Epistles to the, First Epistle.

The authenticity and canonical authority of this epistle have been from the earliest ages admitted by all who have received any of Paul's epistles. Besides two probable quotations from it by Polycarp (Lardner, ii. 96, 8vo ed.), it is certainly cited, as the production of the Apostle Paul, by Irenaeus (v. 6, § 1), by Clement of Alexandria (Pud i. § 19, p. 109, ed. Potter), by Tertullian (De Resur. Carnis, c. 24), by Caius (ap. Euseb. Hist. Eccles. vi. 20), by Origen (Coni. Cels. lib. iii.), and by others of the ecclesiastical writers (Lardner, ii. pl. locc.). This epistle has generally been regarded as the first written by Paul of those now extant. It seems indisputable that this epistle was not written until Paul met Timothy and Silas at Corinth. The ancient subscription, indeed, testifies that it was written at Athens; but that this could not be the case is clear from the epistle itself. The design of this epistle is to comfort the Thessalonians under trial, and to encourage them to the patient and consistent profession of Christianity. The epistle may be conveniently divided into two parts. The former of these, which comprises the first three chapters, is occupied with statements chiefly of a retrospective character: it details the apostle's experience among the Thessalonians, his confidence in them, his deep regard for them, and his efforts and prayers on their behalf. The latter part of the epistle (iv. v.) is, for the most part, of a hortatory character: it contains the apostle's admonitions to the Thessalonians to walk according to their profession; to avoid sensuality, dishonesty, and pride; to cultivate brotherly love; to attend diligently to the duties of life; to take the comfort which the prospect of Christ's second coming was calculated to convey, but not to allow that to seduce them into indolence or idle speculations; to render due respect to their spiritual superiors; and, by attention to a number of duties which the apostle specifies, to prove themselves worthy of the good opinion he entertained of them.

Second Epistle.—The apostle's allusion in his former epistle to the second coming of Christ, appears to have been misunderstood by the Thessalonians, or wilfully perverted by some among them, so as to favour the notion that that event was near at hand. On receiving intelligence of this, Paul wrote to them this second epistle, in which he beseechingly adjures them by the very fact that Christ is to come a second time, not to be shaken in mind or troubled, as if that event were near at hand. He informs them that much was to happen before that should take place, and especially predicts a great apostacy from the purity and simplicity of the Christian faith (ii. 5-12). He then exhorts them to hold fast by the traditions they had received, whether by word or epistle, and commends them to the consoling and sustaining grace of God (ver. 15-17). The rest of the epistle consists of expressions of affection to the Thessalonians, and of confidence in them; of prayers on their behalf, and of exhortations and direc- As regards the disposition and arrangement of these materials, the epistle naturally divides itself into three parts. In the first (i. 1-12), the apostle mingles commendations of the faith and piety of the Thessalonians, with prayers on their behalf. In the second (ii. 1-17), he dilates upon the subject of the trouble which had been occasioned to the Thessalonians by the anticipation of the near approach of the day of the Lord. And in the third (iii. 1-16), he accumulates exhortations, encouragements, and directions, to the Thessalonians, respecting chiefly the peaceable, quiet, and orderly conduct of their lives, which he follows up with a prayer on their behalf to the God of peace. The epistle concludes with a salutation from the apostle's own hand, and the usual benediction (ver. 17, 18). There is the strongest reason for believing that this second epistle was written very soon after the first, and at the same place, viz., Corinth. At what period, however, of the apostle's abode at Corinth this epistle was written, we are not in circumstances accurately to determine.

The internal evidence in favour of the genuineness of this epistle is equally strong with that which attests the first. Polycarp (Ep. ad Philip. § 11) appears to allude to ch. iii. 15. Justin Martyr, in his Dialogue with Trypho (p. 193, 32, ed. Sylburg, 1593), speaks of the reigning of the Man of Sin (τὸν ἐπικρατοῦντα ἀνθρώπου), which seems to be an evident allusion to ch. ii. 3; and in a passage, quoted by Lardner (vol. ii. p. 125), he uses the phrase ὁ τῶν ἀνθρώπων ἀνθρώπων. The eighth verse of this second chapter is formally cited by Irenæus (iii. c. 7, § 2), as from the pen of an apostle; Clement of Alexandria specially adduces ch. iii. 2 as the words of Paul (Strom. lib. v. p. 554, ed. Sylb.); and Tertullian also quotes this epistle as one of Paul's (De Resurr. Carnis. c. 24). The scepticism of the German critics is most fully replied to by Guericke (Beiträge zur Hist. Krit. Einl. ins. N. T. s. 92-99, Halle, 1828), by Reiche (Authentic Post. ad Thess. Epist. Vindiciae, Got., 1829), and by Pelt in the Prolegomena to his Commentary on the Epistles to the Thessalonians (p. xxvii.).

Besides the exposition of this epistle found in numerous commentaries, the reader is referred to Jewell, Bp., An Exposition upon the two Epistles of the Apostle Saint Paul to the Thessalonians, London, 1583, 12mo, 1811, 8vo; Conybeare and Howson, Life and Letters of St Paul; Jowett, The Epistles of St Paul to the Thessalonians, Galatians, and Romans; Davidson, An Introduction to the New Testament.