Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians

Comm on Phil, Col, Thes
17. But we, brethren, being taken from you 17. Nos vero, fratres, orbati vobis ad tempus
549 for a short time in presence, not in heart, horae aspectu, non corde, abundantius
endeavoured the more abundantly to see your studuimus faciem vestram videre in multo
face with great desire.
desiderio.
18. Wherefore we would have come unto you, 18. Itaque voluimus venire ad vos, ego
even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered quidem Paulus, et semel et bis, et obstitit nobis
us.
Satan.
19. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of 19. Quae enim nostra spes, vel gaudium, vel
rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our corona gloriationis? annon etiam vos coram
Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
Domino nostro Iesu Christo in eius adventu?
20. For ye are our glory and joy.
20. Vos enim estis gloria nostra et gaudium.
17 But we, brethren, bereaved of you. This excuse has been appropriately added, lest the
Thessalonians should think that Paul had deserted them while so great an emergency demanded
his presence. He has spoken of the persecutions which they endured from their own people: he, in
the mean time, whose duty it was above all others to assist them, was absent. He has formerly called
himself a father; now, it is not the part of a father to desert his children in the midst of such distresses.
He, accordingly, obviates all suspicion of contempt and negligence, by saying, that it was from no
want of inclination, but because he had not opportunity. Nor does he say simply, “I was desirous
to come to you, but my way was obstructed;” but by the peculiar terms that he employs he expresses
the intensity of his affection: “When,” says he, “I was bereaved of you.” 550 By the word bereaved,
he declares how sad and distressing a thing it was to him to be absent from them. 551 This is followed
by a fuller expression of his feeling of desire — that it was with difficulty that he could endure
their absence for a short time. It is not to be wondered, if length of time should occasion weariness
or sadness; but we must have a strong feeling of attachment when we find it difficult to wait even
a single hour. Now, by the space of an hour, he means — a small space of time.
This is followed by a correction — that he had been separated from them in appearance, not
in heart, that they may know that distance of place does not by any means lessen his attachment.
At the same time, this might not less appropriately be applied to the Thessalonians, as meaning
that they, on their part, had felt united in mind while absent in body; for it was of no small importance
for the point in hand that he should state how fully assured he was of their affection towards him
in return. He shews, however, more fully his affection, when he says that he endeavored the more
abundantly; for he means that his affection was so far from being diminished by his leaving them,
that it had been the more inflamed. When he says, we would once and again, he declares that it
549 “Pour vn moment du temps;” — “For a moment of time.”
550 “The original word is here very emphatical. It is an allusion to that grief, anxiety, and reluctance of heart, with which dying,
affectionate parents take leave of their own children, when they are just going to leave them helpless orphans, exposed to the
injuries of a merciless and wicked world, or that sorrow of heart with which poor destitute orphans close the eyes of their dying
parents.” —Benson.—Ed.
551 “Le mot Grec signifie l’estat d’vn pere qui a perdu ses enfans, ou des enfans qui ont perdu leur pere;” — “The Greek word
denotes the condition of a father that has lost his children, or of children that have lost their father.”
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John Calvin