Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort _you_ by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, _so_ ye would abound more and more. Ver. 1. _How ye ought to walk_] Every good man is a great peripatetic, walks much. Christ also walks; so doth the... [ Continue Reading ]
For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. Ver. 2. _For ye know what, &c._] It is expected therefore that ye do them; else the more heinous will be your sin, and the more heavy your reckoning,Isaiah 59:11,12. What brought such roarings and trouble on them, and that when salvation... [ Continue Reading ]
For this is the will of God, _even_ your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: Ver. 3. _For this is the will of God_] This is his prescribing will, which we must obey; as we must submit to his disposing will, the will of his providence, and grow acquainted with his approving will... [ Continue Reading ]
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Ver. 4. _To possess his vessel_] That is, his body, wherein the soul is, _Tota in toto, et tota in qualibet parte._ If any ask, why so glorious a soul should be in this corruptible body? Besides God's will, an... [ Continue Reading ]
Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: Ver. 5. _Not in the lust of concupiscence_] Or, in the disease of lust, that dishonourable disease, Romans 1:26, that wasteth not only the substance of the body, but the honesty and the honour of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
That no _man_ go beyond and defraud his brother in _any_ matter: because that the Lord _is_ the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. Ver. 6. _That no man go beyond or defraud_] Or, oppress or cheat. Theft by unjust getting is either επιβολη or επιβουλη, by violence or... [ Continue Reading ]
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. Ver. 7. _For God hath not called us_] _See Trapp on "_ Eph 4:1 _"_ It is a sure rule given by the ancients, _Confusiones libidinum sunt signa cuius libet sectae._ Simon Magus had his Helena, Carpocrates his Marcellina, Apelles his Phil... [ Continue Reading ]
He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. Ver. 8. _He therefore that despiseth_] That thinks it a trick of youth to fornicate, and a trick of wit to over reach or oppress; that holds it a matter of nothing to set light by the former lesson... [ Continue Reading ]
But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. Ver. 9. _Ye need not that I write_] Since the divine nature, whereof ye are partakers, prompteth you to it, as common nature doth brethren to love one another. The very name of... [ Continue Reading ]
And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; Ver. 10. _Towards all the brethren_] This universality of their love showed the sincerity of it, and that it was for the truth's sake, 2 John 1:2. One or more good m... [ Continue Reading ]
And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; Ver. 11. _Study to be quiet_] Gr. Be ambitious of peace; as earnest and eager after it, as the ambitionist is after honour; who commonly rides without reins, rides over other men's head... [ Continue Reading ]
That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and _that_ ye may have lack of nothing. Ver. 12. _Lack of nothing_] He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand, but the hand of the diligent maketh rich, Proverbs 10:4. Jabal that dwelt in tents and tended herds had Jubal to his brother,... [ Continue Reading ]
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. Ver. 13. _But I would not have, &c._] Ignorance is the mother of mistake, and of causeless trouble, of error and terror; as the Roman soldiers were once much f... [ Continue Reading ]
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. Ver. 14. _Sleep in Jesus_] Dead in Christ. The union then is not dissolved by death. But as by sleep the body is refreshed, so by death it is refined. Let our care be to cleave close to... [ Continue Reading ]
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive _and_ remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. Ver. 15. _By the word of the Lord_] Or, in the word, &c., in the self-same words that the Lord used to me, probably, when I was rapped up,2 Cor... [ Continue Reading ]
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Ver. 16. _With a shout_] _Ingenti angelorum iubilo, et acdamatione, _ saith Aretius. With a huge applause and acclamation of angels, ες κ... [ Continue Reading ]
Then we which are alive _and_ remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Ver. 17. _Then we which are alive_] He speaketh thus of himself as alive at Christ's coming, because we should daily expect it, and even hast... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore comfort one another with these words. Ver. 18. _Wherefore comfort, &c._] Scripture comforts come home to the heart, so do not philosophical. _Nescio quomodo_ (saith Cicero of such _medicina) morbo est imbecillior._ And albeit it is marvellous sweet to meditate (as Mr Knox found it on his... [ Continue Reading ]