+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._
+IV. In much assurance.+--1. _Fulness of apprehension._ 2. _Fulness
of belief_--the result. 3. _Fulness of consequent hope.--Stewart._
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.--Verses_ 6-8.
_The Practical Result of a True Reception of the Gospel._
Christianity transforms man, fills the mind with pure and lofty
thoughts, turns the current of his feelings into the right channel,
makes the soul luminous with ever-brightening hopes, and transfigures
his sin-stricken nature into a semblance of the dignity, beauty, and
perfection of the Divine. Observe its influence on the mixed
population of Thessalonica.
+I. The true reception of the Gospel.+--"Having received the word in
much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost" (ver. 6). The Word may
fall on the ear like a sweet strain of music, and charm the soul with
temporary rapture, may enter the understanding as a clearly
apprehended truth, may captivate the affections, and travel through
the whole sphere of emotion on a thrill of ecstasy; but unless it be
embraced by the heart and conscience, with the aid of the Holy
Spirit, it is powerless in spiritual reformation. Two opposite, but
often strangely blended, emotions--sorrow and joy--were exercised in
the reception of the Gospel by the Thessalonians.
1. _They received the Word in sorrow._--"In much affliction." Amid
the tumult and persecution of the citizens (Acts xvii. 5-9).
Principally, sorrow on account of sin, and because of their prolonged
rejection of Christ and obstinate disobedience.
2. _They received the Word with joy._--"With joy of the Holy Ghost."
They realised the joy of _conscious forgiveness and acceptance with
God._ The sinless angels, placed beyond the necessity of pardon, are
incapable of experiencing this joy. It belongs exclusively to the
believing penitent. _The joy of suffering for the truth._ Cyprian,
who suffered for the Gospel, used to say, "It is not the pain but the
cause that makes the martyr." That cause is the cause of truth.
Suffering is limited, life itself is limited, but truth is eternal.
To suffer for that truth is a privilege and a joy. _The joy of
triumph,_ over error, sin, Satan, persecution. This joy is the
special product of the Holy Ghost. These twin feelings--sorrow and
joy--are typical of the ever-alternating experience of the believer
throughout his earthly career.
+II. The practical result of the true reception of the
Gospel.+--1. _They became imitators of the highest patterns of
excellence._ "Ye became followers of us and of the Lord" (ver. 6).
The example of Christ is the absolute, all-perfect standard of moral
excellence. But this does not supersede the use of inferior models.
The planets have their season to guide and instruct us, as well as
the sun, and we can better bear the moderated light of their borrowed
splendour. The bravery of the common soldier, as well as the capacity
and heroism of the most gifted officer, may stimulate a regiment to
deeds of valour. So the apostles, in their patient endurance of
suffering, their enterprising zeal and blameless integrity of life,
became examples for their converts to imitate, while they pointed to
the great infallible Pattern after which the noblest life must ever
be moulded.
2. _They became examples to others._--"So that ye were ensamples to
all that believe" (ver. 7). _In the reality and power of their
faith._ They eagerly embraced the Word preached, believing it to be
not the word of men but of God. This gave a profound reality to their
conceptions of the Gospel and a strong impulse to their active
religious life. _In their zealous propagation of the truth._ "For
from you sounded out the word of the Lord" (ver. 8). Wherever they
travelled they proclaimed the Gospel. They imparted that which had
enriched themselves, and which, in giving, left them still the
richer. _The influence of their example was extensive in its range._
"Not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith
to Godward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak anything"
(ver. 8). Macedonia and Achaia were two Roman provinces that
comprised the territory known as ancient Greece. Thessalonica. the
metropolis of Macedonia, was the chief station on the great Roman
road--the Via Egnatia--which connected Rome with the whole region
north of the Ægean Sea and was an important centre both for commerce
and the spread of intelligence. Wherever the trade of the merchant
city extended, there the fame of the newly founded Church penetrated.
Great was the renown of their own Alexander, the Macedonian monarch,
and brilliant his victories; but the reputation of the Thessalonian
Christians was of a higher order, and their achievements more
enduring.
+Lessons.+--1. _The Gospel that brings sorrow to the heart brings
also joy._ 2. _A genuine reception of the truth changes the man and
creates unquenchable aspirations after the highest good._ 3. _A
living example is more potent than the most elaborate code of
precepts._
_GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES._