Chapter 25—The Thessalonian Letters
This chapter is based on the
Epistles to the Thessalonians
.
The arrival of Silas and Timothy from Macedonia, during Paul’s
sojourn in Corinth, had greatly cheered the apostle. They brought him
“good tidings” of the “faith and charity” of those who had accepted the
truth during the first visit of the gospel messengers to Thessalonica.
Paul’s heart went out in tender sympathy toward these believers, who,
in the midst of trial and adversity, had remained true to God. He longed
to visit them in person, but as this was not then possible, he wrote to
them.
In this letter to the church at Thessalonica the apostle expresses
his gratitude to God for the joyful news of their increase of faith.
“Brethren,” he wrote, “we were comforted over you in all our affliction
and distress by your faith: for now we live, if ye stand fast in the
Lord. For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the
joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; night and day
praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect
that which is lacking in your faith?”
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“We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of
you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith,
and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the
sight of God and our Father.”
Many of the believers in Thessalonica had “turned ... from idols to
serve the living and true God.” They had “received the word in much
affliction;” and their hearts were filled with “joy of the Holy Ghost.”
The apostle declared that in their faithfulness in following the Lord
they were “ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.”
These words of commendation were not unmerited; “for from you,”
he wrote, “sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia
and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to Godward is spread
abroad.”
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