Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Thessalonians 1:9

9 For they themselves shew of us, what manner of entring in we had unto you , and how ye turned to God from idols , to serve the living and true God .

The Believers of Macedonia and Achaia do speak of these things [non-Latin text not transcribed] openly whereby it is evident the word of the Lord sounded forth to them from you, and they without any information from us▪ declare the great entertainment you gave us and our Gospel at our first entrance among you.

Particularly your forsaking your former Idolatry, when you Worshipt Idols that were either the Images or Shapes of the true God formed by men or, men whom they Deifi'd, and set up as Gods, and Worshipt them and their Images: Or, inanimate Creatures, as Sun, Moon, and Stars, or whatever Creature they sou[illegible: 1 letter]d benef[illegible: 1 letter]cial to them▪ the Heathens made Idols of them. These ye t[illegible: 2 letters]ned from: Though it was by the power of God and the Gospel upon your hearts, yet it was an Act of your own. And though it was the Worship of these Idols you had been trained up in, and was generally practised, yet you turned from it. And as to the manner of it, How ye turned from these Idols, as in the Text; that is, how readily, how sincerely, how speedily, with an holy indignation of them: Or, [non-Latin text not transcribed] How, that is, by what means; meaning by our entrance amongst you, and the Power of our Gospel upon your hearts, according to that Prophecy, Isa. 2.20, 21. which refers to Gospel times.

To serve with Religious Worship proper to God; though the Papish would confine the Greek word [non-Latin text not transcribed] to some lower Worship they give to Saints or Angels, or it may signifie the whole service of God. And here the Apostle speaks of their Religion in the positive part, the former being negative. The living God, so called in opposition to Idols, which were either Images without Life, or inanimate Creatures, or men that were dead whom they Worshipt, or living; because God is so eminently, being life essentially, originally, eternally, immutably, and derivatively to all things that live. As I live, saith the Lord, and as if none had life but himself, Isa. 49.18, &c. And call'd the true God in opposition to false Gods. The Heathen Gods had no Deity but what men gave them by Worshipping them. They were not Gods by Nature, Gal. 4.8. and so not true. And as these things are spoke to shew the power of the Gospel, so in a way of commendation, that they did not only turn from Idols, but did serve the true God; many profess the true God, but serve him not. As also they denote their privilege that they served a God that could save them, which their Idols could not.

Marginal references: Or, openly declare.