1 Thessalonians 2:11

“As you know, etc.] This is added to the end of the last verse in the Arabic version, and which begins this verse thus, “as one of you, and as a father comforting his sons, so we”, etc. but for what is said in the former verse, an appeal is made both to God and to the Thessalonians, so that there is no need of adding such a clause there; it properly stands here in connection with what follows, how we exhorted; to flee from wrath to come, and to Christ for refuge; to look to, and believe in him, as the only Saviour of lost sinners; to perform the duties of religion, and to continue in the faith; to cleave to Christ, and walk on in him as they had received him, and to abide by the truths and…”

“exhorted and comforted--Exhortation leads one to do a thing willingly; consolation, to do it joyfully [BENGEL], (Th1 5:14). Even in the former term, "exhorted," the Greek includes the additional idea of comforting and advocating one's cause: "encouragingly exhorted." Appropriate in this case, as the Thessalonians were in sorrow, both through persecutions, and also through deaths of friends (Th1 4:13). charged--"conjured solemnly," literally, "testifying"; appealing solemnly to you before God. every one of you--in private (Act 20:20), as well as publicly. The minister, if he would be useful, must not deal merely in generalities, but must individualize and particularize. as a father--with mild…”

“How we exhorted - That is, to a holy life. And comforted - In the times of affliction. And charged - Greek, “testified.” The word testify is used here in the sense of protesting, or making an earnest and solemn appeal. They came as witnesses from God of the truth of religion, and of the importance of living in a holy manner They did not originate the gospel themselves, or teach its duties and doctrines as their own, but they came in the capacity of those who bore witness of what God had revealed and required, and they did this in the earnest and solemn manner which became such an office. As a father doth his children - With an interest in your welfare, such as a father feels for his…”

“By exhorting, we are moved to do a thing willingly; by comforting, to do it joyfully; by charging, to do it carefully. 1 Thessalonians 2:12”

“2:11 In the ancient world, the moral instruction of children was a fundamental obligation of fathers. Roman fathers could be harsh, but Plutarch advised Greek fathers to use praise, reason, exhortations, and good counsel when teaching children to avoid vice and embrace virtue. Paul describes himself as this kind of father to the Thessalonians.”

“have, Th1 4:1, Th1 5:11; Act 20:2; Th2 3:12; Ti1 6:2; Ti2 4:2; Tit 2:6, Tit 2:9, Tit 2:15; Heb 13:22 charged: Num 27:19; Deu 3:28, Deu 31:14; Eph 4:17; Ti1 5:7, Ti1 5:21, Ti1 6:13, Ti1 6:17; Ti2 4:1 as: Gen 50:16, Gen 50:17; Ch1 22:11-13, Ch1 28:9, Ch1 28:20; Psa 34:11; Pro 1:10, Pro 1:15, Pro 2:1, Pro 3:1; Pro 4:1-12, Pro 5:1, Pro 5:2, Pro 6:1, Pro 7:1, Pro 7:24, Pro 31:1-9; Co1 4:14, Co1 4:15 1 Thessalonians 2:12”