1 Thessalonians 5:23

1 Thessalonians 5:23. The God of peace. A term occurring towards the close of many of the Epistles see references. Perhaps the title varies slightly in meaning according to the context in which it is found; sometimes pointing rather to the inward peace which the all-seeing and self-reliant God ever enjoys, sometimes again rather to the communication of this quality to His creatures by bringing them into harmony with Himself and with one another.

Sanctify you wholly. Both in this and in the succeeding clause the emphasis lies on the completeness of the work of sanctification. The members of the Thessalonian Church were not to suppose that this new religion they professed consisted merely or mainly in certain rites or observances. It called them to holiness, a sanctity of conduct from which no part of their, life might be exempted, a sanctity of person in which their whole nature must partake. This completeness, this harmonious advance of every element of Christian character, is the difficulty. Generally a man's character grows only in one direction; attentive to public duties, he neglects those that are domestic; zealous in every good cause, his vanity increases with every success; master of his appetites, he fails to control his temper; and so forth.

Spirit and soul and body. ‘Had he a distinct thought attached to each of these words? Probably not. He is not writing a treatise on the soul, but pouring forth from the fulness of his heart a prayer for his converts. Language thus used should not be too closely analyzed. His words may be compared to similar expressions among ourselves, e.g., “ with my heart and soul.” Who would distinguish between the two?'(Jowett).