Transcriber’s Notes

Page 371, Introduction, second paragraph, change “ii. 8, 9” to “ch. ii. 8, 9” and “ii. 11” to “ch. ii. 11.”
Page 372, Introduction, first “Occasion” paragraph, apply RC to “Gospel.” “Style” paragraph, apply RC to “the Gospel.”
Page 374, notes on chapter i., verse 6, apply RC to “Gospel” (twice). Verse 9, add right double quote after “prudent.” Verse 10, apply RC to “the Gospel”; add left parenthesis before “see ver. 6.”
Page 375, verse 22, change “unblamable” to “unblameable” and “unreprovable” to “unreproveable.” Verse 23, apply RC to “the Gospel.”
Page 376, verse 28, apply RC to “the Gospel” (thrice). Lesson “Salutation,” point I, apply RC to “Divine.” Point II, apply RC to “Divine” (twice).
Page 377, same lesson, point III, add comma to “won and.” Point IV, apply RC to “the Gospel”; remove comma from “Churches, and.” Lesson “Estimate,” point I 2, remove comma from “faith, and.” Point II, apply RC to “Divine.” Point II 2, apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 378, same lesson, point II 3, apply RC to “Divine.” Lesson “Causes,” point I, remove comma from “God, and.” Point II, add comma to “Thus God”; apply RC to “Divine” (twice); remove comma from “good, and.” Point III 1, apply RC to “Divinely” and “Divine-human.”
Page 379, same lesson, point III 3, remove comma from “worker, and.” Point V 3, apply RC to “the Gospel”; remove comma from “truth, and”; apply RC to “the Gospel” (twice). Application (“Lessons”), point 3, apply RC to “the Gospel.”
Page 380, “Good News” note, each of points I, III 1, and III 3, apply RC to “the Gospel.” “Hope” note, point III, apply RC to “the Gospel.” Lesson “True Gospel,” introduction, apply RC to “the Gospel” and “Divine”; remove commas from “understanding, and” and “axiomatic, and”; apply RC to “the Gospel” (twice), “Divine” and “the Gospel.” Point I, apply RC to “Gospel” (five times); remove comma from “mission, and.”
Page 381, same lesson, same point, apply RC to “Gospel” (twice). Point II, apply RC to “Gospel” (thrice); add comma to “Thus it”; apply RC to “Gospel” (twice). Point III, apply RC to “Gospel,” “Word,” “Gospel,” “Divine Spirit,” and “Gospel” (twice). Point IV, apply RC to “Gospel.” Point IV 1, apply RC to “Gospel,” “Divinely,” and “Gospel.”
Page 382, same lesson, point IV 2 (3), apply RC to “the Gospel.” Application (“Lessons”), point 1, apply RC to “Gospel” and “Divine.” Each of points 2 and 3, apply RC to “Gospel.” “Gospel” note, point III, apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 383, lesson “Comprehensive,” point II 2, apply RC to “Divine” (thrice). Point II 3, apply RC to “Gospel,” “Divine,” “Gospel,” and “Divine.”
The break between pages 383 and 384 is in a unit that style indicates should not be broken “Lord|—worthy.” The whole unit was moved to the earlier page.
Page 384, same lesson, point III 1, add comma to “purpose we.” Point III 2, add comma to “Thus the”; remove comma from “heaven, and.” Point III 4, apply RC to “Divine.” Point IV 1, apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 385, same lesson, point IV 2, apply RC to “Divine” and “Providence.” Point IV 3, apply RC to “His cause.” “Paul’s Prayer” note, point I, apply RC to “Divine.” Point III, remove comma from “life, and.”
Page 386, lesson “Meetness,” point I 2, capitalise “Divine,” referring to a churchman. Point I 3, apply RC to “Divine”; add comma to “Thus all.”
Page 387, same lesson, point II 2, apply RC to “Divine”; add comma to “So men”; remove comma from “realms, and.” Point II 3, apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 388, “Inheritance” note, point II 1, add double quotes around “inheritance.” Point II 2, add double quotes around “saints.” Lesson “Translation,” point I 1, apply RC to “Gospel.”
Page 389, same lesson, point II 1, add comma to “So the.” Point II 2, apply RC to “Divine”; add comma to “subjects we.” Point III, apply RC to “Divine.” Point III 1, remove comma from “law, and”; apply RC to “Divine.” Point III 2, remove comma from “blessings, but”; apply RC to “Divine” (twice).
Page 390, same lesson, point III 3, apply RC to “Divine.” Application (“Lessons”), point 3, apply RC to “Divine.” “Darkness” note, point III, apply RC to “Divine.” “Great Blessing” note title, change “Re demption” to “Redemption.” Lesson “Relation” title, change “Greated” to “Created.” Point I, apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 391, same lesson, point II 1 (1), add comma to “Therefore the.” Point II 1 (2), apply RC to “First Cause,” “Active Agent,” and “Grand End.” Point II 2 (1), apply RC to “First Cause”; remove comma from “speculation, and.”
Page 392, same lesson, point II 2 (2), change double quotes around “thrones,” “dominions,” “principalities,” and “powers’ to single quotes within the Spence quotation. Point II 2 (3), apply RC to “Great End.” Point II 3, apply RC to “Divine.” Point II 4, remove comma from “Him, and.”
Page 394, lesson “Relation,” point II 2, apply RC to “Divine”; remove comma from “Hades, and.” Point III 1, apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 395, “Church the Body” note, point III 2, apply RC to “Gospel.” Point IV 1, remove comma from “Christ, and.”
Page 396, lesson “Reconciling,” point I 1, apply RC to “Divine” (twice) and “Divinity”; remove commas from “universe, and” and “beings, and.” Point I 2, apply RC to “Divine.” Point II 1, apply RC to “Divine” (twice). Point II 2, add comma to “therefore it.”
Page 397, same note, same point, apply RC to “Divine” (twice). Point II 2 (1), add comma to “aside and.” Point II 2 (2), remove comma from “other, and.” Point II 2 (3), apply RC to “Divine” (twice). Point III, apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 398, “Fulness” note, point I, apply RC to “Divine.” Lesson “Blessings,” introduction, remove comma from “sin, and”; change “His restoration” to “his,” referring to a sinful man. Point I 1, apply RC to “Divine” (twice). Point I 2, apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 399, same lesson, point II, apply RC to “Divine” (twice). Point II 2, remove comma from “Christ, and”; apply RC to “Divine.” Point III, apply RC to “Divine.” Point III 2, change “unblamable” to “unblameable”; remove comma from “term, and.” Point III 3, change “unreprovable” to “unreproveable” and “unblamable” to “unblameable.”
Page 400, same lesson, same point, change “unreprovable” to “unreproveable.” “Reconciliation” note, point II 3, apply RC to “Himself.” “Holiness” note, point I, change “unblamable” to “unblameable” and “unreprovable” to “unreproveable.” Lesson “Condition,” introduction, add comma to “so the”; apply RC to “Gospel” (twice). Point I, apply RC to “Gospel.” Point I 1, apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 401, same lesson, point II, apply RC to “Gospel.” Point II 1, apply RC to “Gospel” (twice). Point II 2, apply RC to “Gospel,” “Divine,” and “Gospel” (thrice). Point II 3, apply RC to “Gospel” (thrice); remove comma from “lands, and”; apply RC to “Gospel.” Point II 4, apply RC to “Gospel” (four times).
Page 402, same lesson, same point, remove comma from “phenomena, and”; apply RC to “Gospel.” Point II 5, apply RC to “Gospel” (thrice) and “Word.” Application (“Lessons”), point 1, apply RC to “Gospel.” Lesson “Joy,” introduction, apply RC to “Divine.” Point I 1, add comma to “Thus he.”
Page 403, same lesson, point I 2, apply RC to “Divine.” Point II 2, remove comma from “deeper, and”; apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 404, same lesson, point III, apply RC to “Gospel.” Lesson “Honor,” introduction, apply RC to “Word” and “Gospel.” Point I, apply RC to “Divine.” Point I 1, apply RC to “Divinely”; change the comma after “own” to a semi-colon, for consistency in punctuating the series; apply RC to “Divine.” Point I 2, apply RC to “Divine” and “Gospel.”
Page 405, same lesson, same point, apply RC to “Word.” Point II 1, apply RC to “Divine” (thrice) and “Gospel.” Point II 2, apply RC to “Gospel” and “Divine” (twice). Point II 3, apply RC to “Divine” and “Gospel.” Point II 4, apply RC to “Gospel” and “Divine.”
Page 406, same lesson, point II 4 (1), apply RC to “Gospel” (twice). Point II 4 (2), apply RC to “Gospel”; remove comma from “Him, and.” Application (“Lessons”), point 2, apply RC to “Divinely.” “Glory” note, point III, apply RC to “Divinely.” “Christ in you” note, correct point I to put the period after the number. Lesson “Preaching,” introduction, remove comma from “preacher, and”; apply RC to “Gospel” and “Divine.”
Page 407, same lesson, point I 1, apply RC to “Divine.” Point I 3, apply RC to “Gospel”; add “Acts iv. 12” reference; remove comma from “theme, but.” Point II 2, add “(ver. 28)” for consistency; add comma to “Hence he.” Point II 4, apply RC to “Gospel.”
Page 408, same lesson, point III, apply RC to “Gospel” (twice). Point IV, apply RC to “Divinely” and “Gospel”; remove commas from “all, and” and “age, and”; apply RC to “Gospel,” “Divine,” “Divinely,” and “Divine.” Application (“Lessons”), point 3, apply RC to “Divine.” “Ministry” note, point II, apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 410, lesson “Anxiety,” introduction, apply RC to “Gospel.” Point I, remove comma from “thought, and.”
Page 411, same lesson, point II, remove comma from “truth, but”; capitalise “Divine” as referring to a churchman. Point III 1, add comma to “Hence he.” Point III 3, apply RC to “Divine.” Point III 3 (1), apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 412, same lesson, same point, apply RC to “Divine.” Point III 3 (2), apply RC to “Divine” (twice). Point III 3 (3), apply RC to “Divine,” “Gospel” (thrice), and “Divine”; add “Prov. viii. 11” reference. Point IV, apply RC to “Gospel”; remove comma from “outlook, and.”
Page 413, same lesson, same point, add “Eph. v. 6” reference. Lesson “Hidden Treasures,” introduction, remove comma from “treasure, but”; apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 414, same lesson, point I 1, remove comma from “Him, and.” Point I 2, remove comma from “everywhere, and.” Point I 3, apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 415, same lesson, point II, apply RC to “Divine”; change “ar#” to “are”; add comma to “So in.” “Unity” note, point I, apply RC to “Gospel.”
Page 416, lesson “Apostolic Praise,” point I, apply RC to “Divine” (twice); remove comma from “brief, but”; add “1 Cor. xiv. 40, xiv. 33, xvi. 14, xi. 34” references. Point II, apply RC to “served Him”; change exclamation point to question mark; remove comma from “form, and.”
Page 417, point III 2, remove comma from “order, and.” Lesson “Suggestive,” point I, remove comma from “rapidity, and” (twice); apply RC to “Divine.” Point I 1, apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 418, same lesson, point I 2, remove comma from “law, but.” Point III, apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 419, same lesson, point III 2, remove comma from “tense, and.” Point IV, remove commas from “word, and” and “difficulties, and.” Application (“Lessons”), each of points 1 and 2, apply RC to “Divinely.” “Retrospection” note, point I 2, apply RC to “Divine.” “Imitation” note, point II, remove comma for “imitate, and.”
Page 420, lesson “Marks,” introduction, remove comma from “morals, and.” Point I, apply RC to “Divine”; remove comma from “Gnosticism, and”; add “Rom i. 21, 22” reference.
Page 422, same lesson, point V, add “John x. 10” reference. Point VI 1, apply RC to “Gospel.” Point VI 2, remove comma from “rest, and.” Application (“Lessons”), point 3, remove comma from “false, and.” Lesson “Divine Fulness,” introduction, apply RC to “Divine.” Point I, apply RC to “Divine.” Point I 1, add comma to “Hence we”; apply RC to “Divine” (twice), “Divinity,” and “Divine.” Point I 2, remove comma from “deity, and.”
Page 423, same lesson, point I 3, remove comma from “enshrined, and”; apply RC to “Divine” (four times); add “John i. 14” reference. Point III 1, add “1 John v. 12” reference; apply RC to “Divine” (twice). Point III 2, apply RC to “the Spirit.” Point III 3, add “1 Thess. iv. 17” reference.
Page 424, same lesson, application (“Lessons”), point 1, apply RC to “Divine.” Lesson “Circumcision,” introduction, apply RC to “Divine”; add comma to “Thus their.”
Page 425, same lesson, point I, add “Ezek. xliv. 9; Duet. xxx. 6” references. Point III, apply RC to “Divine” (twice), remove comma from “law, and.” Point IV, remove comma from “dies, and”; apply RC to “Diviner.”
Page 426, same lesson, point VI, apply RC to “Divine”; remove comma from “gift, and”; apply RC to “Divine” (twice). Lesson “Transition,” introduction, apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 427, same lesson, point I 2, remove comma from “health, and.” Each of points I 3 (1) and I 3 (2), apply RC to “Divine.” Point I 3 (2), remove comma from “life, and.” Point II 1, remove comma from “bondage, and”; apply RC to “Divine.” Point II 2, apply RC to “Divine”; add comma to “pardoned and.”
Page 428, same lesson, point III, apply RC to “Divine” (thrice). Lesson “Triumph,” point I 1, remove comma from “creation, and.” Point II 2, add comma to “again they.” Point II 3, remove comma from “death, and.”
Page 430, lesson “Ceremonial,” introduction, remove comma from “real, and”; apply RC to “Gospel”; remove comma from “ordinances, and”; capitalise “Christianised.” Point I, apply RC to “Gospel.”
Page 431, same lesson, point II, add comma to “so the”; apply RC to “Gospel.” Point III, apply RC to “Antitype”; remove comma from “it, when.”
Page 432, lesson “Seductive,” introduction, remove comma from “them, and.” Point II 2, remove comma from “God, and.” Point II 3, change “mortal man venture” to “mortal man ventures.”
Page 433, same lesson, point III, apply RC to “Divine.” Point III 3, apply RC to “Divine” (twice). “How a Church lives” note, point II 1, apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 434, lesson “Ceremonial,” point II 2, apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 436, same lesson, point IV 2, apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 437, notes on chapter iii., verse 15, change “ii. 18” to “ch. ii. 18.” Verse 16, apply RC to “Divine”; add an em-dash at the end of the paragraph. Verse 18, remove comma from “here, and.” Verse 23, add double quotes around “Whatsoever ye do, work heartily” and “from the soul.”
The page break between pages 439 and 440 is in a unit that style indicates should not be broken: “conduct.—1. |A.” The entire unit was moved to the earlier page.
Page 438, lesson “Aspirations,” point II 1, change “ver. 2“ to “ver. 1.”
Page 439, same lesson, point II 1, add an em-dash at the end of the paragraph.
Page 440, lesson “Present Condition,” introduction, apply RC to “Divine light.” Point I, remove comma from “past, and.”
Page 441, same lesson, point II 2, add comma to “undiscerning He.” Point III, apply RC to “His Word.”
Page 443, lesson “Mortification,” point I 3, remove comma from “heart, and”; apply RC to “Divine.” Point II, apply RC to “Divine”; remove comma from “come, and”; apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 444, same lesson, point V, remove commas from “disguised, and” and “man, and”; apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 445, lesson “New Nature,” introduction, remove comma from “garments, but”; add comma to “So the”; remove comma from “state, but”; add comma to “words he.” Point I, apply RC to “Divine” (twice). Point II, remove commas from “once, but” and “possessed, but”; apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 446, same lesson, point III, apply RC to “Divine”; remove comma from “unsuited, and.” Point IV 1, apply RC to “Gospel.” Point IV 2, remove comma from “country, and.” Point IV 3, apply RC to “Gospel.” Point V, apply RC to “Source,” “Centre,” “Ideal,” and “Possession”; change “He” to “he,” referring to the believer.
Page 447, “Religion” note, point II, apply RC to “Divine.” “Christ” note, point II, apply RC to “Divine,” remove commas from “civ., and” and “hearts, and.” Point III, apply RC to “Divine” (twice).
Page 448, same note, point IV, remove comma from “Him, and.” Application (“Lessons”), point 3, apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 449, lesson “Essentials,” point I 1, apply RC to “Divine” and “Son.” Point I 2, apply RC to “Divine.” Point I 3, apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 451, lesson “Love,” introduction, remove commas from “romance, and” and “garment, and.” Point I, remove comma from “Ghost, and.”
Page 452, same lesson, point IV 2, remove comma from “changed, if.” Lesson “Rule,” point I, apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 453, same lesson, same point, apply RC to “Divine”; remove comma from “cross, and”; apply RC to “Divine”; remove comma from “Christ, and.” Point II, remove commas from “games, and” and “stadium, and.” Point II 1, remove comma from “duty, and”; apply RC to “Divine.” Point II 2, remove comma from “temptation, and.” Point II 3, remove comma from “right, and”; apply RC to “His Word”; add “Ps. li. 10” reference.
Page 454, same lesson, point IV 1, apply RC to “Gospel” and “God’s Word.” Point IV 2, remove comma from “body, so”; apply RC to “Spirit.” Point V, change “sin#” to “sins” and “#ll” to “all”; apply RC to “Divine.” “Peace” note, point I, apply RC to “His Word.”
Page 455, lesson “Poetry,” introduction, remove comma from “first, and”; apply RC to “Divinely” and “Divine Word.” Point I, apply RC to “Divine Word.” Point I 1, apply RC to “Divine Word,” “Word,” and “Gospel.” Point I 2, apply RC to “Divine Word,” “Word,” “Divinity,” and “Word” (twice).
Page 456, same lesson, point II, remove comma from “arrangement, and.” Point III 1, apply RC to “Word” (twice). After the poem, remove comma from “dying, and.” Application (“Lessons”), point 1, apply RC to “Divine Word.”
Page 457, first note, application (“Lessons”), point 3, apply RC to “Word.” Second note, add “I.” before first bold point and apply RC to “Word.” Point I 3, apply RC to “Word” (twice). Point II 3, apply RC to “Word” (twice). Application (“Lessons”), each of point 1 and 2, apply RC to “Word.”
Page 460, lesson “Duties of Husbands,” point I 1, apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 461, same lesson, point II, apply RC to “Divine.” Point III 2, remove comma from “supreme, and.”
Page 462, lesson “Duties of Parents,” point I 1, apply RC to “Divine.” Point I 2, apply RC to “Divine” (twice).
Page 463, point II 2, replace left single quote before “Lest” with a left double quote. Lesson “Duties of Masters,” introduction, remove comma from “slavery, and.”
Page 464, same lesson, point I, add “Rev. vii. 15” and “Mark x. 45” references; remove comma from “servitude, but.” Point II 1, remove commas from “slaves, and” and “slavery, and.” Point II 2, add “ver. 22” reference; apply RC to “Divine.” Point III 1, add “heartily” into the verse 23 quotation; apply RC to “Divine.” Point III 2, apply RC to “Divine”; change “He hath done what he could” to “She hath done what she could” to match KJV and add “Mark xiv. 8” reference.
Page 465, same lesson, point IV, apply RC to “Divine”; add “1 Pet. i. 4” reference. Point V, remove comma from “light, and.” Point VI 2, add “Matt. xxiii. 8” and “Matt. xxv. 40” references.
Page 466, critical notes for chapter iv., verse 3, apply RC to “Word.”
Page 467, lesson “Efficacy,” introduction, apply RC to “Divine”; remove comma from “petitioner, but”; apply RC to “Divine.” Point I, remove comma from “make, and.”
Page 468, same lesson, point III, apply RC to “Divine”; add double quotes around the saying of an old writer (assumed to finish the paragraph). Point IV, apply RC to “Gospel.” Point IV 1, apply RC to “Gospel”; change “once popular minister” to “once-popular minister.” Point IV 2, apply RC to “Gospel” (twice).
The break between pages 468 and 469 is in the word “declaration”: declara|tion.
Page 469, same lesson, point IV 3, apply RC to “Gospel” (twice), “Divine,” and “Gospel.” Point IV 4, apply RC to “Gospel” (four times). Application (“Lessons”), point 2, apply RC to “Gospel.”
Page 470, lesson “Wise,” introduction, remove comma from “life, and.” Point I 1, add “ver. 5” reference. Point I 2, apply RC to “Spirit.” Point I 3, remove comma from “itself, and”; apply RC to “Gospel.”
Page 471, same lesson, point I 4, remove comma from “eagerness, and.” Point II 3, remove comma from “tongue, and.” First note, add sentence-ending period to point IV.
Page 472, “Truth” note, point III, apply RC to “Divine.” Point IV, remove comma from “religion, but.” Lesson “Side-lights,” introduction, remove comma from “epistle, and.” Point I, apply RC to “Gospel.”
Page 473, same lesson, point II, remove commas from “Paul, and” and “crowds, and”; apply RC to “Gospel” and “Divine.” Point III, remove comma from “Ephesus, and.”
Page 474, same lesson, point IV, remove comma from “ritual, and”; apply RC to “Gospel”; add comma to “thus they”; remove comma from “Christ, and”; apply RC to “Gospel”; remove comma from “professors, and.”
Page 475, lesson “Model Pastor,” introduction, apply RC to “Gospel”; remove commas from “them, and” and “faith, but”; apply RC to “Divine.” Point I, apply RC to “Gospel.” Point II, after poem, apply RC to “Gospel.”
Page 476, same lesson, point III, apply RC to “Divine.” Point IV, apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 477, lesson “Greetings,” introduction, add “Prov. x. 7” reference. Point I 1, remove commas from “travel, and” and “man, but.” Point I 2, apply RC to “Divine” and “Gospel.”
Page 478, same lesson, point II 1, add “1 Cor. xv. 58” reference. Point II 2, remove comma from “city, and”; add comma to “piety he”; apply RC to “Divine.” Point III, remove comma from “Colossæ, and.”
Page 479, point IV 1, apply RC to “Gospel”; remove comma from “Lord, and”; apply RC to “Divine.” “Luke” note, point V, apply RC to “Great Physician.” “Ministry” note, point I, apply RC to “Divine.”
Page 480, lesson “Farewell,” point I, change “mo” to “me.” Point II, apply RC to “Gospel” (twice).
Page 481, same lesson, point III, apply RC to “Divine.”

THE FIRST EPISTLE

TO THE THESSALONIANS.

INTRODUCTION.

Thessalonica and its Church.—Most of the Churches of the New Testament belonged to cities which, if they have not dropped out of existence altogether, are scarcely recognisable to-day. Thessalonica exists as a place of considerable commercial importance, with a population of 70,000, under the shortened form of “Saloniki.” It is situated at the head of the Thermaic Gulf, so called from the ancient name of the town which rises like an amphitheatre above its blue waters. Therma is the name by which the town comes into history, the warm mineral springs of the neighbourhood originating the appropriate designation. Cassander, son-in-law of Philip of Macedon, gave to the city the name of his wife, “Thessalonica.” Its position brought commerce both by sea and land, for, in addition to its natural harbour, the Via Egnatia, like a great artery, drove its stream of traffic through the town. Trade brought riches, and riches luxurious living and licentiousness. But if sin abounded, so did the grace which sent the heralds of deliverance from sin in the persons of St. Paul and Silas, fresh from their terrible beating and the dungeon of Philippi, and Timothy, the ever-valued friend of St. Paul. Jews were in Thessalonica in greater force than in Philippi; and St. Paul, perhaps not with any great hope of success amongst the adherents of the religion in which he had been trained, but according to his constant rule, went first to the synagogue, hoping that, as elsewhere, devout souls not content with the materialism and atheism of their day might be amongst those who were drawn towards the faith of Israel. So at least it proved, and their acceptance of the message of the Gospel was the signal for the outbreak of Jewish hatred which set on the canaille of the city with a cry of revolution and high treason. Amidst such birth-throes the second Church in Europe came into being. St. Paul’s continuance in the city might only have provoked murder, so, leaving the infant Church to one who would “naturally care for” it, he made his way to Berœa.

Occasion and design of the epistle.—With eager impatience the apostle would wait for the messenger with tidings of the Macedonian Churches. The writer of the Proverbs likened “good news from a far country” to “cold waters to a thirsty soul”; so St. Paul says to these Thessalonians: “Now when Timothy came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, . . . 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” (1 Thess. iii. 6–8). Timothy had brought word of their fidelity; but he had also to inform the apostle of the persecutions they had to endure, and also of the troubled minds of some of the Christian brotherhood over the condition of their dead, and their relationship to the Lord whom they daily expected.

So St. Paul sends them word by this first letter of his earnest longing to see them again, and of how he had often purposed to do so, but had been thwarted. Perhaps there are references in the epistle to the aspersions on the character of Paul; and in other ways the epistle is meant to do what Paul, now that his missionary field had become so extended, could not do in person.