2. In the Holy Ghost.—Not only in His miraculous manifestations necessary in that age, but in the ordinary exercise of His power, as continued down to the present day—enlightening, convincing, renewing.
3. With much assurance.—Literally, with full assurance, and much of it. Πληροφορία—full conviction—is from a word that means to fill up, and is used to denote the hurrying ship on her career, with all her sails spread and filled with the wind. So the soul, filled with the full conviction of truth, is urged to a course of conduct in harmony with that conviction.
4. An assurance enforced by high integrity of character.—“As ye know what manner of men we were among you, for your sake.” Their earnest labours and upright lives showed they were men moved by profound conviction—a blending of evidence that is not less potent in these days.
Lessons.—1. To receive the Gospel in word only is disastrous.—In a certain mountainous region under the tropics the stillness of night is sometimes broken by a loud, sharp report, like the crack of a rifle. What causes this strange, alarming sound? It is the splitting of rocks charged with the intense heat of the tropical sun. Day by day the sun throws down its red-hot rays of fire, and bit by bit the rock, as it cools, is riven and crumbles into ruin. So is it with the mere hearer of the Word. The Gospel pours upon him its light and heat, and his heart, hardened with long and repeated resistance, becomes damaged by that which is intended to better it.
2. The Gospel must be received in power.—What is wanted is strong, deep faith-compelling conviction—conviction of the awful truth and saving power of the Gospel. To be a mighty force, man must have clear, solid, all-powerful convictions.
GERM NOTES ON THE VERSE.
Ver. 5. The Manner in which the Gospel comes to the Believing Soul.
I. The first is negative.—“The Gospel came not in word only.” This description embraces various classes of persons. 1. Such as hear the Gospel habitually without understanding it. 2. Such as partially understand the Gospel without feeling its sanctifying influence. 3. Such as are affected by it only for a limited time.
II. In contradistinction to such, the Gospel came to the believing Thessalonians in power.—1. Power over the understanding. 2. Power over the conscience. 3. Power over the heart. 4. Power over the life.
III. In the Holy Ghost.—Explains the former. 1. The message was that of the Spirit. 2. The apostles were filled with the Spirit. 3. Signs and miraculous proofs were furnished by the Spirit. 4. An entrance for the Word was procured by the Spirit.