The life and work of St. Paul

THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESS1LONIA.N8. 345
at In all that "believed in Him. 1 And that they may attain to this glory, he
prayed that God may count them worthy of their calling, and bring to fulfil-
ment the goodness in which they delight, 2 and the activity of their faith, both
to the glory of their Lord and to their own glory, as granted by His grace. 3
Then follows the most remarkable section of the letter, and tha one for
the sake of which it was evidently written. He had, in his first letter, urged
them to calmness and diligence, but the eagerness of expectation, unwittingly
increased by his own words, had prevailed over his exhortations, and it was
now hia wish to give them further and more definite instruction on this great
subject. This was rendered more necessary by the fact that their hopes
had been fanned into vivid glow, partly by prophecies which claimed to be
inspired, and partly by words or letters which professed to be stamped with
his authority.
He writes, therefore, in language of which I have attempted
to preserve something of the obvious mystery and reticence. 4
we beseech you, brethren, touching* the presence of our Lord Jesus
Christ and our gathering 6 to meet Him, that ye be not quickly tossed from your
state of mind,' nor even be troubled either by spirit, 8 or l>y word, or by letter purporting
to come from us,' as though the day of the Lord is here. 10 Let no one deceive
you in any way, because u unless the apostasy 1S come first, and the man of sin
Beatific Vision, v. The " tfonian exclusion " of this passage takes place at Christ's First
Advent, not at the final Judgment Day.
1
They will inspire wonder, because they will in that day reflect His brightness.
2 i. 11, irXTi/jwcTjtvSoiciov