
||
|
|
Christ, even our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore Jesus Christ our Lord is
|
||
|
|
God, even as God our Father is God. Prayer is to be offered to God as
|
||
|
|
our Father. So Christ taught his disciples to pray; and so the Spirit
|
||
|
|
of adoption prompts them to pray, to cry, <I>Abba Father.</I> Prayer is
|
||
|
|
not only to be offered in the name of Christ, but offered up to Christ
|
||
|
|
himself, as our Lord and our Saviour.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. What he prays for, with respect to himself and his
|
||
|
|
fellow-labourers, and on behalf of the Thessalonians.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. He prays that himself and fellow-labourers might have a prosperous
|
||
|
|
journey to them by the will of God, that their way might be directed to
|
||
|
|
them,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+3:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The taking of a journey to this or that place, one would think, is a
|
||
|
|
thing depending so much on a man's own will, and lies so much in his
|
||
|
|
own power, that Paul needed not by prayer to go to God about it. But
|
||
|
|
the apostle knew that <I>in God we live, and move, and have our
|
||
|
|
being,</I> that we depend upon God in all our motions and actions, as
|
||
|
|
well as for the continuance of life and being, that divine Providence
|
||
|
|
orders all our affairs and that it is owing thereto if we prosper
|
||
|
|
therein, that God our Father directs and orders his children whither
|
||
|
|
they shall go and what they shall do, that our Lord Jesus Christ in a
|
||
|
|
particular manner directs the motions of his faithful ministers, those
|
||
|
|
stars which he holds in his right hand. Let us acknowledge God in all
|
||
|
|
our ways, and he will direct our paths.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. He prays for the prosperity of the Thessalonians. Whether he should
|
||
|
|
have an opportunity of coming to them or not, yet he earnestly prayed
|
||
|
|
for the prosperity of their souls. And there are two things he desired
|
||
|
|
for them, which we should desire for ourselves and friends:--
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) That they might increase and abound in love
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+3:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
in love to one another and in love to all men. Note, Mutual love is
|
||
|
|
required of all Christians, and not only that they love one another,
|
||
|
|
but that they also have a charitable disposition of mind and due
|
||
|
|
concern for the welfare of all men. Love is of God, and is the
|
||
|
|
fulfilling of the gospel as well as of the law. Timothy brought good
|
||
|
|
tidings of their faith, yet something was lacking therein; and of their
|
||
|
|
charity, yet the apostle prays that this might increase and abound.
|
||
|
|
Note, We have reason to desire to grow in every grace, and have need of
|
||
|
|
the Spirit's influence in order to growth in grace; and the way to
|
||
|
|
obtain this is by prayer. We are beholden to God not only for the
|
||
|
|
stock put into our hands at first, but for the improvement of it also.
|
||
|
|
And to our prayer we must add endeavour. To excite this in the
|
||
|
|
Thessalonians the apostle again mentions his love, his abounding love,
|
||
|
|
towards them. The more we are beloved, the more affectionate we should
|
||
|
|
be.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) That they might be established unblamable in holiness,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Th+3:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This spiritual benefit is mentioned as an effect of increasing and
|
||
|
|
abounding love: <I>To the end that he</I> (the Lord) <I>may establish
|
||
|
|
your hearts.</I> Note, The more we grow and abound in grace, and
|
||
|
|
particularly in the grace of love, the more we are established and
|
||
|
|
confirmed in it. Note also, Holiness is required of all those who would
|
||
|
|
go to heaven, and therein we must be unblamable; that is, we must act
|
||
|
|
in every thing so that we may not in the least contradict the
|
||
|
|
profession we make of holiness. Our desire should be to have our hearts
|
||
|
|
established in holiness before God, and be preserved safe, to the
|
||
|
|
coming of the Lord Jesus Christ; and that we may be unblamable before
|
||
|
|
God, even the Father, now, and be presented blameless before the throne
|
||
|
|
of his glory, when the Lord Jesus shall come with all his saints. Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] The Lord Jesus will certainly come, and come in his glory.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] When he comes, his saints will come with him: <I>They shall appear
|
||
|
|
with him in glory.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[3.] Then the excellency as well as the necessity of holiness will
|
||
|
|
appear, because without this no hearts shall be established at that
|
||
|
|
day, nor shall any one be unblamable, or avoid everlasting
|
||
|
|
condemnation.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<!-- (End Body) -->
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
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<HR>
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<TR>
|
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
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|
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC52002.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC52004.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
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|
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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