Back to:
Colossians ⇐ ⇒ 2 Thessalonians
.
For more great commentaries on 1 Thessalonian check:
Commentaries on the Epistles, Commentaries on the Whole New Testament
& Whole Bible Commentaries
.
.
Order of Contents 24+
Best 6
Commentaries 14
Early & Medieval 8+
Chapters
.
The Best Commentaries on 1 Thessalonians
1600’s
Dickson, David – ‘The First Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians Analytically Expounded’ in An Exposition of All St. Paul’s Epistles… (London: Eglesfield, 1659), pp. 146-52
Dickson was a prominent Scottish covenanter.
*** – ‘Dickson is a writer after our own heart. For preachers he is a great ally. There is nothing brilliant or profound; but everything is clear and well arranged, and the unction runs down like the oil from Aaron’s head. In this volume the observations are brief.’
Fergusson, James – ‘Exposition of the First Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians’ in A Brief Exposition of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians & the Thessalonians (1656-1674; London: Ward, 1841), pp. 279-451
Fergusson was a Scottish covenanter.
*** – ‘He who possesses this work is rich. The author handles his matter in the same manner as Hutcheson and Dickson, and he is of their class–a grand, gracious, savory divine.’
.
Intermediate
Lange’s Commentary – Commentary on 1 Thessalonians by Auberlen & Riggenbach, trans. & enlarged John Lillie (1869)
*** “Lillie’s Thessalonians will be found to be one of the best executed portions of the American edition of Lange. The translation is remarkably accurate and elegant, and the additions from his own researches, and the best English Commentaries, are carefully selected and valuable.” – Dr. P. Schaff, as quoted by Spurgeon
Lillie, John – Lectures on the Epistles of Paul to the Thessalonians (NY: Robert Carter, 1860) 585 pp. no ToC This work was written by Lillie in contrast to the Lange work above.
*** “Remarks on the preceding [work on Lange] will apply here.”
.
Advanced
Eadie, John – ‘Commentary on 1st Thessalonians’ no ToC in A Commentary on the Greek Text of the Epistles to the Thessalonians (London: Macmillan, 1877), pp. 27-223
“Characterized by Eadie’s usual thoroughness. Readers may not always agree with his exegesis, but he does provide a helpful evaluation of all the different points of view with an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses. An essay on ‘The Man of Sin’ is appended.” “Expositions on several of Paul’s letters to the churches of the New Testament era followed [by Eadie], and it is significant that Dr. C.J. Ellicott considered them to be superior to anything in England up to that time.” – Cyril J. Barber
Lightfoot, J.B. – ‘1st Epistle to the Thessalonians’ in Notes on Epistles of St. Paul from Unpublished Commentaries (London: Macmillan, 1895), pp. 1-92
.
Commentaries on 1 Thessalonians
1500’s
Jewel, John – The First Epistle of St. Paul to the Thessalonians ToC in An Exposition upon the Two Epistles of the Apostle St. Paul to the Thessalonians (1571; London: Newberie, 1584) Also in An Exposition upon 1 Thessalonians in The Works of John Jewel… (Cambridge: Parker Society, 1847), vol. 2, pp. 813-86
** “Hooker calls Jewel ‘the jewel of bishops’. This work is in the usual style of the first Reformers, but rather more lively than most of them. Many of the topics touched upon were peculiar to the times in which the exposition was written. It will serve as a good specimen of the preaching of the Fathers of the English Church.” – Spurgeon
Rollock, Robert – 1 Thessalonians ToC in Lectures upon the Frist & Second Epistles of Paul to the Thessalonians… (d. 1599; Edinburgh: Charteris, 1606)
** “This renowned Scotchman’s writings generally come to us as translations from the Latin, and have been made preternaturally dull in the process of interpretation; but this appears to have been written in English by himself. It is practical to a high degree, and goes into minute details of the married life, etc. it will not be much appreciated in these days, though Dr. McCrie styles Rollock’s works ‘succinct and judicious.'” – Spurgeon
.
1600’s
Sclater, William – An Exposition with Notes upon the First Epistle to the Thessalonians (London: Stansby, 1619) 598 pp. ToC
Sclater (1575-1626) was a reformed puritan.
** “Sclater is antique; but, in the usual Puritanic manner, he gives very instructive disquisitions upon a vast variety of topics suggested by the text.” – Spurgeon
.
Intermediate
1800’s
Hutchison, John – Lectures Chiefly Expository on St. Paul’s First & Second Epistles to the Thessalonians with Notes & Illustrations (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1884) 373 pp. ToC
“Rev. Dr. John Hutchison came to Renfrew from Renfield Street Church, Glasgow. He was ordained and inducted to Renfrew United Presbyterian Church on 16th February 1864. His scholarly achievements were widely known, and in 1874 he received the Degree of Doctor of Divinity from Glasgow University. In 1877 he was translated to the newly formed congregation of Bonnington, Leith, where he ministered till his death on 1st March 1901, the last six years of his ministry at Bonnington being as Senior Minister.
Dr Hutchinson published in 1884, Expository Lectures on the First and Second Epistles of Thessalonians, followed in 1887 by this corresponding volume on Philippians, and later by Messages to the Seven Churches in Asia.” – the book flap
On his commentary on Philippians: ”This expositional commentary traces with care the unfolding of Paul’s thought and applies the principles that are laid bare to the needs of believers. Hutchinson deals deftly with the apostle’s varying moods and shows how these provide a pattern for the Christian’s growth. This is an excellent volume, perspicuous and practical” – Cyril J. Barber
Patterson, Alexander – ‘Commentary on the 1st Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians’ in Commentaries, Expository & Practical, on 1 Thessalonians, James & 1 John new ed. (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1857), pp. 1-115
** “Notes of discourses with much in them. Hints may be gleaned here in abundance by students who open their eyes.” – Spurgeon
.
1900’s
Findlay, C.G. – The Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians in The Cambridge Greek New Testament for Schools & Colleges (1904) reprinted as part of the Thornapple Commentaries by Baker. Contains a ten page appendix on ‘The Man of Lawlessness’
This work is accessible to those who do not know Greek. Findlay (1849-1919) was tutor in New Testament exegesis and classics at the Wesleyan Theological Institution from 1881-1917.
“A brief, helpful, technical treatment.” – Cyril J. Barber
“A concise scholarly commentary on the Greek Text…” & “a classic work” – Baker
Hendriksen, William – Commentary on 1 Thessalonians ToC in Exposition of I & II Thessalonians in New Testament Commentary (Baker, 1955), pp. 37-152
“Hendriksen, abreast of the latest philological, archaeological, and patristic scholarship, combines the information from each of these disciplines with his exposition of the text. Amillennial.” – Cyril J. Barber
Morris, Leon
The Epistles of Paul to the Thessalonians: an Introduction & Commentary in Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Eerdmans, 1957) 150 pp. ToC
This Tyndale work is less detailed and in-depth than the NICNT work below.
“Brief, to the point, clear, relevant and generally helpful. Amillennial.” – Cyril J. Barber
1, 2 Thessalonians in Word Biblical Themes (Word Publishing, 1989) 115 pp. ToC
The First & Second Epistles to the Thessalonians: Revised Edition in The New International Commentary on the New Testament (1959; Eerdmans, 1991) 285 pp. ToC
“Does not manifest the same maturity which characterizes Morris’ later writings, but does contain a wealth of learning. The exposition is in keeping with the Reformed tradition.” – Cyril J. Barber
Hiebert, David Edmond – The Thessalonian Epistles: a Call to Readiness (Moody, 1971) 380 pp. ToC
“An outstanding exposition based upon unusually comprehensive and complete exegesis. A leader among commentaries for accuracy and reliability. Premillennial.” – Cyril J. Barber
Clark, Gordon – First Thessalonians ToC in First & Second Thessalonians (Trinity Foundation, 1986), pp. 1-74
.
Advanced
1800’s
Ellicott, Charles J. – 1 Thessalonians no ToC in St. Paul’s Epistles to the Thessalonians, with a Critical & Grammatical Commentary 3rd ed. (London: Longman, 1866), pp. 1-88
“Highly technical. Ranked as one of the most scholarly treatments of these letters.” – Cyril J. Barber
.
1900’s
Frame, James Everett – Commentary on the First Epistle to the Thessalonians in A Critical & Exegetical Commentary on The Epistles of St. Paul to the Thessalonians in The International Critical Commentaries(Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1912) 345 pp. ToC
“An important grammatical study. Weak because the writer sidesteps theological issues and fails to deal adequately with the eschatological passages.” – Cyril J. Barber
Plummer, Alfred – A Commentary on St. Paul’s 1st Epistle to the Thessalonians (London: Scott, 1918) 145 pp. no ToC
“While not as helpful as the writer’s excellent studies (on the Gospel of Matthew, etc.), this exegetical work may, nevertheless, be read with profit.” – Cyril J. Barber
Milligan, George – Commentary on 1 Thessalonians (d. 1934)
Milligan (1860–1934) was the son of William Milligan and also a British Bible scholar.
“A brilliantly written, critical study which must of necessity take second place to more recent works. However, it is worth consulting.” – Cyril J. Barber
.
The Early Church on 1 Thessalonians
Compilations
ed. Gorday, Peter – The First Epistle to the Thessalonians in Ancient Christian Commentary: Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, 1-2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon (IVP Academic, 2007), pp. 59-100
Thiselton, Anthony C. – 1 & 2 Thessalonians Through the Centuries in Blackwell Bible Commentaries Pre (Blackwell) ToC
.
Individuals
Ambrosiaster – Commentary on 1 Thessalonians in Commentaries on Galatians-Philemon trans. Gerald Bray in Ancient Christian Texts Pre Buy (IVP Academic, 2009), pp. 101-12
Ambrosiaster (c. 366-384)
Chrysostom – Homilies on 1 Thessalonians ToC in NPNF1, vol. 13, pp. 323-76 HTML
Chrysostom (c. 347 – 407)
** ‘Enough of solid truth and brilliant utterance will be found here to justify this father’s title of ‘Golden Mouth’; but still all is not gold which fell from his lips, and to modern readers Chrysostom is not so instructive as he was to his own age [A.D. 349-407].’ – Spurgeon
Theodore of Mopsuestia – ‘On 1 Thessalonians’ in Theodore of Mopsuestia: The Commentaries on the Minor Epistles of Paul trans. Rowan Greer in Writings from the Greco-Roman World Pre (Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2010), pp. 439-95
Theodore (c. 350 – 428) was a bishop of Mopsuestia and is also known as Theodore of Antioch, from the place of his birth and presbyterate. He is the best known representative of the middle Antioch School of hermeneutics.
Augustine – Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament by S. Augustine in A Library of Fathers of the Holy Catholic Church (Oxford: John Henry Parker, 1839), pp. 884-89 ToC
sermon 122, on 1 Thess. 4:13
sermon 123, on 1 Thess. 4:13
Augustine (354–430)
Theodoret of Cyrus – Commentary on the Letters of St. Paul, vol. 2: Galatians–Hebrews Ref (Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 2007)
Theodoret (c. 393 – c. 458/466) was an influential theologian of the School of Antioch, biblical commentator and bishop of Cyrus.
.
The Medieval Church
Ishodad of Merv – On 1 Thessalonians (Intro & chs. 4-5) at Patristic Bible Commentary
Ishodad (fl. 850) was a bishop of Hdatta during the Abbasid Caliphate (near current-day Mosul, Iraq) and prominent theologian of the Church of the East, best known for his commentaries on the Syriac Bible.
Aquinas, Thomas – Commentary on 1 Thessalonians at Isidore
Aquinas (1225 – 1274)
.
On Chapters in 1 Thessalonians
.
1 Thessalonians 4
Case, Thomas – Mount Pisgah, or, A Prospect of Heaven, being an Exposition of 1 Thess. 4:13 to the End of the Chapter, Divided into Three Parts (London: Milbourn, 1670) 3 parts independently paginated Index
Case (d. 1682) was a reformed puritan.
.
.
.
Related Pages