1 Thessalonians 1:9

“For they themselves show of us, etc.] Either the above reports of the preaching of the Gospel to the Thessalonians, and of their faith in God; or rather the persons to whom these reports were brought, openly and publicly, and largely declared concerning the apostles, what manner of entering in we had unto you; under what difficulties they laboured, what contention they had with the unbelieving Jews, what reproaches were cast upon them, and what persecutions they endured when they first entered their city and synagogue, and preached the Gospel to them; and in what manner they did preach it, with what boldness, sincerity, uprightness and affection, and without flattery, covetousness, and vain…”

“Strictly there should follow, "For they themselves show of you," &c.; but, instead, he substitutes that which was the instrumental cause of the Thessalonians' conversion and faith, "for they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you"; compare Th1 1:5, which corresponds to this former clause, as Th1 1:6 corresponds to the latter clause. "And how ye turned from idols to serve the living . . . God," &c. Instead of our having "to speak any thing" to them (in Macedonia and Achaia) in your praise (Th1 1:8), "they themselves (have the start of us in speaking of you, and) announce concerning (so the Greek of 'show of' means) us, what manner of (how effectual an) entrance we…”

“For they themselves - They who have visited you, and they whom you have sent out; all persons testify of your piety. The apostle seems to refer to all whom he had met or had heard of “in all places,” who said anything about the Thessalonians They were unanimous in bearing testimony to their fidelity and piety. Show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you - The testimony which they bear of you is, in fact, testimony of the manner in which we preached the gospel, and demeaned ourselves when we were with you. It shows that we were intent on our Master’s work, and that we were not actuated by selfish or sinister motives The argument is, that such effects could not have been produced…”

“For they themselves - The people wherever we come. 1 Thessalonians 1:10”

“1:9 Among the Gentiles, the message of the apostles was an exhortation to turn from false idols to serve the living and true God, who created all things (Acts 14:11-18; 17:22-31; 19:23-41). In a pluralistic religious environment, the call to forsake ancestral gods was unusual (cp. Jer 10:8-10; 1 Cor 8:4-6).”

“what: Th1 1:5, Th1 1:6, Th1 2:1, Th1 2:13 ye: Isa 2:17-21; Jer 16:19; Zep 2:11; Zac 8:20-23; Mal 1:11; Act 14:15; Act 26:17, Act 26:18; Co1 12:2; Gal 4:8, Gal 4:9 the living: Deu 5:26; Sa1 17:26, Sa1 17:36; Psa 42:2, Psa 84:2; Isa 37:4, Isa 37:17; Jer 10:10; Dan 6:26; Hos 1:10; Rom 9:26; Co2 6:16, Co2 6:17; Ti1 4:10; Heb 12:22; Rev 17:2 1 Thessalonians 1:10”