Ver. 10. The Christian waiting for his Deliverer—
- Implies a firm belief in Christ’s second coming.
- Habitually endeavouring to be prepared for His second coming.
- Earnestly desiring it.
- Patiently waiting for it.—Bradley.
The Wrath to come.
- It is Divine wrath.
- Unmingled wrath.—Judgment without mercy; justice without the least mixture of goodness.
- Provoked wrath.
- Accumulated wrath.—A wrath we have inflamed and increased by every act of sin we have committed.
- Future wrath.—The wrath to come; lasting as the holiness of the Being who inflicts and the guilt of the sinners who endure it.
- Deliverance from wrath.—1. Undeserved. 2. Complete. 3. Eternal.—Ibid.
CHAPTER II.
CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES.
Ver. 1. Our entrance in . . . was not in vain.—The word for “vain” here is the same as that in the first half of “ceno-taph.” The entrance into Thessalonica, we might say colloquially, “had something in it.”
Ver. 2. Suffered before.—Previously, that is, to our entrance to Thessalonica. And were shamefully entreated.—The acute sense of suffering in mind shows how far St. Paul was from Stoicism. It is this same exquisite sensibility which makes possible the beautiful courtesy with which, in his letters, we are so familiar. With much contention.—All the watchfulness required by one in the arena and all the danger incident to a false movement characterised St. Paul’s work.
Ver. 3. For our exhortation.—The word reminds us of Christ’s word, “I will send you another Advocate”—“Paraclete.” Our advocacy of the Gospel of Christ was not born of error. Was not of deceit, nor uncleanness, nor guile.—Perhaps we might paraphrase thus: We were not ourselves mistaken as to the subject-matter of our preaching, we used no “dirty tricks” in the way of its publication, we baited no hooks for unwilling souls.