1Th 2:15-16 | RWP | e4.org | Who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets ( των κα τον Κυριον αποκτειναντων Ιησουν κα τους προφητας ). First aorist active participle of αποκτεινω . Vivid justification of his praise of the churches in Judea. The Jews killed the prophets before the Lord Jesus who reminded them of their guilt ( ). Paul, as Peter ( ), lays the guilt of the death of Christ on the Jews. And drove us out ( κα ημας εκδιωξαντων ). An old verb to drive out or banish, to chase out as if a wild beast. Only here in N.T. It is Paul's vivid description of the scene told in . when the rabbis and the hoodlums from the agora chased him out of Thessalonica by the help of the politarchs. Please not God ( Θεω μη αρεσκοντων ). The rabbis and Jews thought that they were pleasing God by so doing as Paul did when he ravaged the young church in Jerusalem. But Paul knows better now. And are contrary to all men ( κα πασιν ανθρωποις εναντιων ). Dative case with the adjective εναντιων (old and common word, face to face, opposite). It seems like a bitter word about Paul's countrymen whom he really loved ( ; ), but Paul knew only too well the middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile as he shows in and which only the Cross of Christ can break down. Tacitus ( Hist . V. 5) says that the Jews are adversus omnes alios hostile odium .

‏ 1 Thessalonians 2:15-16

Who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets ( των κα τον Κυριον αποκτειναντων Ιησουν κα τους προφητας ). First aorist active participle of αποκτεινω. Vivid justification of his praise of the churches in Judea. The Jews killed the prophets before the Lord Jesus who reminded them of their guilt (Mt 23:29). Paul, as Peter (Ac 2:23), lays the guilt of the death of Christ on the Jews.

And drove us out ( κα ημας εκδιωξαντων ). An old verb to drive out or banish, to chase out as if a wild beast. Only here in N.T. It is Paul's vivid description of the scene told in Ac 17:5ff. when the rabbis and the hoodlums from the agora chased him out of Thessalonica by the help of the politarchs.

Please not God ( Θεω μη αρεσκοντων ). The rabbis and Jews thought that they were pleasing God by so doing as Paul did when he ravaged the young church in Jerusalem. But Paul knows better now.

And are contrary to all men ( κα πασιν ανθρωποις εναντιων ). Dative case with the adjective εναντιων (old and common word, face to face, opposite). It seems like a bitter word about Paul's countrymen whom he really loved (Ro 9:1-5; 10:1-6), but Paul knew only too well the middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile as he shows in Eph 2 and which only the Cross of Christ can break down. Tacitus (Hist. V. 5) says that the Jews are adversus omnes alios hostile odium.

Forbidding us ( κωλυοντων ημας ). Explanatory participle of the idea in εναντιων. 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 (Ac 18:6ff.). They not simply oppose his work among the Jews, but also to the Gentiles ( εθνεσ, nations outside of the Abrahamic covenant as they understood it).

That they may be saved ( ινα σωθωσιν ). Final use of ινα with first aorist passive subjunctive of σωζω 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 ( εις το αναπληρωσα αυτων τας αμαρτιας παντοτε ). Another example of εις το and the infinitive as in verse 12. It may either be God's conceived plan to allow the Jews to go on and fill up ( αναπληρωσα, note ανα, fill up full, old verb) or it may be the natural result from the continual ( παντοτε ) sins of the Jews.

Is come ( εφθασεν ). First aorist (timeless aorist) active indicative of φθανω 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 εφθακεν, prophetic perfect of realization already. Frame translates it: "But the wrath has come upon them at last." This is the most likely meaning of εις τελος. 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.