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damned who believed not the truth； but had pleasure in unrighteousness。〃 Men
cannot with impunity reject the warnings that God in mercy sends them。 From
those who persist in turning from these warnings； God withdraws His Spirit；
leaving them to the deceptions that they love。
Thus Paul outlined the baleful work of that power of evil which was to
continue through long centuries of darkness and persecution before the
second coming of Christ。 The Thessalonian believers had hoped for immediate
deliverance；
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now they were admonished to take up bravely and in the fear of God the work
before them。 The apostle charged them not to neglect their duties or resign
themselves to idle waiting。 After their glowing anticipations of immediate
deliverance the round of daily life and the opposition that they must meet
would appear doubly forbidding。 He therefore exhorted them to steadfastness
in the faith：
〃Stand fast； and hold the traditions which ye have been taught； whether by
word； or our epistle。 Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself； and God； even our
Father； which hath loved us； and hath given us everlasting consolation and
good hope through grace； comfort your hearts； and stablish you in every good
work and work。〃 〃The Lord is faithful； who shall stablish you； and keep you
from evil。 And we have confidence in the Lord touching you； that ye both do
and will do the things which we command you。 And the Lord direct your hearts
into the love of God； and into the patient waiting for Christ。〃
The work of the believers had been given them by God。 By their faithful
adherence to the truth they were to give to others the light which they had
received。 The apostle bade them not to become weary in well…doing； and
pointed them to his own example of diligence in temporal matters while
laboring with untiring zeal in the cause of Christ。 He reproved those who
had given themselves up to sloth and aimless excitement； and directed that
〃with quietness they work； and eat their own bread。〃 He also
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enjoined upon the church to separate from their fellowship anyone who should
persist in disregarding the instruction given by God's ministers。 〃Yet；〃 he
added； 〃count him not as an enemy； but admonish him as a brother。〃
This epistle also Paul concluded with a prayer that amidst life's toils and
trials the peace of God and the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ might be
their consolation and support。
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Chapter 26
Apollos at Corinth
After leaving Corinth； Paul's next scene of labor was Ephesus。 He was on his
way to Jerusalem to attend an approaching festival； and his stay at Ephesus
was necessarily brief。 He reasoned with the Jews in the synagogue； and so
favorable was the impression made upon them that they entreated him to
continue his labors among them。 His plan to visit Jerusalem prevented him
from tarrying then； but he promised to return to them； 〃if God will。〃 Aquila
and Priscilla had accompanied him to Ephesus； and he left them there to
carry on the work that he had begun。
It was at this time that 〃a certain Jew named Apollos； born at Alexandria；
an eloquent man； and mighty in the Scriptures； came to Ephesus。〃 He had
heard the preaching of John the Baptist； had received the baptism of
repentance； and was a living witness that the work of the prophet had not
been in vain。 The Scripture record of Apollos is that he
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〃was instructed in the way of the Lord； and being fervent in the spirit； he
spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord； knowing only the baptism
of John。〃
While in Ephesus； Apollos 〃began to speak boldly in the synagogue。〃 Among
his hearers were Aquila and Priscilla； who； perceiving that he had not yet
received the full light of the gospel； 〃took him unto them； and expounded
unto him the way of God more perfectly。〃 Through their teaching he obtained
a clearer understanding of the Scriptures and became one of the ablest
advocates of the Christian faith。
Apollos was desirous of going on into Achaia； and the brethren at Ephesus
〃wrote； exhorting the disciples to receive him〃 as a teacher in full harmony
with the church of Christ。 He went to Corinth； where； in public labor and
from house to house； 〃he mightily convinced the Jews； 。 。 。 showing by the
Scriptures that Jesus was Christ。〃 Paul had planted the seed of truth；
Apollos now watered it。 The success that attended Apollos in preaching the
gospel led some of the believers to exalt his labors above those of Paul。
This comparison of man with man brought into the church a party spirit that
threatened to hinder greatly the progress of the gospel。
During the year and a half that Paul had spent in Corinth； he had purposely
presented the gospel in its simplicity。 〃Not with excellency of speech or of
wisdom〃 had he come to the Corinthians； but with fear and trembling； and 〃in
demonstration of the Spirit and of power；〃 had he declared 〃the testimony of
God；〃 that their 〃faith should not stand in the wisdom of men； but in the
power of God。〃
1 Corinthians 2：1； 4； 5。
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Paul had necessarily adapted his manner to teaching to the condition of the
church。 〃I； brethren could not speak unto you as unto spiritual；〃 he
afterward explained to them； 〃but as unto carnal； even as unto babes in
Christ。 I have fed you with milk； and not with meat： for hitherto ye were
not able to bear it； neither yet now are ye able。〃 1 Corinthians 3：1； 2。
Many of the Corinthian believers had been slow to learn the lessons that he
was endeavoring to teach them。 Their advancement in spiritual knowledge had
not been proportionate to their privileges and opportunities。 When they
should have been far advanced in Christian experience； and able to
comprehend and to practice the deeper truths of the word； they were standing
where the disciples stood when Christ said to them； 〃I have yet many things
to say unto you； but ye cannot bear them now。〃 John 16：12。 Jealousy； evil
surmising； and accusation had closed the hearts of many of the Corinthian
believers against the full working of the Holy Spirit； which 〃searcheth all
things； yea； the deep things of God。〃 1 Corinthians 2：10。 However wise they
might be in worldly knowledge； they were but babes in the knowledge of
Christ。
It had been Paul's work to instruct the Corinthian converts in the
rudiments； the very alphabet； of the Christian faith。 He had been obliged to
instruct them as those who were ignorant of the operations of divine power
upon the heart。 At that time they were unable to comprehend the mysteries of
salvation； for 〃the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of
God： for they are foolishness unto him： neither can he know them； because
they
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are spiritually discerned。〃 Verse 14。 Paul had endeavored to sow the seed；
which others must water。 Those who followed him must carry forward the work
from the point where he had left it； giving spiritual