_HE PROCEEDETH IN THE FORMER DESCRIPTION OF CHRIST'S COMING TO
JUDGMENT, AND GIVETH DIVERS PRECEPTS; AND SO CONCLUDETH THE EPISTLE._
_Anno Domini 52._
THE Apostle, after describing the coming of Christ to raise the dead,
and carry the righteous with him into heaven, does not quit the
subject of Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT OF THE TIMES AND THE SEASONS, &C.— "I have told you that the
solemn day of universal judgment will certainly come; and have been
endeavouring to lead your minds to those views of it which must be
most reviving to every true believer: but concerning the particular
times and seasons of this grand... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DAY OF THE LORD— This phrase may be understood either
_figuratively,_ of Christ's coming in judgment upon the Jews; or
_literally,_ of his coming in glory to judge the world. Sometimes,
indeed, it is used in the former sense; but it is more
generallyemployed in the latter, by the writers of the... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ARE ALL THE CHILDREN OF LIGHT,— Having compared our Lord's sudden
and unexpected appearance to the coming of a thief in the night, he
takes up the comparison again, 1 Thessalonians 5:4 and pursues it to 1
Thessalonians 5:10 calling holy and righteous men the _children of the
day,_ and _of the lig... [ Continue Reading ]
PUTTING ON THE BREASTPLATE OF FAITH AND LOVE, &C.— The breast and
head being particularly exposed in battle, and wounds in these parts
being extremely dangerous, the ancients carefully defended the breast
and the head of their soldiers by armour, to which the Apostle here
compares the Christian grac... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR GOD HATH NOT APPOINTED US TO WRATH,— The primary design of God
in sending his Son into this world, was _not to condemn the world,_
but to _save it._ He did not reveal the gospel that men might sin with
the greater aggravation, and so be punished the more; but the motive
was _love,_ and the desig... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO DIED FOR US,— The Apostles lay a great stress upon this,—that
Christ not onlywas incarnate, but died also to save the penitent,
believing, and obedient; and therefore he has a just claim to our love
and obedience. See Romans 5:6; Romans 14:8. 1 Corinthians 6:20.
_Whether we wake or sleep,_ means... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE COMFORT YOURSELVES TOGETHER,— He had used this expression
ch. 1 Thessalonians 4:18. All that he has said since, concerning the
time of Christ's coming, and the necessity of preparing for it, is to
be looked upon as a parenthesis, or digression, though an exceedingly
proper and useful one:... [ Continue Reading ]
_1 Thessalonians 5:12_. In a church which had been so lately planted,
and that in the midst of so much confusion and opposition, it is no
wonder that there should be several disorders. Among other things,
many of them did not behave themselves with a proper deference and
respect to such as _presided... [ Continue Reading ]
THEM THAT ARE UNRULY,— Dr. Heylin, with the margin of our Bibles,
renders the original ατακτους, by _disorderly._ It is a
military term, expressing the character of soldiers, who keep not
their _ranks,_ and will not know their colours.... [ Continue Reading ]
REJOICE EVERMORE.— _"Be alway rejoicing_ in the midst of your trials
and afflictions, knowing that you mayhave always the reconciled and
approving presence of your God and Saviour, from which you may
continually derive unutterable satisfaction and delight, sufficient to
support you under all your su... [ Continue Reading ]
PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.— "And, in order to maintain and improve this
holy joy, _pray incessantly._ Be constant in your stated devotions at
their returning seasons, and endeavour to keep your minds habitually
prepared for those pious ejaculations which have so happy a tendency
to promote the Christian... [ Continue Reading ]
QUENCH NOT THE SPIRIT.— This has generally been expounded as
referring to the gifts of the Spirit; the exercise of which in
themselves or others, should not be hindered. See 1 Timothy 4:14. 1
Corinthians 14:39. The phrase here used, σβεννυτε, _quench,_
or _extinguish,_ according to some, has a refer... [ Continue Reading ]
DESPISE NOT PROPHESYINGS.— By _prophesying,_ here, we are not to
understand barely a _foretelling of future events,_ but a _preaching
by immediate inspiration;_ that is, speaking what tended to instruct
or establish, convert or confirm, reprove or comfort mankind, in
matters relating either to faith... [ Continue Reading ]
PROVE ALL THINGS, &C.— Though they were not to _despise
prophesyings,_ yet they were not to receive every thing which might be
so called; but to _prove_ and _examine_ all things that went under
that name. Nor were they to stop here; but when they had separated
them, or could distinguish between them... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE VERY GOD OF PEACE, &C.— "And may that God himself, who is
reconciled to you by the blood of Christ, and is the author, giver,
and approver of peace one with another, and in your own consciences,
and of all manner of prosperity; may he thoroughly purge _your whole
person_ from all iniquity, a... [ Continue Reading ]
I CHARGE YOU BY THE LORD, &C.— This was in the nature of a solemn
_oath,_ which the apostle upon occasion used himself, and by which he
here obliges the Thessalonians. See Joshua 6:26. Matthew 26:63. St.
Paul was not for having the scripture locked up from the common
people, nor did he recommend it... [ Continue Reading ]