3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, " nor of uncleanness, nor in guile :

a 2 Pe. 1. 16.

4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as

b 1 Ti. 1. 11, 12.

at the very next important town, and Not such as to lead to an impure life. on the first opportunity, they pro- It was such as to lead to holiness claimed the same truth, though there and purity. The apostle appeals to was no security that they might not what they knew to be the tendency meet with the same persecution of his doctrine as an evidence that there. Paul evidently appeals to it was true. Most of the teaching this in order to show them that they of the heathen philosophers led to a were not impostors, and that they life of licentiousness and corruption. were not influenced by the hope of The tendency of the gospel was just ease or of selfish gains. Men who the reverse. Nor in guile. Not were not sincere and earnest in their by the arts of deceit. There was purposes would have been deterred no craftiness or trick, such as could by such treatment as they had re- not bear a severe scrutiny. No point ceived at Philippi. With much was carried by art, cunning, or stracontention. Amidst much opposition, tagem. Everything was done on the and where great effort was necessa- most honourable and fair principles. ry. The Greek word here used is It is much when a man can say that ayov (agony), a word referring usu- he has never endeavoured to accomally to the Grecian games. Notes, plish anything by mere trick, craft, Col. ii. 1. It means the course, or or cunning. Sagacity and shrewdplace of contest; and then the con-ness are always allowable in ministest itself, the strife, the combat, the ters as well as others; trick and effort for victory; and the apostle cunning never. Yet stratagem often here means, that owing to the oppo- takes the place of sagacity, and trick sition there, there was need of an is often miscalled shrewdness. Guile, effort on his part like the desperate craft, cunning, imply deception, and struggles of those who contended for can never be reconciled with that the mastery at the Grecian games. entire honesty which a minister of Comp. Notes on 1 Cor. ix. 24-27. the gospel, and all other Christians, The triumph of the gospel there was ought to possess. See Notes on 2 secured only by an effort of the high- Cor. xii. 16. Comp. Ps. xxxii. 2; est kind, and by overcoming the xxxiv. 13. John i. 47. 1 Pet. ii. 1. most formidable opposition. 22. Rev. xiv. 5.

3. For our exhortation. That is, the exhortation to embrace the gospel. The word seems to be used here so as to include preaching in general. The sense is, that the means which they used to induce them to become Christians were not such as to delude them. Was not of deceit. Was not founded on sophistry. The apostle means to say, that the Thessalonians knew that his manner of preaching was not such as was adopted by the advocates of error. ¶ Nor of uncleanness.

4. But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel. Comp. 1 Tim. i. 11, 12. Since there had been committed to us an office so high and holy, and so much demanding sincerity, fidelity, and honesty, we endeavoured to act in all respects in conformity to the trust reposed in us. The gospel is a system of truth and sincerity, and we evinced the same. The gospel is concerned with great realities, and we did not resort to trick and illusion. The office of the ministry is

pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

5 For neither at any time

a 2 Co. 2. 17.

used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

xxviii. 9; xxix. 17. Jer. xi. 20; xvii. 10. Ps. xi. 4. Rom. viii. 27. The meaning here is, that the apostle had a deep conviction of the truth that God knew all his motives, and that all would be revealed in the last day.

most responsible, and we acted in view of the great account which we must render. The meaning is, that Paul had such a sense of the truth, reality, and importance of the gospel, and of his responsibility, as effectually to keep him from anything like craft or cunning in preaching it. 5. For neither at any time used An effectual restrainer from mere we flattering words. See Notes on management and trick will always Job xxxi. 21, 22; and on 2 Cor. ii. be found in a deep conviction of the 17. The word here rendered 'flattruth and importance of religion. tering'-xoλaxía - occurs nowhere Artifice and cunning are the usual else in the New Testament. The accompaniments of a bad cause-meaning is, that the apostle did not

and, when adopted by a minister of deal in the language of adulation; the gospel, will usually, when detect- he did not praise them for their beaued, leave the impression that he feels ty, wealth, talent, or accomplishthat he is engaged in such a cause. ments, and conceal from them the If an object cannot be secured by painful truths about their guilt and sincerity and straight-forward deal- danger. He stated simple truth— ing, it is not desirable that it should not refusing to commend men if be secured at all. Even so we truth would admit of it, and never speak. In accordance with the na- hesitating to declare his honest conture of the gospel; with the truth victions about their guilt and danger. and sincerity which such a cause One of the principal arts of the dedemands. Not as pleasing men. ceiver on all subjects is flattery; and Not in the manner of impostors, who Paul says, that when preaching to make it their object to please men. the Thessalonians he had carefully The meaning of the apostle is, that avoided it. He now appeals to that he did not aim to teach such doc- fact as a proof of his own integrity. trines as would flatter men; as would They knew that he had been faithwin their applause; or as would gra- ful to their souls. ¶ Nor a cloke of tify their passions or their fancy. covetousness. The word rendered We are not to suppose that he de-cloke' here-pópaois-means, prosired to offend men; or that he re-perly, 'what is shown or appears begarded their esteem as of no value; fore any one;' i. e., show, pretence, or that he was indifferent whether pretext, put forth in order to cover they were pleased or displeased; but one's real intent. Mat. xxiii. 14. Mark that it was not the direct object of xii. 40. Luke xx. 47. The meaning his preaching to please them. It here is, that he did not put on a prewas to declare the truth, and to ob- tence or appearance of piety for the tain the approbation of God, what- sake of promoting the schemes of covever men might think of it. See etousness. The evidence of that was Notes on Gal. i. 10. ¶ Which trieth not only what they observed of the our hearts. It is often said to be an general spirit of the apostle, but also attribute of God that he tries or the fact that when with them he had searches the hearts of men. 1 Chron. I actually laboured with his own hands

6 Nor of men sought we glo- | others, when we might have ' been ry, neither of you, nor yet of burdensome, as the apostles of

a Jno. 5. 41. 44. Ga. 1. 10.

Christ.

b

meaning that they might have de

for a support. Ver. 9. It is obvious that there were those there, as some-manded a support in virtue of their times there are now, who, under the being apostles; others, as Calvin, pretence of great zeal for religion, and as it is in the margin, that they were really seeking wealth, and it might have used authority, and have is possible that it may have been al- governed them wholly in that manleged against Paul and his fellow-ner, exacting unqualified obedience. labourers that they were such persons. ¶ God is witness. This is a solemn appeal to God for the truth of what he had said. He refers not only to their own observation, but he calls God himself to witness his sincerity. God knew the truth in the case. There could have been no imposing on him; and the appeal, therefore, is to one who was intimately acquainted with the truth. Learn hence, (1.) that it is right, on important occasions, to appeal to God for the truth of what we say. (2.) We should always so live that we can properly make such an appeal to him.

The Greek properly refers to that which is weighty-iv Bapé-heavy, burdensome. Anything that weighs down, or oppresses - -as a burden, sorrow, or authority, would meet the sense of the Greek. It seems probable, from the context, that the apostle did not refer either to authority or to support exclusively, but may have included both. In their circumstances it might have been somewhat burdensome for them to have maintained him and his fellowlabourers, though as an apostle he might have required it. Comp. 1 Cor. ix. 8-15. Rather than be oppressive in this respect, he had chosen to forego his right, and to maintain himself by his own labour. As an apostle also he might have exerted his authority, and might have made use of his great office for the purpose of placing himself at the head of churches, and giving them laws. But he chose to do nothing that would be a burden; he treated them with the gentleness with which a nurse cherishes her children (ver.

6. Nor of men sought we glory. Or praise. The love of applause was not that which influenced them. See Notes on Col. i. 10. Neither of you, nor yet of others. Nowhere has this been our object. The love of fame is not that which has influenced us. The particular idea in this verse seems to be, that though they had uncommon advantages, as the apostles of Christ, for setting up á dominion or securing an ascenden-7), or a father his sons (ver. 11), and cy over others, yet they had not employed only the arts of persuasion. availed themselves of it. As an Comp. Notes on 2 Cor. xii. 13-16. apostle of Christ; as appointed by As the apostles of Christ. Though him to found churches; as endowed the writer uses the word apostles with the power of working miracles, here in the plural number, it is not Paul had every advantage for secur- certain that he means to apply it to ing authority over others, and turn- Silas and Timothy. He often uses ing it to the purposes of ambition or the plural number where he refers gain. When we might have been to himself only; and though Silas burdensome. Marg., or, used au- and Timothy are joined with him in thority. Some understand this as this epistle (ch. i. 1), yet it is evident

a

7 But we were gentle among | to have imparted unto you, not you, even as a nurse cherisheth the gospel of God only, but also her children: our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing

a Ro. 1. 11.

Rom. i. 11. ¶ Not the gospel of God only. To be willing to communicate the knowledge of the gospel was in itself a strong proof of love, even if it were attended with no self-denial or hazard in doing it. We evince a decided love for a man when we tell him of the way of salvation, and urge him to accept of it. We show strong interest for one who is in dan

that he writes the letter as if he were alone and that they had no part in the composition or the instructions. Timothy and Silas are associated with him for the mere purpose of salutation or kind remembrance. That this is so, is apparent from ch. iii. In ver. 1 of that chapter, Paul uses the plural term also. When we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone.ger, when we tell him of a way of Comp. ver. 5. For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith.' Neither Silas nor Timothy were apostles in the strict and proper sense, and there is no evidence that they had the authority' which Paul here says might have been exerted by an apostle of Christ.

escape, or for one who is sick, when we tell him of a medicine that will restore him; but we manifest a much higher love when we tell a lost and ruined sinner of the way in which he may be saved. There is no method in which we can show so strong an interest in our fellow-men, and so much true benevolence for them, as to go to them and tell them of the way by which they may be rescued from everlasting ruin. ¶ But also our own souls. Or rather lives

7. But we were gentle among you. Instead of using authority, we used only the most kind and gentle methods to win you and to promote your peace and order. The word herezas. Matt. vi. 25; xx. 28. Luke rendered nurse,' may mean any one who nurses a child, whether a mother or another person. It seems here to refer to a mother (comp. ver. 11), and the idea is, that the apostle felt for them the affectionate solicitude which a mother does for the child at her breast.

xii. 22, 23. Mark iii. 4. This does not mean that the apostle was willing to be damned, or to lose his soul in order to save them, but that if it had been necessary he would have been ready to lay down his life. See 1 John iii. 16. "We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." Comp. Notes, John xv. 13. His object seems to be to assure them that he did not leave them from any want of love to them, or from the fear of being put to death. It was done from the strong conviction of duty. He appears to have left them because he could not longer remain without exposing others to danger, and without the certainty that there would be continued disturbances. See Acts xvii.

8. So, being affectionately desirous of you. The word here rendered being affectionately desirous' iusipo-occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means to long after, to have a strong affection for. The sense here is, that Paul was so strongly attached to them that he would have been willing to lay down his life for them. We were willing to have imparted unto you. To have given or communicated. 9, 10.