We must be satisfied for the present with some fairly obvious items of fact and interest,

which however are by no means unimportant because found lying near the surface. For

example, we find that the word `gospel' euaggelion, comes six times in the epistle, and

the word `euaggelizo' "to preach the gospel", comes but once, making seven occurrences

in all.  The gospel if it is to be made known, must be made known through the

instrumentality of `words'. Without `words' neither the apostles, nor we their more

humble followers, could either `preach' or `teach', and so, while realizing, alas, the

mockery and hollowness of `mere words', we must also appreciate more than ever the

importance of this channel of communication. We discover that logos occurs nine times

in Thessalonians, and observing that in I Thess. 2: 13 the three occurrences are to be

considered as practically one, `the Word of God, not as the word of man, but as it is in

truth the Word of God', we find another sevenfold distribution of terms.

A | 1: 5. Our gospel came not in word only.

B | a | 1: 6. The word with affliction.

b | 1: 8. The WORD OF THE LORD "from you".

C | 2: 5. Not flattering words.

A | 2: 13. Not as the word of man.

B |

b | 4: 15. The WORD OF THE LORD "unto you".

a | 4: 18. The word and comfort.

This presentation speaks for itself.  The reader will notice particularly the two

references to "The Word of the Lord" and should he meet the unwarranted assertion that

the fact that the passage dealing with the Coming of the Lord in chapter 4: is introduced

by the formula "The Word of the Lord" and so `proves' that I Thess. 4: presents a

secret and hitherto unrevealed aspect of the Second Coming, he will know just how much

truth such a statement contains. That which `proves' too much `proves' nothing.

The contrast in I Thess. 1: 5 is between "Word only" on the one hand, and "power,

Holy Ghost and much assurance" on the other. The contrast in I Thess. 2: 13 is between

`the word of men' and `the Word of God' which effectually worketh in them that believe.

"Power, Holy Ghost, and much assurance" and `effectual working' are but two ways of

referring to the same thing. The word translated `effectual working' is energeo, `to work

in', and from which comes our English word energy. The A.V. translators on eight

occasions, felt impelled to use the word `effectual' in addition to `working', indeed in one

reference, namely II Cor. 1: 6, the word `work' is omitted and we read `which is

effectual' pure and simple.

There is some justification for the addition, for power can conceivably `work' without

that work being `effectual'. The word of men `works', but whether it always works

`effectually' is another matter.  Paul gives us a threefold evidence of the effectual

character of the Word of God:

(1) Power.  This is `the work of faith with power' that is found in II Thess. 1: 11.

When the church of the Thessalonians was founded, the word preached was `with the