Christians of Thessalonica, to whom St. Paul sent two
epistles. It is recorded in the Acts, that St. Paul, in his first
journey upon the continent of Europe, preached the Gospel at
Thessalonica, at that time the capital of Macedonia, with considerable
success; but that after a short stay he was driven thence by the malice
and violence of the unbelieving Jews. From Thessalonica St. Paul went to
Berea, and thence to Athens, at both which places he remained but a
short time. From Athens he sent Timothy to Thessalonica, to confirm the
new converts in their faith, and to inquire into their conduct. Timothy,
upon his return, found St. Paul at Corinth. Thence, probably in A. D.
52, St. Paul wrote the First Epistle to the Thessalonians; and it is to
be supposed that the subjects of which it treats, were suggested by the
account which he received from Timothy. It is now generally believed
that this was written the first of all St. Paul’s epistles, but it is
not known by whom it was sent to Thessalonica. The church there
consisted chiefly of Gentile converts, 1 Thess. i, 9. St. Paul, after
saluting the Thessalonian Christians in the name of himself, Silas, and
Timothy, assures them that he constantly returned thanks to God on their
account, and mentioned them in his prayers; he acknowledges the
readiness and sincerity with which they embraced the Gospel, and the
great reputation which they had acquired by turning from idols to serve
the living God, 1 Thess. i; he reminds them of the bold and
disinterested manner in which he had preached among them; comforts them
under the persecutions which they, like other Christians, had
experienced from their unbelieving countrymen, and informs them of two
ineffectual attempts which he had made to visit them again, 1 Thess. ii;
and that, being thus disappointed, he had sent Timothy to confirm their
faith, and inquire into their conduct; he tells them that Timothy’s
account of them had given him the greatest consolation and joy in the
midst of his affliction and distress, and that he continually prayed to
God for an opportunity of seeing them again, and for their perfect
establishment in the Gospel, 1 Thess. iii; he exhorts to purity,
justice, love, and quietness, and dissuades them against excessive grief
for their deceased friends, 1 Thess. iv; hence he takes occasion to
recommend preparation for the last judgment, the time of which is always
uncertain; and adds a variety of practical precepts. He concludes with
his usual benediction. This epistle is written in terms of high
commendation, earnestness, and affection.
It is generally believed that the messenger who carried the former
epistle into Macedonia, upon his return to Corinth, informed St. Paul
that the Thessalonians had inferred, from some expressions in it, that
the coming of Christ and the final judgment were near at hand, and would
happen in the time of many who were then alive, 1 Thess. iv, 15, 17; v,
6. The principal design of the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians was
to correct that error, and prevent the mischief which it would naturally
occasion. It was written from Corinth, probably at the end of A. D. 52.
St. Paul begins with the same salutation as in the former epistle, and
then expresses his devout acknowledgments to God for the increasing
faith and mutual love of the Thessalonians in the midst of persecution;
he represents to them the rewards which will be bestowed upon the
faithful, and the punishment which will be inflicted upon the
disobedient, at the coming of Christ, 2 Thess. i; he earnestly entreats
them not to suppose, as upon authority from him, or upon any other
ground, that the last day is at hand; he assures them, that before that
awful period a great apostasy will take place, and reminds them of some
information which he had given them upon that subject when he was at
Thessalonica; he exhorts them to steadfastness in their faith, and prays
to God to comfort their hearts, and establish them in every good word
and work, 2 Thess. ii; he desires their prayers for the success of his
ministry, and expresses his confidence in their sincerity; he cautions
them against associating with idle and disorderly persons, and
recommends diligence and quietness. He adds a salutation in his own
hand, and concludes with his usual benediction.
epistles. It is recorded in the Acts, that St. Paul, in his first
journey upon the continent of Europe, preached the Gospel at
Thessalonica, at that time the capital of Macedonia, with considerable
success; but that after a short stay he was driven thence by the malice
and violence of the unbelieving Jews. From Thessalonica St. Paul went to
Berea, and thence to Athens, at both which places he remained but a
short time. From Athens he sent Timothy to Thessalonica, to confirm the
new converts in their faith, and to inquire into their conduct. Timothy,
upon his return, found St. Paul at Corinth. Thence, probably in A. D.
52, St. Paul wrote the First Epistle to the Thessalonians; and it is to
be supposed that the subjects of which it treats, were suggested by the
account which he received from Timothy. It is now generally believed
that this was written the first of all St. Paul’s epistles, but it is
not known by whom it was sent to Thessalonica. The church there
consisted chiefly of Gentile converts, 1 Thess. i, 9. St. Paul, after
saluting the Thessalonian Christians in the name of himself, Silas, and
Timothy, assures them that he constantly returned thanks to God on their
account, and mentioned them in his prayers; he acknowledges the
readiness and sincerity with which they embraced the Gospel, and the
great reputation which they had acquired by turning from idols to serve
the living God, 1 Thess. i; he reminds them of the bold and
disinterested manner in which he had preached among them; comforts them
under the persecutions which they, like other Christians, had
experienced from their unbelieving countrymen, and informs them of two
ineffectual attempts which he had made to visit them again, 1 Thess. ii;
and that, being thus disappointed, he had sent Timothy to confirm their
faith, and inquire into their conduct; he tells them that Timothy’s
account of them had given him the greatest consolation and joy in the
midst of his affliction and distress, and that he continually prayed to
God for an opportunity of seeing them again, and for their perfect
establishment in the Gospel, 1 Thess. iii; he exhorts to purity,
justice, love, and quietness, and dissuades them against excessive grief
for their deceased friends, 1 Thess. iv; hence he takes occasion to
recommend preparation for the last judgment, the time of which is always
uncertain; and adds a variety of practical precepts. He concludes with
his usual benediction. This epistle is written in terms of high
commendation, earnestness, and affection.
It is generally believed that the messenger who carried the former
epistle into Macedonia, upon his return to Corinth, informed St. Paul
that the Thessalonians had inferred, from some expressions in it, that
the coming of Christ and the final judgment were near at hand, and would
happen in the time of many who were then alive, 1 Thess. iv, 15, 17; v,
6. The principal design of the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians was
to correct that error, and prevent the mischief which it would naturally
occasion. It was written from Corinth, probably at the end of A. D. 52.
St. Paul begins with the same salutation as in the former epistle, and
then expresses his devout acknowledgments to God for the increasing
faith and mutual love of the Thessalonians in the midst of persecution;
he represents to them the rewards which will be bestowed upon the
faithful, and the punishment which will be inflicted upon the
disobedient, at the coming of Christ, 2 Thess. i; he earnestly entreats
them not to suppose, as upon authority from him, or upon any other
ground, that the last day is at hand; he assures them, that before that
awful period a great apostasy will take place, and reminds them of some
information which he had given them upon that subject when he was at
Thessalonica; he exhorts them to steadfastness in their faith, and prays
to God to comfort their hearts, and establish them in every good word
and work, 2 Thess. ii; he desires their prayers for the success of his
ministry, and expresses his confidence in their sincerity; he cautions
them against associating with idle and disorderly persons, and
recommends diligence and quietness. He adds a salutation in his own
hand, and concludes with his usual benediction.