1 THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 5 1 THESSALONIANS 5:1 The apostle proceedeth to show that Christ's coming will be sudden, exhorting Christians to watch and be sober, so as not to be taken by surprise. 1 THESSALONIANS 5:12,13 He beseecheth them to respect their spiritual guides, 1 THESSALONIANS 5:14 and give... [ Continue Reading ]
By TIMES AND SEASONS then, before mentioned, he meant the time: of the Lord's coming, or he applies what he spoke in general to this particular, which he here calls THE DAY OF THE LORD. And though they knew not the particular time, yet they did know this, it would be sudden and unexpected, coming AS... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHEN THEY SHALL SAY, PEACE AND SAFETY: by these words the apostle proves that the day of the Lord will come unexpected, by the security that will be then found in the world. They say it in their hearts and practice, if not with their tongues. And he useth two words the better to express the grea... [ Continue Reading ]
Lest these believing Thessalonians should be terrified in their minds by this discourse, he adds this by way of comfort to them, that they shall not be surprised as others; though they did not know the particular time of Christ's coming, yet it would not find them unprepared for it as the world woul... [ Continue Reading ]
And because the night is the time of darkness, and the day of light, he therefore hereby describes their present state: 1. Positively: YE ARE ALL THE CHILDREN OF LIGHT, AND THE CHILDREN OF THE DAY; which is a Hebraism: Ye are partakers of a spiritual light, and this light is not the darker light of... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle draws this inference from the foregoing verses in a twofold duty: 1. Negative; LET US NOT SLEEP, AS DO OTHERS; sleep is not proper for the children of the day, but of the night. And as the night and darkness are to be taken metaphorically, so the sleep. And though it hath several accept... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle enforceth the former duties of watchfulness and sobriety from the consideration of their present state. They that sleep choose the night to sleep in, and they that would be drunk choose the night for it: drunkenness being so shameful a vice, especially in the apostles time, that men were... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle here commands two spiritual duties, and the former is sobriety; which he mentioned before, 1 THESSALONIANS 5:6, as a preparation for Christ's coming; but here, as that which was suitable to their present state, and as standing opposite to that drunkenness in the foregoing verse. It is no... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR GOD HATH NOT APPOINTED US TO WRATH, BUT TO OBTAIN SALVATION: some expositors make these words an argument to all the duties of holiness mentioned both in this and the foregoing Chapter s; and it is true, that the knowledge of our being elected, or appointed to salvation, doth not in the elect en... [ Continue Reading ]
Some refer these words to the latter end of the foregoing chapter, where the apostle had spoken of the saints death and resurrection, which is their sleeping and waking, as they are here called. And their being for ever with the Lord, is here called their living together with him. And lest it might... [ Continue Reading ]
These words are an exhortation to the whole church of Thessalonica, to comfort and edify one another. Though the ministry is appointed to this by especial office, yet private Christians are to practise it to one another; the former doth it in way of authority, the latter in a way of charity. COMFORT... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk; Ver. 12,13. The apostle spake before of their private duties as Christians to one another, now of their duties to their pastors and teachers, lest by what he had said they might think the ministry needless. It seems this church was settled under officers, which is called an organical church.... [ Continue Reading ]
SEE POOLE ON "1 THESSALONIANS 5:12... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk; NOW WE EXHORT YOU, BRETHREN: some think the apostle now turns his speech to their teachers, whom he here calls _brethren_ in a more peculiar sense, and because the duties here enjoined do more properly belong to the ministry. But others more truly judge he continues his discourse to the whol... [ Continue Reading ]
These words seem directed to the guides of the church, who are called _overseers,_ ACTS 20:28, and therefore the apostle requires them to _see_ that none render evil, &c. Or if to the whole church, as before, then it is a solemn charge which they ought to be all circumspect in observing. And the cha... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the apostle adds more Christian duties, briefly expressed, and set close one to another; and they seem to have a mutual connection, but not so relative to others as those before mentioned, but personal to themselves. He begins with the duty of rejoicing. Joy is an affection of the soul springin... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk; This is a means to maintain our rejoicing, and therefore next mentioned. Prayer is a making known our requests to God, PHILIPPIANS 4:6. And it is either mental, in the heart only, as Hannah's was; or vocal, expressed with the voice; or, as some add, vital: so good works have a voice to bring... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk; IN EVERY THING GIVE THANKS: when we have obtained mercy by prayer, then we are to give thanks, and whatever we may pray for, that we ought to give thanks for. And so by that understand and limit the general expression in the text. We are not to give thanks when we fall into sin, for that we... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk; That ye may be enabled to pray and give thanks, as before: QUENCH NOT THE SPIRIT. And, by the figure meiosis, he means, cherish the Spirit. The Spirit is compared to fire, MATTHEW 3:11; and he came down upon the apostles in the similitude, of tongues of fire, ACTS 2:3; but the Spirit himself... [ Continue Reading ]
Thereby we may quench the Spirit, which usually works upon men's minds and hearts by it. By prophecy is sometimes meant foretelling of things to come, and speaking by extraordinary revelation, 1 CORINTHIANS 14:29,30; sometimes the Scriptures are so called, especially the Old Testament, 2 PETER 1:21;... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk; PROVE ALL THINGS; this duty relates to the former; as they were to attend upon prophesyings, so to exercise a discerning judgment about what was prophesied; for _all things_ is not to be taken here universally, but for doctrines and opinions in religion which were delivered by the prophets.... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk; To make this verse have its connection with the former, some expositors understand it of doctrines and opinions only; to take heed of opinions that seem erroneous, and not rashly to receive them without due examination. Though this sense is not to be excluded, yet the verse need not be confi... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk; The apostle here concludes all with prayer, as knowing all his exhortations and admonitions before given would not be effectual without God; and he prays for their sanctification and preservation. Though they were sanctified already, yet but in part, so that he prays for further progress in... [ Continue Reading ]
We had in the former verse the apostle's prayer, here his faith; and he speaks it by way of consolation to them, that what he had prayed for God would effect. What need he then have prayed? Because God's decrees and promises, though immutable and infallible, yet are to be accomplished in a way of pr... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle a little before had prayed for them, now he begs prayers of them, as he doth of other churches, ROMANS 15:30 COLOSSIANS 4:3. Ministers and people need each others prayers, and it is a mutual duty they owe to one another. Ministers are obliged by special office, people by common duty, wit... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk; The apostle concludes several of his Epistles with greeting, or salutations, as men usually do at this day; sometimes with salutations from himself alone, sometimes from others, either particular persons, or churches which he sometimes names, as ROMANS 16:6, &c.; 1 CORINTHIANS 16:19; and som... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk; The apostle having now finished the Epistle, lays a solemn charge upon them all, especially their elders and teachers, to have this Epistle published. He now being himself hindered from preaching to them, he sends this Epistle to them to be read to all. He wrote it for public use, and theref... [ Continue Reading ]
Having exhorted them to salute one another, he now sends them his own salutation; not in a lip compliment, as the mode now is, but in a serious expression of the desire of his soul: and this, or words to the same purpose, are his salutation in every Epistle, which he makes to be his _token,_ 2 THESS... [ Continue Reading ]