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The first epistle was written to correct certain enthusiastic views concerning that advent; but the second tells us that the effort had failed. For meanwhile a forged epistle (2 Thessalonians 2:2), asserting that the day was near, opened the floodgates of fanaticism. Consequently men forsook their employments, and, being idle, indulged in useless discussions and in prying curiously into the affairs of others. Hence the injunctions (1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-8). Moreover two opposite lines of conduct were adopted by persons of different temperament. Some greedily received every wild tale about the advent; others perceiving that there was so much imposture, concluded that it was safest to believe nothing. To the first Paul says, "Prove all things," etc.; to the second, "Quench not the Spirit," etc. These opposite tendencies of scepticism and credulity will be found near together in all ages; some refusing to believe that God speaks in the signs of the times; others running after every book on prophecy, and believing anything providing it be marvellous. To meet this feverish state Paul takes two grounds. He first points out the signs which will precede the advent; self-idolatry, excluding the worship of God — sinful humanity "the man of sin." These signs worked then and now. Next Paul called the Church to a real preparation for that event in the text. The preparation is twofold.

I. THE LOVE OF GOD.

1. The love of God is the love of goodness. God is the Good One — personified goodness. To love God is to love what He is.

(1) No other love is real; none else lasts. Love based on personal favours, e.g., will not endure. You may believe that God has made you happy. While that happiness lasts, you will love God. But a time comes when happiness goes as it did with Job. The natural feeling would be "Curse God and die." Job said, "Though He slay me," etc. Plainly he had some other reason for His love than personal favours.

(2) The love of goodness only becomes real by doing good — otherwise it is a sickly sentiment, "If any man love Me, he will keep My commandments."

2. The love of God is the love of man expanded and purified. We begin with loving men. Our affections wrap themselves round beings created in God's image — then they widen in their range. "No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another...His love is perfected in us." "He that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen," etc. An awful day is coming. How shall we prepare for it? Not by unnatural forced efforts at loving God, but by persistence in the appointed path of our common attachments. "Inasmuch as ye did it unto the least of these," etc.

3. It is not merely love of goodness, but love of goodness concentrated on the Good One. Nor merely love of man, but love of man expanded into love of Him in whom all that is excellent in men is perfect.

II. PATIENT WAITING.

1. What is waited for? There are many comings of Christ, in the incarnation, at the destruction of Jerusalem, as a spiritual presence when the Holy Ghost was given in every signal manifestation of redeeming power, in any great reformation of morals and religion, in revolutions which sweep the evil away to make way for good, at the end of the world, when the spirit of all these comings will be concentrated. Thus we may see in what way Christ is ever coming and ever near, and how the early Church was not deceived in expecting Christ. He did come, though not in the way they expected.

2. What is meant by waiting? Throughout St. Paul's writings, the Christian attitude is that of expectation — salvation in hope. Not a perfection attained, but one that is to be. The golden age lies onward. We are longing for, not the Church of the past, but that of the future. Ours is not yearning for the imaginary perfection of ages gone by, nor a conservative content with things as they are, but hope. It is this spirit which is the preparation for the advent.

3. It is patient waiting. Every one who has longed for any spiritual blessing knows the temptation to impatience, "Where is the promise of His coming?" The true preparation is not having correct ideas of how and when He shall come, but being like Him (1 John 3:3).

III. THE LORD WILL DIRECT US INTO THIS. Not an infallible human teacher, but God.

(F. W. Robertson, M. A.)

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KJV: And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

WEB: May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of Christ.