‏ 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12

10. Ye are witnesses--as to our outward conduct.

God--as to our inner motives.

holily--towards God.

justly--towards men.

unblamably--in relation to ourselves.

behaved ourselves--Greek, "were made to be," namely, by God.

among you that believe--rather, "before (that is, in the eyes of) you that believe"; whatever we may have seemed in the eyes of the unbelieving. As 1Th 2:9 refers to their outward occupation in the world; so 1Th 2:10, to their character among believers.

11. exhorted and comforted--Exhortation leads one to do a thing willingly; consolation, to do it joyfully [Bengel], (1Th 5:14). Even in the former term, "exhorted," the Greek includes the additional idea of comforting and advocating one's cause: "encouragingly exhorted." Appropriate in this case, as the Thessalonians were in sorrow, both through persecutions, and also through deaths of friends (1Th 4:13).

charged--"conjured solemnly," literally, "testifying"; appealing solemnly to you before God.

every one of you--in private (Ac 20:20), as well as publicly. The minister, if he would be useful, must not deal merely in generalities, but must individualize and particularize.

as a father--with mild gravity. The Greek is, "his own children."

12. worthy of God--"worthy of the Lord" (Col 1:10); "worthily of the saints" (Ro 16:2, Greek): "... of the Gospel" (Php 1:27) "... of the vocation wherewith ye are called" (Ep 4:1). Inconsistency would cause God's name to be "blasphemed among the Gentiles" (Ro 2:24). The Greek article is emphatical, "Worthy of THE God who is calling you."

hath called--So one of the oldest manuscripts and Vulgate. Other oldest manuscripts, "Who calleth us."

his kingdom--to be set up at the Lord's coming.

glory--that ye may share His glory (Joh 17:22; Col 3:4).

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