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THE KING’S BUSINESS
received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: so- that ye were ensamples (became an ensample) to all that believed in Macedonia and Achaia.” Paul had lived the gospel he had preached and so their receiving of the gospel made them like him, they became “imitators of” him. In becoming imitators of Paul they also became “imitators of the Lord,” so Paul’s life must have been like the life of his Lord. They had “received the Word in much affliction,” indeed, the opposition by the. Jews at Thessalonica was very bitter (cf. Acts 17:5-10; 1 Thess. 2:14; 3:2T5). But with the great affliction was a still greater joy, the “joy of the Holy Ghost:” affliction for Christ’s sake and the joy of the Holy Ghost often go hand in hand (cf. 1 Peter 4:4; Acts 5:41). The expression “joy of the Holy Ghost” should be deeply pondered'. The Holy Spirit is the author of the deepest and most abiding joy that the human heart can know, the only real joy (cf. Gal. 5:22; Rom. 14:17; Isa. 61:1, 3; Heb. 1:9; John 4:17; 7:32-39). “The Word” had had such an effect in the lives of the believers in Thessalonica that they became a type (or pattern) to all that believed in Macedonia and Achaia. v. 8 . “For from you (add, hath) sounded out (forth) the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also (omit, also) in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad, (gone forth:) so that we need not to speak anything.” From these believers in Thessalonica “the Word of the Lord” had “sounded forth” (like the clear, far-echoing notes of a trumpet) not only in Macedonia and Achaia but in every place. It is a wonderful testimony that Paul here bears to the faith and con duct of the church in Thessalonica. How few churches there are today, and how few churches there have ever been, whose faith sounds out far and wide as did the faith of this young church. “Faith to God-ward” means faith that has God as its destination and object. By saying that their faith to God-ward had sounded forth Paul did not mean that they had gone forth as mission-
of patience, or endurance, that can be depended upon is that that comes through hope. Note carefully that' the object of hope is a person rather than an experience ; it is .our Lord Jesus Himself (cf. _Titus 2:13, R<- V.; 1 John 3:3, R. V.). What a beautiful picture it is we have here of this young church, believing, loving, hoping. Here as in 1 Cor. 13:13 faith, love and hope are joined together. Their faith and love and hope were real: this is brought out in the fact that they were-“in the sight of God,” and not merely in the sight of men. vs. 4, 5. “Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For (brethren beloved of God, your election, how that)' our gospel came not unto you in word only: (,) but also in power, and in the holy Ghost (Holy Ghost), and in much assurance, as ye know what manner of men we were among (showed ourselves toward) you for your sake.” Here we have the Bible doctrine of election: it,was an elec tion to salvation, holiness, likeness to Jesus, and service (5-9; cf. 1 Peter 1:2; Eph. 1:4, S; Rom. 8:29). The evidence of their election was that the gospel had not come in “word only” (ie., mere words of exposition and eloquence), but “also in power” (i.e., it had moved their hearts). This power was not the power of human persuasion and eloquence, but of the Holy Ghost (cf. v. 5; cf. 1 Cor. 2 :4, 5; Acts 1: 8 ) . The Word of God coming in the power of the Holy Ghost resulted in their conversion and regeneration, and thus proved their election. There is no doctrine of election here to salvation irrespective of what one does with the gospel, but it is an election that proves itself by what one does with the Word. Paul could appeal to the con duct of himself and friends as they actually knew it by observation. This conduct of Paul sprang from love: it was not to win applause but “for your sake.” The gos pel came to them in “much assurance” of its truth: it always comes in “much assur ance” when it comes “in the Holy Ghost.” vs. 6 , 7. “And ye became followers (imi tators) of us and of the Lord, having
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