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For this cause we also thank God without ceasing that when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, God’s word, which also works in you who believe.
Verse 13. The word [4] of the hearing of God, which can only signify the word of God you heard from us. Witham.
For you, brothers, became imitators of the assemblies of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus; for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews
who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out, and don’t please God, and are contrary to all men,
forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, to fill up their sins always. But wrath has come on them to the uttermost.
Verse 16. To full up the measure of their sins, after which God’s justice would punish them. Witham.—The Jews filled up the measure of their iniquities by the opposition they every where manifested to the religion of Christ. The earliest Fathers of the Church testify that they dispersed people into every nation to blaspheme the name of Christ; and hence sprang the evil fame which Christians bore among the pagans. See the apologies of S. Justin, Tertullian, Origen, and so forth—For the wrath of God is come upon them to the end. It seems a foretelling of their entire destruction, which happened not long after under Vespasian and Adrian. Witham.
But we, brothers, being bereaved of you for a short season in presence, not in heart, tried even harder to see your face with great desire,
Verse 17. Being taken away from [5] you. Lit. become desolate, because of our separation from you. Witham.
because we wanted to come to you—indeed, I, Paul, once and again—but Satan hindered us.
Verse 18. Satan hindered us. That is, has raised such an aversion to me among the pagans and Jews of Thessalonica, that my friends do not think it safe I should come among you. I am now detained from you by violence; but when this life is past, you shall form my joy and my crown. I will present you at the tribunal of my Saviour, and say: Behold me and my children; behold the fruits of my labours, the proofs of my fidelity, and my claims for a recompense. Calmet.—If the apostle here calls his disciples his hope, joy, glory, why may we not call the blessed Virgin Mary, or other saints, their joy and hope, for the special confidence they have in their prayers?
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isn’t it even you, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?
TR adds “Christ”
For you are our glory and our joy.