Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - 1 Thessalonians 2:16 - 2:16
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Forbidding us (kōluontōn hēmās). Explanatory participle of the idea in enantiōn. They show their hostility to Paul at every turn. Right here in Corinth, where Paul is when he writes, they had already shown venomous hostility toward Paul as Luke makes plain (Act 18:6.). They not simply oppose his work among the Jews, but also to the Gentiles (ethnesi, nations outside of the Abrahamic covenant as they understood it).
That they may be saved (hina sōthōsin). Final use of hina with first aorist passive subjunctive of sōzō old verb to save. It was the only hope of the Gentiles, Christ alone and not the mystery-religions offered any real hope.
To fill up their sins alway (eis to anaplērōsai autōn tas hamartias pantote). Another example of eis to and the infinitive as in 1Th 2:12. It may either be God’s conceived plan to allow the Jews to go on and fill up (anaplērōsai, note ana, fill up full, old verb) or it may be the natural result from the continual (pantote) sins of the Jews.
Is come (ephthasen). First aorist (timeless aorist) active indicative of phthanō which no longer means to come before as in 1Th 4:15 where alone in the N.T. it retains the old idea of coming before. Some MSS. have the perfect active ephthaken, prophetic perfect of realization already. Frame translates it: “But the wrath has come upon them at last.” This is the most likely meaning of eis telos. Paul vividly foresees and foretells the final outcome of this attitude of hate on the part of the Jews. Tristis exitus, Bengel calls it. Paul speaks out of a sad experience.