FROM THE PEN OF PASTOR PAUL
1 & 2 Thessalonians
By Daniel R. Hyde
EP Books. 333 pages. £9.99
ISBN 978 1 783 971 428
Few New Testament letters reveal Paul’s heart for his people more than those he wrote to the church in Thessalonica.
As such, few model how pastors and congregations should love and serve each other more clearly than 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Despite all of the contextual differences that separate us from Paul’s original penmanship, pastors and congregants alike will benefit from Daniel Hyde’s useful commentary. Although 1 & 2 Thessalonians contain rich and oftentimes disputed theological truths, the core of Paul’s letters is one of passionate pastoral concern. Even his inspired writings about Jesus’s return emerge from his love for his spiritual family and a desire to show them the incomparable comfort of the gospel.
Stretching vision
Hyde winsomely replicates this approach, modelling to us the counsel he himself received during his college days: ‘Theology that does not become biography is wishful thinking.’ Throughout his commentary, Hyde stretches his readers’ vision for godly, hopeful and truth-displaying living, pleading with believers and unbelievers alike to shake off the distractions of this world and set our eyes on Jesus’s return and his perfect New Creation.
Hyde’s training and ministry have wonderfully shaped his understanding and application of Paul’s epistles. Occasional references to the original text assist pastors to delve a little deeper without losing the interested lay reader. Hyde’s commitment to focussing upon the meaning of the text results in a comprehensive exposition, but with plenty of thoughtful and challenging contemporary application. His incorporation of the historical interpretation of the church fathers – from the Patristics, through to the Reformers and on to the Puritans – is a helpful collation of ancient voices and a welcome addition to anyone’s library. And although some of his cultural applications require some translation into a different context, his passionate plea for godly ministers in particular – but to all Christians too – to model a holy and sacrificial life transcends geographical boundaries.
