_The elders which are among you I exhort_ This was a name of office belonging to those who were appointed to feed and oversee the flock of Christ. They are indifferently called bishops, pastors, or rulers. The apostle addresses them here particularly, because the knowledge and good behaviour of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Feed the flock of God_ Both by doctrine and discipline; _which is among you_ Namely, the churches of Christ, which you are called to preside over; _taking the oversight thereof_ Greek, επισκοπουντες, _discharging the episcopal office._ By this it appears that those who are styled _bishops_, from th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Neither as being lords_, or _lording it, over God's heritage_ Behaving in a haughty, domineering manner, as though you had dominion over their consciences. From this prohibition it would seem that, in the apostle's days, the bishops or elders were beginning to assume that dominion over their flocks... [ Continue Reading ]
_Likewise, ye younger_ Namely, in years, whether ministers or people; _submit yourselves unto the elder_ To those who are more advanced in years; give them all due respect, and be ready to take their counsel; _yea, all of you_ Elder or younger; _be subject one to another_ Endeavour, by mutual condes... [ Continue Reading ]
_Be sober_ See on 1 Thessalonians 5:6. Keep your appetites and passions under proper restraint and government, or _awake_, as υηψανε also signifies; namely, to a deep sense of the certainty and importance of things invisible and eternal; _be vigilant_ Watchful against the subtle and malicious design... [ Continue Reading ]
_The God of all grace_ Of all mercy, compassion, and free, unmerited goodness; and the source of all those influences of the Holy Spirit, by which alone true spiritual light and life, peace, purity, and consolation, can be attained; _who hath called_ Invited; _us unto his eternal glory_ And not mere... [ Continue Reading ]
_By Silvanus_ The person probably of that name, whom St. Paul united with himself in writing the epistles to the Thessalonians, namely, Silas, who (Act 15:22) is called _a chief man among the brethren_, and _a prophet, Acts 15:32_. Being Paul's constant companion in travel after the defection of Joh... [ Continue Reading ]
_The church that is at Babylon saluteth you_ See the preface. The word _church_ is not in the original, but it is supplied in the Syriac, Vulgate, and other ancient versions, and by Œcumenius. Probably, as Beza observes, Peter omitted it as being a word of common use, which, in such a connection, wo... [ Continue Reading ]