V. (1) BUT OF THE TIMES. — The fourth subject of instruction; the bearing of the doctrine of the Advent upon the Christian’s own life. “Times and seasons” is a Hebraism, and in the original, the _second_ word, not the first, is the more explicit: we should say, “About day and hour.” The plural seem... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOW PERFECTLY. — Or, _accurately._ There is something of an _oxymoron_ (see Note on 1 Thessalonians 4:11) here. “I need not tell you about the time, for you know to a nicety — not the hour of Christ’s coming, but — the utter uncertainty respecting it.” The word shows at the same time with what scru... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY. — Quite vague and general, like the French _on._ The plural is so used frequently in St. Luke (Luke 12:11; Luke 12:20, margin; Luke 16:9, probably; Luke 23:29). Of course, however, no _Christian_ could say so, for they are ever on the watch, so that “they” will mean “the world.” The word “for”... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YE. — “Though the world (which lieth in darkness) may be surprised at the coming of the Day, you, members of the Church, living in the light, cannot be surprised.” The words “in darkness” seem to be suggested by the mention of “night” in 1 Thessalonians 5:2; and the chief thought (as the succeed... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ARE ALL. — St. Paul recognises no exceptions, no inner distinctions, among the members of the Church: all stand alike so far as grace, privileges, and duties are concerned. The following exhortation shows that it was a matter of each man’s free will whether he would sustain his character as a “ch... [ Continue Reading ]
LET US NOT SLEEP. — The metaphor here expresses not so much actual sin (Ephesians 5:14) as carelessness in spiritual and moral things. “Let _us_ not say, ‘Peace and safety,’ and resign ourselves to indifference about Christ’s coming.” St. Paul (as always) indicates that it was possible for “children... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT SLEEP.... — As the connection of sleep with night has already been sufficiently worked out, and is not touched upon again in 1 Thessalonians 5:8, the first clause seems only to be inserted for the sake of bringing out the second, and to justify the sudden introduction of the words, “and be... [ Continue Reading ]
PUTTING ON. — A curiously abrupt transition, suggested by the sober vigilance just advocated. The Christian must be careful to watch, not only because the Lord is coming back at some unexpected hour, but also because there are enemies all round. He is not only the _porter,_ sitting up to let his Lor... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR. — This is not the reason for being watchful, but for being hopeful of salvation. The image of the soldier is abandoned’ as suddenly as it was introduced. HATH NOT APPOINTED. — Rather, _did not appoint,_ referring to some mysterious moment of God’s eternal counsels, when He fixed His predestina... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO DIED FOR US. — Not a mere pious recollection of a fact which has nothing to do with the context, but an account of the way by which Christ made it possible for us to set about earning salvation. What a blessed privilege a Christian’s life of labour must be, if it alone — to say nothing of the “s... [ Continue Reading ]
COMFORT. — Rightly translated. St. Paul is here catching up once more the thought of 1 Thessalonians 4:18. They are to comfort one another about their communion with the dead who live in Christ; but perhaps the word also involves the comfort to be imparted by the thought of predestination to earn sa... [ Continue Reading ]
We now come to minor details of instruction, no doubt suggested by observation of manifest defects in the Thessalonian Church. These details show us still further the mixture of restless ungoverned zeal with gloomy forebodings and discontents. TO KNOW THEM WHICH LABOUR. — A command to enter into the... [ Continue Reading ]
VERY HIGHLY IN LOVE. — The original here is difficult; but it seems best, with most good commentators, ancient and modern, to construe “in love” with “esteem,” and to make “very highly” (a very enthusiastic word in the Greek) an expletive attached to “in love,” implying “hold in a most extraordinary... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW WE EXHORT YOU, BRETHREN. — Rather _and_ than _now._ The writers turn to the presbytery, and explain their duty in the administration of discipline to the flock. The flock will be more apt to receive the discipline when they see with what apostolic authority their pastors are armed. Several speci... [ Continue Reading ]
SEE THAT. — The exhortation is given to those who have the authority to _oversee_ the Church (Acts 19:28; 1 Peter 5:2). NONE RENDER EVIL FOR EVIL. — Like the prohibition of fornication, abstinence from revenge is practically a new thought for Greeks, among whom feuds were frequent and undying. (Com... [ Continue Reading ]
REJOICE EVERMORE. — The remaining commands are more simply spiritual, and hardly form part of the same paragraph as 1 Thessalonians 5:12, which related to discipline; though from 1 Thessalonians 5:19 _et seq._ we see that St. Paul was still addressing the Church in its corporate capacity, not only t... [ Continue Reading ]
PRAY WITHOUT CEASING. — Theophylact well says, “This shows the way to ‘rejoice always’ — to wit, incessant prayer and eucharist, for he that has accustomed himself to hold converse with God, and to give thanks to Him over everything that happens as happening well, will evidently have unbroken joy.”... [ Continue Reading ]
IN EVERY THING GIVE THANKS. — To the Christian who really trusts his Father’s providence, and believes that his prayers are heard, every moment’s occurrence will be just that which he has prayed for — the fulfilment of our Father’s will. It is for this reason that thanksgiving is so inseparably join... [ Continue Reading ]
QUENCH NOT THE SPIRIT. — The mention of prayer and thanksgiving (_eucharistia_)_,_ by which public as well as private worship is intended, leads St. Paul on to the mention of other parts of the service. The gloom and depression to which an antidote is administered in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 had been su... [ Continue Reading ]
DESPISE NOT PROPHESYINGS. — The highest outward or _charismatic_ manifestation of this inward fire was the gift of “prophecy” (1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Corinthians 14:1; 1 Corinthians 14:5; 1 Corinthians 14:39), which was an inspired and inspiring preaching, The despondency of the Thessalonians led th... [ Continue Reading ]
PROVE ALL THINGS. — The right reading inserts a “but”: — “I bid you pay all reverence to the cheering utterances of your prophets (comp. Acts 15:32); but take care! put everything to the test.” That the warning was needed, or would be needed soon, is shown by 2 Thessalonians 2:2. It is couched in ge... [ Continue Reading ]
ABSTAIN FROM ALL APPEARANCE OF EVIL. — This translation cannot stand. Possibly it might be rendered “every form of evil,” but the most natural version would be, “Hold yourselves aloof from every evil kind” — _i.e._, evil kind of whatever you may be testing. The word “evil” is here used in the _moral... [ Continue Reading ]
AND. — The logic of such an expression as, “Do this, and may you be happy,” lies in the writer’s own connection with both the command and the prayer: “I bid you abstain from every evil kind of thing, and I pray that God Himself may enable you to keep the commandment.” THE VERY GOD OF PEACE. — In mor... [ Continue Reading ]
FAITHFUL IS HE. — A reason for hoping confidently that they _will_ be blamelessly preserved. God would forfeit His character for keeping His promise, if He “called,” and did not enable men to obey the call. Of course He can only “do it” in case _they_ continue willing to have it done. On the present... [ Continue Reading ]
PRAY FOR US. — Taken in conjunction with what follows, this probably is a petition for remembrance in the great public service.... [ Continue Reading ]
GREET ALL THE BRETHREN. — It is concluded from the manner in which _some_ are told to greet _all,_ instead of _all_ being told to greet _one another_ (as in the parallel passages), that the “brethren” to whom the letter was sent specially were the priesthood of Thessalonica (comp. the next verse). I... [ Continue Reading ]
I CHARGE YOU. — _Adjure_ is much nearer the original word, which is as solemn as can be. What is the cause of such awful solemnity? The question has never been very satisfactorily answered. It certainly seems as if the contempt of discipline and partial alienation of clergy and laity implied in 1 Th... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GRACE. — St. Paul’s autograph to conclude the letter. (See 2 Thessalonians 3:17.)... [ Continue Reading ]