Bible Commentaries

Forbear ( στέγοντες )

Lit. no longer forbearing. See on 1 Corinthians 9:12: lxx, 1Thessalonians href="/desk/?q=1th+3:2&sr=1">1 Thessalonians 3:5), the previous presence of Timothy with him at Athens.

Our brother

Comp. 2 Corinthians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; Philemon 1:1; Romans 16:23; 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 16:12.

Minister ( διάκονον )

See on Matthew 20:26; see on Mark 9:35. Not in the official sense of deacon which occurs only in the Pastorals. Διάκονος ministerand διακονία ministryor service are common expressions of service to Christ or to men. Paul habitually uses them in this way. See Acts 1:25; Acts 6:4. Διάκονοι is used of ministers of Satan, 2 Corinthians 11:15, and διάκονος of the civil magistrate, Romans 13:4. See Introduction to the Pastoral Epistles.

Fellow laborer

Omit from text.

To establish ( στηρίξαι )

See on Luke 22:32; Introd. to Catholic Epistles, Vol. 1, p. 625; see on 1 Peter 5:10; see on 2 Peter 1:12.

Moved ( σαίνεσθαι )

N.T.oolxx. In Class., as early as Homer, of dogs; to wag the tail, fawn (Hom. Od. x. 217; xvi. 6). Hence of persons, to fawn or cringe. The word is apparently used here in the original sense, to be shaken.

We are appointed ( κείμεθα )

As Luke 2:34(see note); Philemon 1:17. Comp. Acts 14:22, in which occur four of the words used here. For the thought, see Matthew 5:10; Matthew 10:17; Matthew 16:24; 1 Peter 2:21ff.; 1 Peter 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:12.

The tempter ( ὁ πειράζων )

Only here and Matthew 4:3. lxx. See on Matthew 6:13.

In vain ( εἰς κενον )

The phrase only in Paul. See 2 Corinthians 6:1; Galatians 2:2; Philemon 2:16. The force of the preposition is fairly represented by to in the phrase to no purpose. lxx has εἰς κενὸν, εἰς τὸ κενὸν , and εἰς κενὰ .

Now ( ἄρτι )

See on John 13:33. Const. with we were comforted (1 Thessalonians 3:7), not with came.

Good remembrance ( μνείαν ἀγαθὴν )

Better kindly remembrance. Comp. Romans 5:7(see note); Romans 7:12; Titus 2:6; 1 Peter 2:18. See on 1 Thessalonians 1:3.

Affliction ( ἀνάγκῃ )

Rev. distress. The derivation from ἄγξειν to press tightly, to choke (Lightfoot, Ellicott) is doubtful. In the sense of urgency, distress, seldom in Class. See 1 Corinthians 7:26; 2 Corinthians 6:4; 2 Corinthians 12:10; Luke 21:23.

Stand fast ( στήκετε )

The sense of firm standing is derived from the context, and does not inhere in the word. In Mark 3:31; Mark 11:25, it means simply to stand. Comp. Philemon 4:1. It does not occur earlier than N.T.

Exceedingly ( ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ )

Comp. Ephesians 3:20. Paul is fond of compounds with ὑπὲρ aboveOf the 28 N.T. words compounded with ὑπὲρ, 22 are found in Paul, and 20 of them only there.

Perfect ( καταρτίσαι )

Primarily, to adjust, fit together; so mend, Matthew 4:21. Of the creation of the world, Hebrews 11:3. See on Matthew 21:16; see on Luke 6:40; see on 1 Peter 5:10; see on Romans 9:22.

Direct ( κατεύθυναι )

Lit. make straight. Only in Paul and Luke. See on Luke 1:79, and comp. 2 Thessalonians 3:5. Frequent in lxx.

With all his saints ( μετὰ πάντων τῶν ἁγίων αὐτοῦ )

Saints is often explained as angels; but the meaning is the holy and glorified people of God. Οἱ ἅγιοι is uniformly used of these in N.T. and never of angels unless joined with ἄγγελοι. See Luke 9:26; Mark 8:38; Acts 10:22. It is doubtful if οἱ ἅγιοι is used of angels in lxx. Zechariah 14:5, which is confidently cited as an instance, is quoted at the conclusion of the Didache (xvi. 7), clearly with the sense of glorified believers. Ἅγιοι ἄγγελοι appears 12:15; Job href="../../desk/@q=job+5_3A1&sr=1">1 Thessalonians 4:13. This does not exclude the attendance of angels on the Lord's coming (see Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26), but when Paul speaks of such attendance, as 2 Thessalonians 1:7, he says, with the angels ( ἀγγέλων ) of his power.