Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary: 1 Thessalonians
Chapter 2
Ver. 1. Vain. Our entrance among you was not in vain fables, or lies; our preaching was not in trifles: (Œcumenius) or rather was not without fruit. Others have spoken of it every where; but why refer you to others when yourselves know that it was every where followed by abundance of good works, faith, patience? &c. (Estius)
Ver. 3. Our exhortation was not proceeding from error.[1] That is, was not by promoting errors, or uncleanness. (Witham)
Ver. 4. As we were approved of and chosen by God to announce his gospel, we have tried to correspond with his designs; and we speak in a spirit of disinterestedness, not to please men, but God. Being chosen by God, it is to him we must render an account. Have we spoken to you in words of flattery? Have we disguised the gospel truth, or concealed its austerity? Have we made piety a cloak for avarice? &c. (Calmet)
Ver. 5. Nor taken an occasion of covetousness. Not so as to make the gospel a cloak for gain-sake. (Witham)
Ver. 7. But we became little,[2] by our carriage, and by our humility and kindness. In the Greek, made ourselves gentle, good natured, &c. (Witham)
Ver. 8. Because you were become most dear to us. Literally, desiring you.[3] St. Chrysostom admires the tender expressions of love in St. Paul. (Witham)
Ver. 10. You are witnesses. We must necessarily conclude that the apostle speaks this not from vain glory, or personal vanity; but in the just right of defending his own character against the aspersions of enemies, and lest the faith of any might be staggered by the calumnies. In such cases self-praise is not only lawful, but frequently an imperative duty, if confined within the limits of truth. (Haydock)
Ver. 13. The word[4] of the hearing of God, which can only signify the word of God you heard from us. (Witham)
Ver. 16. To fill up the measure of their sins, after which God's justice would punish them. (Witham) --- The Jews filled up the measure of their iniquities by the opposition they every where manifested to the religion of Christ. The earliest Fathers of the Church testify that they dispersed people into every nation to blaspheme the name of Christ; and hence sprang the evil fame which Christians bore among the pagans. See the apologies of St. Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Origen, &c. --- For the wrath of God is come upon them to the end. It seems a foretelling of their entire destruction, which happened not long after under Vespasian and Adrian. (Witham)
Ver. 17. Being taken away from[5] you. Literally, become desolate, because of our separation from you. (Witham)
Ver. 18. Satan hindered us. That is, has raised such an aversion to me among the pagans and Jews of Thessalonica, that my friends do not think it safe I should come among you. I am now detained from you by violence; but when this life is past, you shall form my joy and my crown. I will present you at the tribunal of my Saviour, and say: Behold me and my children; behold the fruits of my labours, the proofs of my fidelity, and my claims for a recompense. (Calmet) --- If the apostle here calls his disciples his hope, joy, glory, why may we not call the blessed Virgin Mary, or other saints, their joy and hope, for the special confidence they have in their prayers?
____________________
[1] Ver. 3. De errore, &c. i.e. ex errore, ek planes, &c.
[2] Ver. 7. Parvuli: and so nepioi, in divers Greek copies; but in the common copies, epioi, placidi.
[3] Ver. 8. Desiderantes vos, imeiromenoi umon. See Legh's Crit. Sacra.
[4] Ver. 13. Verbum auditus Dei, logon akoes.
[5] Ver. 17. Desolati a vobis, aporphanisthentes.
Bible Text & Cross-references:
The sincerity of the apostle's preaching the gospel to them: and their receiving it.
1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance unto you, that it was not in vain:
2 But having suffered before, and being contumeliously treated (as you know) at Philippi, *we had confidence in our God, to speak to you the gospel of God in much solicitude.
3 For our exhortation was not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deceit.
4 But as we were approved of God, that the gospel should be committed to us: even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who proveth our hearts.
5 For neither have we used at any time, the speech of flattery, as you know: nor taken an occasion of covetousness: God is witness:
6 Nor sought we glory of men, neither of you, nor of others.
7 Whereas we might have been burdensome to you, as the apostles of Christ: but we became little ones in the midst of you, as if a nurse should cherish her children.
8 So desirous of you, we would gladly have imparted to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own souls: because you were become most dear to us.
9 For you remember, brethren, our labour and toil: *working night and day, lest we should be burdensome to any of you, we preached among you the gospel of God.
10 You are witnesses, and God, how holily, and justly, and without blame we have been among you, who have believed:
11 As you know, in what manner, entreating and comforting you, (as a father doth his children).
12 We testified to every one of you, that you would walk worthy of God, who hath called you to his kingdom and glory.
13 Therefore, we also give thanks to God without ceasing: because that when you had received of us the word of the hearing of God, you received it not as the word of men, but (as it truly is) the word of God, who worketh in you, who have believed.
14 For you, brethren, are become followers of the churches of God which are in Judea, in Christ Jesus: for you also have suffered the same things from your own countrymen, even as they have from the Jews:
15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and the prophets, and have persecuted us, and they please not God, and are adversaries to all men;
16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, to fill up their sins always: for the wrath of God is come upon them to the end.
17 But we, brethren, being taken away from you, for a short time, in sight, not in heart, have hastened the more abundantly to see your face with great desire:
18 For we would have come to you, even I, Paul, once and again; but Satan hath hindered us.
19 For what is our hope or joy, or crown of glory? Are not you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
20 For you are our glory and joy.
____________________
*
2: Acts xvi. 19.
9: Acts xx. 24.; 1 Corinthians iv. 12.; 2 Thessalonians iii. 8.
Chapter 3
Ver. 1. Forbearing no longer. That is, not being able to be at rest, for not seeing you, nor hearing concerning you. (Witham) --- Not bearing to be any longer uncertain and uninformed of your constancy, amidst the tribulations you had to endure, I sent Timothy to strengthen you, that you might not be moved in the difficulties to which we are destined, and which it is appointed for us to undergo. (Calmet)
Ver. 3. That we are appointed thereunto. That is, meet with trials and troubles in this world, as our Saviour Christ foretold. (Witham)
Ver. 8. We live. That is, we live in joy and comfort, if you stand firm in the faith of Christ, as you ought. (Witham) --- The news that you stand steadfast in the Lord, reanimates me under all my sufferings, and as it were raises me to life again from the shadow of death, under which I am placed. O that I could see you, to complete the work of instructing you in the faith, which I have begun.
Ver. 10. That we may see your face. Though epistles in absence give great comfort, and help to confirm the faith once delivered, it is by preaching that the faith of Jesus Christ and true religion are both begun and accomplished. --- And may accomplish those things that are wanting to your faith? That is, give you fuller instructions. (Witham)
Ver. 12. And may the Lord multiply you. That is, increase the number of Christians among you. (Witham)
Bible Text & Cross-references:
The apostle's concern and love for the Thessalonians.
1 For which cause forbearing no longer, we thought it good to remain at Athens, alone:
2 *And we sent Timothy, our brother, and a minister of God in the gospel of Christ, to confirm you, and exhort you concerning your faith:
3 That no man should be moved in these tribulations: for yourselves know, that we are appointed thereunto.
4 For even when we were with you, we foretold you that we should suffer tribulations: as also it is come to pass, and you know.
5 For this cause also I forbearing no longer, sent to know your faith: lest perhaps he that tempteth, should have tempted you, and our labour should be made vain.
6 But now when Timothy came to us from you, and related to us your faith and charity, and that you have a good remembrance of us always, desiring to see us, as we also to see you:
7 Therefore we were comforted, brethren, in you, in all our distress and tribulation, by your faith;
8 For now we live, if you stand in the Lord.
9 For what thanks can we return to God for you, in all the joy wherewith we rejoice for you before our God.
10 Night and day, praying more abundantly, that we may see your face, and may accomplish those things that are wanting to your faith?
11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our way unto you:
12 And may the Lord multiply you, and make you abound in charity towards one another, and towards all men: as we do also towards you,
13 To confirm your hearts without blame, in holiness, before God and our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. Amen.
____________________
*
2: Acts vi. 1.