Chapter 11—Epistles to the Thessalonians
While Paul was still at Corinth, laboring in word and doctrine, and
also in the work-shop, Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia. The
pleasure of meeting these two faithful co-laborers gave him fresh zeal
and courage to withstand the continually increasing opposition, which
had greatly hindered his labors. The apostle himself acknowledged that
[110]
he was in Corinth “in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling;”
but God, “who comforteth those that are cast down,” comforted him
by the arrival of his friends. God designs that fellow-laborers in the
gospel shall have their hearts knit closely together in the bonds of
Christian love, so that their presence shall greatly cheer and encourage
one another.
Paul had sent Timothy to revisit the places of his former labors,
and to confirm and establish the church at Thessalonica. Timothy’s
report was encouraging, and refreshed the spirit of Paul. He was thus
prompted to write to these beloved brethren. His first and second
epistles to the church are given us. His heart was drawn out in love to
those who had embraced the doctrine of Christ, which subjected them
to reproach and persecution heretofore unknown to them.
There was still another reason for Paul’s communication to these
brethren. Some who were newly brought into the faith had fallen into
errors in regard to those who had died since their conversion. They
had hoped that all would witness the second coming of Christ; but they
were in great sorrow as one after another of the believers fell under the
power of death, making it impossible for them to behold that desirable
event,—the coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven.
Some, who had fallen into the error that Christ was to come in their
day, imbibed the fanatical idea that it was praiseworthy to show their
faith by giving up all business, and resigning themselves to idle waiting
for the great event which they thought was near. Others despised the
gift of prophecy, exalting all other gifts above that.
[111]
Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica, greeting them, and invok-
ing in their behalf the blessing of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. He
76