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Selected Verse: 1 Thessalonians 2:17 - King James
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
1Th 2:17 |
King James |
But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
But we--resumed from Th1 2:13; in contrast to the Jews, Th1 2:15-16.
taken--rather as Greek, "severed (violently, Act 17:7-10) from you," as parents bereft of their children. So "I will not leave you comfortless," Greek, "orphanized" (Joh 14:18).
for a short time--literally, "for the space of an hour." "When we had been severed from you but a very short time (perhaps alluding to the suddenness of his unexpected departure), we the more abundantly (the shorter was our separation; for the desire of meeting again is the more vivid, the more recent has been the parting) endeavored," &c. (Compare Ti2 1:4). He does not hereby, as many explain, anticipate a short separation from them, which would be a false anticipation; for he did not soon revisit them. The Greek past participle also forbids their view. |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
But we, brethren, being taken from you - There is more implied in the Greek word here rendered, "being taken from you " - ἀπορφανισθέντες aporphanisthentes - than appears from our translation. It properly has relation to the condition of an orphan (compare notes on Joh 14:18), or one who is bereaved of parents, or one who is bereaved of parents}}. Then it is used in a more general sense, denoting to be bereaved of; and in this place it does not mean merely that he was "taken from them," but there is included the idea that it was like a painful bereavement. It was such a state as that of one who had lost a parent. No word, perhaps, could have expressed stranger attachment for them.
For a short time - Greek, "For the time of an hour;" that is, for a brief period. The meaning is, that when he left them he supposed it would be only for a short time. The fact seems to have been Act 17:10, that it was supposed, when Paul was sent to Berea, that things would soon be in such a state that he could safely return to Thessalonica. He was "sent" there by those who thought it was necessary for the safety of some of his friends at Thessalonica, and he evidently purposed to return as soon as it could properly be done. It had, in fact, however, turned out to be a long and painful absence.
In presence, not in heart - My heart was still with you. This is an elegant and touching expression, which we still use to denote affection for an absent friend.
Endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face - Made every endeavor possible. It was from no want of affection that I have not done it, but from causes beyond my control.
With great desire - Compare the notes at Luk 22:15. |
Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Being taken from you (ἀπορφανισθέντες)
N.T.o. olxx. Rev. better, being bereaved of you. From ὀρφανός bereft. See Mar 12:40, Joh 14:18; Jam 1:27. The word suggests the intimate personal fellowship of the writer with his readers. The separation was like that between parents and children. Comp. Th1 2:7, Th1 2:8.
For a short time (πρὸς καιρὸν ὥρας)
N.T.o. Lit. for the season of an hour. Comp. Lat. horae momentum. Stronger than the usual phrase πρὸς ὥραν for an hour: see Co2 7:8; Gal 2:5; Plm 1:15. Comp. πρὸς καιρὸν for a season, Luk 8:13; Co1 7:5.
The more abundantly (περισσοτέρως)
Rev. the more exceedingly. Paul uses this adverb very freely, and outside of his letters it appears only Heb 2:1; Heb 13:19. He is much given to the use of comparatives, and sometimes heaps them together: see Rom 8:37; Co2 7:13; Co2 4:17; Eph 3:20; Phi 1:23. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
In this verse we have a remarkable instance, not so much of the transient affections of holy grief, desire, or joy, as of that abiding tenderness, that loving temper, which is so apparent in all St. Paul's writings, towards those he styles his children in the faith. This is the more carefully to be observed, because the passions occasionally exercising themselves, and flowing like a torrent, in the apostle, are observable to every reader; whereas it requires a nicer attention to discern those calm standing tempers, that fixed posture of his soul, from whence the others only flow out, and which more peculiarly distinguish his character. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Being taken from you for a short time - Through the persecution raised by the Jews, see Acts 17, he was obliged to leave Thessalonica, and yield to a storm that it would have been useless for him to have withstood.
Being taken from you - in presence, not in heart - The apostle had compared himself to a parent or nurse, Th1 2:7, Th1 2:11; and the people he considered as his most beloved children; here he represents himself as feeling what an affectionate father must feel when torn from his children; for this is the import of the word απορφανισθεντες, bereft of children, which we tamely translate being taken from you.
Endeavoured the more abundantly - His separation from them did not destroy his parental feelings, and the manner in which he was obliged to leave them increased his desire to visit them as soon as possible. |
4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
19 But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.
1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
40 Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: