1Th 1:6-7 | JFB | e4.org | 6. And ye —answering to " For our Gospel," . followers — Greek, "imitators." The Thessalonians in their turn became "ensamples" ( ) for others to imitate. of the Lord —who was the apostle of the Father, and taught the word, which He brought from heaven, under adversities [BENGEL ]. This was the point in which they imitated Him and His apostles, joyful witness for the word in much affliction: the second proof of their election of God ( ); is the first (see on ). received the word in much affliction — ( ). joy of —that is, wrought by "the Holy Ghost." "The oil of gladness" wherewith the Son of God was "anointed above His fellows" ( ), is the same oil with which He, by the Spirit, anoints His fellows too ( ).

‏ 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7

6. And ye—answering to "For our Gospel," 1Th 1:5.

followers—Greek, "imitators." The Thessalonians in their turn became "ensamples" (1Th 1:7) for others to imitate.

of the Lord—who was the apostle of the Father, and taught the word, which He brought from heaven, under adversities [BENGEL]. This was the point in which they imitated Him and His apostles, joyful witness for the word in much affliction: the second proof of their election of God (1Th 1:4); 1Th 1:5 is the first (see on 1Th 1:5).

received the word in much affliction— (1Th 2:14; 3:2-5; Ac 17:5-10).

joy of—that is, wrought by "the Holy Ghost." "The oil of gladness" wherewith the Son of God was "anointed above His fellows" (Ps 45:7), is the same oil with which He, by the Spirit, anoints His fellows too (Isa 61:1, 3; Ro 14:17; 1Jo 2:20, 27).

7. ensamples—So some of the oldest manuscripts read. Others, "ensample" (singular), the whole Church being regarded as one. The Macedonian Church of Philippi was the only one in Europe converted before the Thessalonians. Therefore he means their past conduct is an ensample to all believers now; of whom he specifies those "in Macedonia" because he had been there since the conversion of the Thessalonians, and had left Silvanus and Timotheus there; and those in "Achaia," because he was now at Corinth in Achaia.