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THE APOSTLE OF THE RECONCILIATION
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1 Thessalonians 1 and 2.
A 1:2-10.
a Remembrance without ceasing.
b The gospel came not in word only.
c Result. Ye became followers.
d End. Deliverance from wrath.
B 2:1-12.
How the gospel came to Thessalonica.
A 2:13-16.
a Thanks without ceasing.
b The Word received - not as word of men.
c Result. Ye became followers.
d End. Wrath to the uttermost.
It will be seen at once that `B 2:1-12' is a parenthesis, its burden being the self-defence of the apostle against the
insinuations regarding his morals, wrung out of him, as it were, by the necessities of the case.
The way in which he returns to the subject after this digression is clearly marked in both sections with a
reference to wrath; the one a deliverance from it, the other the inevitable endurance of it. To elucidate chapter 1
more clearly, and avoid bulky notes, the reader may observe the completeness of the treatment of the chapter by the
following outline:
1 Thessalonians 1:2-10
A 2,3.
a Work of faith.
b Labour of love.
c Patience of hope.
B 5. `For'. - The
d
Not only.
How.
e But also.
gospel's
f What manner.
coming.
C 6-.
Followers.
D -6.
The Word and much affliction.
C 7.
Ensamples.
B 8. `For'. - The
d
Not only.
Where
Word's
e But also
f What manner.
sounding.
A 9,10. a Turned to God.
b Serve the living God.
c Wait for His Son from heaven.
The parenthesis 2:1-12, while it looks on the surface to be mainly occupied with a defence of the apostle's
character, upon closer study resolves itself into the deeper question of the apostle's gospel ministry. This is exactly
the position which we have already seen in the epistle to the Galatians. This will be the more clearly seen when set
out as follows:
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
How the gospel of God came
A 1-6.
a Gospel of God. Boldness. `Not'.
God is witness.
b Gospel of God. Entrusted.
`Not'.