pel affirmed, had been raised from the dead; even Jesus, who would deliver them from the wrath, which is to come on idolaters and unbelievers at the day of judgment, ver. 10.-Now, that the Thessalonians looked for the return of Jesus from heaven, and that God had raised him from the dead, and that they expected, at his return, to be delivered by him from the wrath to come on unbelievers, are all fitly mentioned in this place, because their expectation of these things, shews what a strong impression the miracles wrought in confirmation of the gospel, had made on the minds of the Thessalonians. Moreover, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, being a demonstration of his character as the Son of God, and of his power and authority as judge of the world, it is an undeniable proof of the divine original of the gospel, and renders the rejection of it extremely dangerous. Here then is the first argument, by which the gospel is proved to be a revelation from God. The apostles and evangelists wrought miracles, to shew that they were actually sent of God to publish those great discoveries, to which they had given the name of, to evayyελov, The gospel, or good news from God.Now, on this argument I observe, that the efficacy of miracles to prove a divine commission, when wrought expressly for the purpose, is so plain, that little reasoning is needed to shew it. Persons of ordinary understandings, equally with those whose minds are more improved, naturally reason as Nicodemus did, John iii. 2. Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do those miracles which thou dost, unless God be with him. Wherefore, this being a dictate of common sense, the apostle had no occasion to shew, that a teacher who works miracles in confirmation of his doctrine, is commissioned of God. All he had to do, was to make it evident, that his own preaching at Thessalonica had been accompanied with undeniable miracles. To the Thessalonians, however, this was not necessary. They had been eye-witnesses of his miracles, and had been converted by them and after their conversion they had received from the Apostle the gifts of the Holy Ghost; and among the rest, the power of working miracles, and of speaking foreign languages: which power, such of them as possessed it, had no doubt often exercised. Nevertheless, to convince those who should live in after ages, that the first preaching of the gospel was accompanied with great and evident miracles, the writers of this epistle have taken the very best method that could be devised; a method which carries absolute conviction with it. They spake plainly to the Thessalonians in this letter, concerning : the miracles which they wrought in their presence, and the spiritual gifts which they conferred on them; and affirmed before them all, that these miracles and gifts produced in them the fullest assurance of the divine original of the gospel; and that the Thessalonians shewed the strength of their persuasion, by forsaking the established idolatry, and suffering with joy much affliction for the gospel. They farther affirmed, that the miracles which they wrought among them were so public, and so well known, that when the unbelieving inhabitants of their city went with their merchandize to foreign countries, they not only reported, that the Thessalonians had forsaken the worship of the gods, but that they had been persuaded to do so by the miracles which the preachers of the new religion had wrought in their presence, and by the extraordinary faculties which these preachers conferred on their disciples. Now, who does not see, that open appeals of this kind, made to the Thessalonians concerning the miracles which were wrought in their presence, and concerning the impression which these miracles made on their minds, and the change produced in their religious sentiments through the influence of that impression, are undeniable proofs that miracles were really wrought at Thessalonica, and spiritual gifts conferred: and that by the power OLD TRANSLATION. GREEK TEXT. CHAP. I. 1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians, which is in God the Father, and in the the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Παυλος και Σιλουανος και Τιμοθεος τη εκκλησια Θεσσαλονικέων, εν Θεῷ πα τρι, και Κυρίῳ Ιησού Χριςῳ χαρις υμιν και ειρηνη απο Θεου πατρος ήμων, και Κυριον Ιησου Χριςου. Kv 2 Ευχαριςουμεν τω Θεῷ παντοτε περι παντων ύμων, making mention of youin μνειαν ὑμων ποιουμενοι επι των προσευχων ἡμων. our prayers. Ver. 1.-1. Paul and Silvanus and Timothy. See Pref. p. 10, 11. for the reason why Paul, in the inscription of this epistle, omitted calling himself an apostle, and allowed Silas and Timothy to join him in writing it.—It appears from Acts xvi. 37. that Silas was a Roman as well as Paul. Silvanus there. fore may have been his Roman name, as Saul's Roman name was Paul. 2. Church of the Thessalonians which is (ev) in God the Father. This is an expression of the same kind with that, 1 John v. 20. We are in the true God, in his Son Jesus Christ. We are in subjection to the true God, by being in subjection to his Son. of these miracles and gifts, the Thessalonians were turned from worshipping idols, to serve the living and true God. For, three persons in their right senses, as Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, undoubtedly were cannot be supposed to have made open appeals of this nature, to such numerous societies as the church of the Thessalonians, and the other churches in which this epistle was to be read, where every individual must have known whether the matters affirmed were true or false, unless they had been conscious to themselves that they were all strictly true. As little can it be supposed, that the Thessalonians and the rest, would have received and perused the letter in which these things are affirmed, unless they had known them to be all strictly true. Wherefore, that great and evident miracles were wrought at Thessalonica; that spiritual gifts were conferred on them who believed; and that these miracles and spiritual gifts produced among the Thessalonians such a firm persuasion of the truth of the new religion, that many of them forsook their idol gods, embraced the gospel, and worshipped the one true God only; and that this change of religion brought upon them much affliction; are all as certain, as that the Thessalonians embraced the gospel, and that this epistle was written by Paul, and sent to Thessalonica. NEW TRANSLATION. CHAP. I. 1 Paul and Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians WHICH IS in 2 God the Father, and IN the Lord Jesus Christ : Grace BE to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We give thanks to God at all times for you all,1 making mention of you in our prayers. COMMENTARY. CHAP. I. 1 PAUL and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians, which is in subjection to God, the Father of the universe, whereby it is distinguished from a society of idolatrous Gentiles; and in subjection to the Lord Jesus Christ, whereby it is distinguished from a synagogue of unbelieving Jews: May virtuous dispositions come to you, with happiness from God our common Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the Father dispenses these blessings to men. 2 Having great satisfaction in your conversion, We give thanks to God at all times for you all; making mention of you in our prayers. See Philip. i. 3.-5. Ver. 2.-1. We give thanks to God at all times for you all. From this, and from many other passages in St. Paul's epistles, we learn that it is the 3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God, and our Father: 4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 3 Αδιαλείπτως μνημονευοντες ύμων του έργου της πιο ςεως, και του κόπου της αγαπης, και της υπομονης της ελπιδος του Κυρίου ἡμων Ιησου Χριςου, εμπροσθεν του Θεου και πατρος ήμων 4 Είδοτες, αδελφοι ηγαπημενοι υπο Θεου, την εκλογην ύμων. First Argument in Proof of the Divine Original of the Gospel, 5 For our gospel came 5 Ότι το ευαγγελιον not unto you in word only, μων ουκ εγενηθη εις ύμας εν λογω μόνον, αλλα και εν δυνάμει, και εν πνευματι ά but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance ; as ye know duty of Christians, and especially of the ministers of the gospel, to pray for others, and to praise God for all that is excellent and valuable in them; and to pray that God may continue and increase their graces. Ver. 3.1. Without ceasing. In scripture, that which is done frequently, is said to be done without ceasing, and always. Thus chap. v. 16. Rejoice always, ver. 17. Pray without ceasing. 2. Your work of faith. In allusion to our Lord's words, John vi. 29. This is the work of God, that ye believe. The apostle uses the same phraseology, Phil. i. 6. Faith therefore is truly a good work. 3. Labour of love. Some by this understand that labour in working with their hands, to which the Thessalonians submitted from love to their distressed brethren, that they might have wherewith to relieve them. 4. In the sight of God, even our Father. Some join this with the first clause, Without ceasing remembering in the sight, &c. But I prefer the sense which arises from the order of the words in the original, and which I have followed in the translation. Ver. 4.1. Brethren beloved of God. The order of the words in the Greek directs to this translation. Besides, we have the same phrase, 2 Thess, ii. 13. 2. Your election. This being said to the whole church of the Thessalonians, cannot be understood of the election of every individual in that church to eternal life. For there were among them some who walked disorderly, 2 Thess. iii. 11. concerning whom the apostle doubted whether they would obey his precepts, chap. v. 14. Besides, the election of the Thessalonians was such as left the apostle room to fear, lest the tempter might have tempted them so effectually, as to make his labour among them fruitless, 3 Without ceasing1 remembering your work 2 of faith, and labour of love, and perseverance (see Rom. ii. 7.) of the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of Gods even our Father; 4 Knowing, brethren beloved of God, your election.2 3 Without ceasing remembering your work of faith in Christ; and those laborious offices which from love ye perform to your brethren; and your perseverance in the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ's second coming (ver. 10.) All these virtues ye exercise in the sight of God, even our Father, who beholds them with pleasure. 4 By these things, brethren beloved of God, we know your election to be his people, although ye do not obey the law of Moses. founded upon the Miracles by which it was confirmed. 5 For our gospel came not to you (EV) in word only, but also (ev) with power1 and with the Holy Ghost, 2 and with 1 5 Your work of faith, by which I know your election is well founded; for our gospel was not offered to you in word only, but also with great miracles performed in your presence, chap. iii. 5. but such a fear was not consistent with the apostle's knowledge of their election to eternal life.—The election here spoken of, is that which Moses has described, Deut. vii. 6.—The Lord thy God hath chosen (elected) thee to be a special people to himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. But the Judaizing teachers denied the election of the Gentiles to be the people of God, while they refused to subject themselves to the law of Moses. Wherefore it was highly proper to assure the Thessalonians, that they were elected, or made the people of God, by faith in Christ alone. The controversy, agitated in later times, concerning particular election, was not known in the primitive church. Besides, whatever the secret purpose of God may be, it were extremely dangerous for any person to presume on his election, in such a manner as to neglect the working out of his own salvation with fear and trembling.-For more concerning election, see Rom. ix. 11. note 2. 1 Pet. i. 1. note 2. Ver. 5.-1. But also with power. In scripture, duvajus, commonly signifies that supernatural power, whereby Jesus and his apostles were enabled to work miracles for the confirmation of the gospel. Acts x. 38. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost, xas Suvaus, and with power. —Matt. vii. 22. And in thy name done many, Suvauus, wonderful works.— Rom. xv. 19. ay Suvaμel, By the power of signs and miracles, ev dovaμel, by the power of the Spirit of God.-2 Cor. xii. 12. Truly, the signs of an apostle were fully wrought among you, with all patience, by signs and wonders, nal Suvapeol, and powers; miracles in which the greatest power was displayed. 2. And with the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost here denotes those spiri, tual gifts of prophecy, healing diseases, speaking foreign languages, and the |