1 Thess. 2:13. For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, —
Here the apostle praises the Thessalonians as well. It cannot be said, he says, that we alone act blamelessly in all things, while you showed something inconsistent with what I instructed you; for you listened to us not with the disposition with which one listens to men, but attended to us as though God Himself were instructing you. By "the word of God which you heard" the apostle means the preaching which is believed through the medium of hearing. "How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?" (Rom. 10:14).
1 Thess. 2:13. which also works in you who believe.
How is it evident that you accepted my preaching as the word of God? From your actions, he says, that is, it is revealed in deeds. If you had not accepted it in this way, you would not have endured so courageously so many trials. For just as the apostle himself proves by the dangers he endured that he is no flatterer and no deceiver, so also their measure is revealed from the fact that they endured afflictions.
1 Thess. 2:14. For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus which are in Judea,
So that no one would understand by the churches in Judea the Jewish synagogues, he therefore added: "in Christ Jesus," to show more clearly that what is spoken of is the churches of believers.
1 Thess. 2:14. Because you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,
A great consolation! For if the Jews, zealots of the ancestral law, having once believed, endured so much, then how much more ought you? It is no small proof of the truth of the Gospel that the Jews willingly suffer for that which they themselves formerly persecuted.
1 Thess. 2:15. Who killed both the Lord Jesus
And what is surprising in that they mistreated their own countrymen, when they even killed the Lord? See what a consolation it is to be a partaker with Christ in sufferings! Therefore Paul also always points this out in trials.
1 Thess. 2:15. and His prophets, 2
But someone will say that they did not recognize the Lord. So what? Did they not recognize their own prophets, whose books they carry everywhere? How then did they kill them too? From this it is evident that they do nothing as zealots for the truth, but rather rage against the truth.
1 Thess. 2:15. and drove us out,
The apostles, your teachers. Therefore you, as disciples, ought to endure all things, having these examples before your eyes.
1 Thess. 2:15. and they do not please God,
For how could they please Him whose Son they killed, and before that had also killed the prophets?
1 Thess. 2:15. and oppose all men,
1 Thess. 2:16. who hinder us from speaking to the Gentiles, that they might be saved,
For if salvation must be preached to the whole world, and they oppose this, then they are common enemies of the world. Only extraordinary envy would hinder the common salvation.
1 Thess. 2:16. and through this they always fill up the measure of their sins;
This, he says, they did and continue to do to the ancient prophets, then to Christ, and finally to us as well, in order to show that they are hastening to reach the full measure of sins, their utmost limit.
1 Thess. 2:16. But wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.
That is, for them there will no longer be what was before; there will be no return from captivity, nor will they take possession of their land, but to the end the wrath of God will remain upon them. The word "wrath" (ἡ ὀργή) with the article shows that they deserved it, that it was appointed and foretold. Having comforted the Thessalonians by pointing out that they have many fellow-partakers in trials, he now also comforts them by pointing out that their oppressors will be punished.
1 Thess. 2:17. But we, brethren, having been separated from you for a short time
Here the apostle speaks of love. Above he said: "as a father his children" (v. 11) and: "as a nurse" (v. 7), and here "being separated" (in the Slavonic text – "having been orphaned"), which is characteristic of children seeking their parents. This is so that we might understand from this how strongly he loved them. But at the same time he also hints at the sorrow in which he found himself on account of the separation. And it cannot be said, he says, that we remained separated for a long time; on the contrary, for a comparatively short and brief period, so that it could be considered almost as one hour.