1 Thessalonians 5:9

For God hath not appointed us to wrath In the strict order of the words, appointed us not unto wrath, but (to something very different) unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

"Obtaining" is securing, making a thing absolutely one's own, as in 2 Thessalonians 2:14 (see note), "the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." In Hebrews 10:39 the same word is rendered "savingof the soul;" in Ephesians 1:14 it signifies, passively used, a sure possession. In all these instances it points beyond the present attainment of salvation, still subject to trial and hazard, to the full realisation thereof, which is the object of the Christian's hope (1 Thessalonians 5:8), as it is the end of God's designs for him.

"Salvation," in St Paul and in the N. T. generally, includes the whole of the benefits and blessings of the Gospel, the entire new life and well-being that it brings, both to the individual man and to the world; but it is referred more specifically to two essential elements, or moments, in the great process of renewal (1) that spoken of in Luke 1:77 as "knowledge of salvation … in remission of sins," and (2) to man's deliverance from the graveand entrance on the risen life of the future world, "salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory" (2 Timothy 2:10). In the word redemptionthis double reference is even more conspicuous: see, e.g., Ephesians 1:7; Ephesians 1:14. To this ultimate "salvation" the Apostle directs his readers" thoughts and hopes.

"Appointed" reminds us of "election" (ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:4, see note); it implies the authoritywith which God called the Thessalonians to salvation (comp. ch. 1 Thessalonians 2:12), as well as the fact of His gracious intentionrespecting them. Comp. 1 Timothy 1:12, "appointing me to service," and ch. 1 Thessalonians 3:3 above. In 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 (see notes) this Divine appointmentof grace is more fully set forth.

For the negative side of God's purpose not unto anger see notes on wrathin ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9. With the thought of Christ's second coming, so constantly present to St Paul's mind at this time (see Introd.pp. 18 21), there were present also the issues of the Last Judgement and its solemn contrast the glorious "salvation" then to be attained by the sons of God, and the final and awful manifestation of His "anger" against the wicked. Similarly "the day of the Lord" is seen in Romans 2:5 as a "day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God;" and in this light, wrath and future salvation are contrasted in Romans 5:9-10, just as they are here. There also, as in this passage, Christ's death(see 1 Thessalonians 5:10) is set forth as our ground of hope in this prospect; through "His blood" we are brought from the sense and fear of God's anger into His favour, and entitled to expect that eternal redemption will be ours.

It was the conviction that such is God's purpose and willrespecting those who believe in Christ that made St Paul's "helmet of salvation so strong, and gave it all its splendour. Read Romans 8:31-39 as a commentary on this saying.

On the fall title "our Lord Jesus Christ" see note to ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:3.