Section V. A Lesson in Christian Morals. Ch. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 We now pass from the first to the second of the two main divisions of the Epistle (see _Introd_. Chap. VII.), from _narrative_to _exhortation_. Chaps. 1 3 are complete in themselves, and the letter might fitly have terminated with... [ Continue Reading ]
_Furthermore then_ R. V., _finally_; as the same Greek phrase is rendered by A.V. in Philippians 3:1; Philippians 4:8, &c. Lit., FOR THE REST THEREFORE, _for what remains_. _we beseech you, brethren, and exhort_you _by the Lord Jesus_ More exactly, and in the Greek order: BRETHREN, WE BESEECH YOU,... [ Continue Reading ]
_For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord jesus_ Lit., CHARGES … THROUGH THE LORD JESUS; similarly in 1 Thessalonians 4:11, "as we charged you," and in 2 Thessalonians 3:4, &c. The Greek word signifies an _announcement_, then a _command_or _advice publicly delivered_. In 1 Timothy 1:5;... [ Continue Reading ]
_For this is the will of God_, even _your sanctification_, &c. The connection will be clearer if we render thus: FOR THIS IS GOD'S WILL IT IS YOUR SANCTIFICATION THAT YOU ABSTAIN FROM FORNICATION, &c. It was not some counsel or wish of his own that he pressed on the Thessalonians under the authorit... [ Continue Reading ]
_that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel_ Rather, THAT EACH ONE OF YOU KNOW HOW TO POSSESS HIMSELF OF HIS OWN VESSEL (R. V.); or, freely rendered, THAT EACH BE WISE IN THE MASTERY OF HIS BODILY FRAME. This is the positive side of what has just been expressed negatively. The "ves... [ Continue Reading ]
_not in the lust of concupiscence_ Far better, NOT IN THE PASSION OF LUST (R. V.). The sense of the last verb (_to possess_) is carried on, with a modified application, into this clause: NOT (TO HAVE IT: i.e. your body) IN A STATE OF LUSTFUL PASSION. (For the altered meaning of the verb, comp. 1 Cor... [ Continue Reading ]
_that no_man _go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter_ More exactly, THAT NONE OVERREACH AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HIS BROTHER IN THE MATTER. "The matter" is obviously that which occupies the last two verses. Acts of Impurity are _social_wrongs, as well as sins against the offender's person. The... [ Continue Reading ]
_For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness_ The two prepositions alike rendered "unto" in the A.V., are quite distinct in the Greek. St Paul writes, GOD CALLED US NOT FOR (with a view to) UNCLEANNESS, BUT IN SANCTIFICATION; similarly in 2 Thessalonians 2:13, "God chose you from... [ Continue Reading ]
_He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God Therefore_should stand first, as in R. V.; it gathers up and re-affirms with emphasis the charge of 1 Thessalonians 4:2: WHEREFORE THEN. For _despiseth_read REJECTETH (A. V. _margin_, and R. V.), as this word is rendered in Luke 10:16; in Gal... [ Continue Reading ]
_But as touching brotherly love ye need not that_I _write unto you_ More exactly, YOU HAVE NO NEED THAT ONE WRITE TO YOU. "Have no need" recurs in ch. 1 Thessalonians 5:1; comp. ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:8 and 1 John 2:27. There _was_need for the Apostle to write on the previous subject (1 Thessalonians... [ Continue Reading ]
_And indeed_ should be FOR INDEED. Their practice of the Divine lesson, as described in this verse, showed that they were truly "taught of God" to this effect. _ye do it towards all the brethren which are in all Macedonia_ Thessalonica was a prosperous commercial city and the capital of Macedonia (s... [ Continue Reading ]
_and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business_ Lit., THAT YOU BE AMBITIONS TO BE QUIET an example of St Paul's characteristic irony; the contrast between _ambition_and _quiet_giving a sharper point to his exhortation, as though he said, "Make it your ambition to have no ambition!" The... [ Continue Reading ]
_that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without Honestly_is rather HONOURABLY, _honestè_(Vulgate) _in decent, comely fashion_, in such manner as to "adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour" (Titus 2:10), and to win for Christian faith respect even from those who did not embrace it. in 1 Timoth... [ Continue Reading ]
_But I would not have you to be ignorant_ True reading, WE WOULD NOT, consistently with the first person plural ("Paul and Silas and Timothy") in which the Epistle commenced (ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:1). This impressive phrase ("would not ignorant") the Apostle employs, as in Romans 11:25 and elsewhere... [ Continue Reading ]
Section VI. The Coming of the Lord Jesus Ch. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 to 1 Thessalonians 5:11 This solemn topic, as we have already seen (note on ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:10, and _Introd_., pp. 18 21), is the principal theme of the Epistles to the Thessalonians. It is not treated by way of argument or in... [ Continue Reading ]
_For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again_ The faith of a Christian man in its briefest and simplest form. So in Romans 10:9 the Apostle declares the faith that "saves" to be the belief of the heart that "God raised Jesus from the dead." This involves everything else; it carries with it the... [ Continue Reading ]
_For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord_ Lit., IN A WORD OF THE LORD, in the character of a message coming from "the mouth of the Lord;" comp. 1 Corinthians 7:10, "I give charge, not I, but the Lord;" and ch. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 above, "not men's word, but God's." The "word" that follows... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the Lord Himself_ "In His personal august presence" (Ellicott). Comp. 2 Thessalonians 2:16; 2 Thessalonians 3:16, for this kind of emphasis; also Ch. 1 Thessalonians 3:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:23, "God Himself:" in each case we feel the majesty with which God (or "the Lord") rises above all human... [ Continue Reading ]
_then we which are alive and remain_ Better, WE THAT ARE ALIVE, THAT REMAIN (or SURVIVE). The phrase of 1 Thessalonians 4:15 repeated; see note. The Apostle distinguishes, as in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, between those "living" and those "dead in Christ" at the time of His advent, marking the different... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore comfort one another with these words_ Lit., IN THESE WORDS, in the revelation just communicated the readers are to find comfort for each other under their recent bereavement, and in all such seasons. Observe how wishful the Apostle is that his flock should minister _to each other_. Comp.... [ Continue Reading ]