1 Thessalonians 4:12

That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. WALK - a continuous course. HONESTLY - in the old English sense, 'becomingly:' as becomes your Christian profession: in contrast to "disorderly" (): not bringing discredit on it before the world, as if Christianity led to sloth and poverty (; ). THEM THAT ARE WITHOUT - outside the Christian Church (). HAVE LACK OF NOTHING - not have to beg from others for your wants (cf. ). Ellicott, with Syriac and...

9-12 We should notice in others what is good, to their praise, that we may engage them to abound therein more and more. All who are savingly taught of God, are taught to love one another. The teaching of the Spirit exceeds the teachings of men; and men's teaching is vain and useless, unless God teach. Those remarkable for this or any other grace, need to increase therein, as well as to persevere to the end. It is very desirable to have a calm and quiet temper, and to be of a peaceable and quiet behaviour. Satan is busy to trouble us; and we have in our hearts what disposes us to be unquiet; therefore let us study to be quiet. Those who are busy-bodies, meddling in other men's matters, have little quiet in their own minds, and cause great disturbances among their neighbours. They seldom mind the other exhortation, to be diligent in their own calling, to work with their own hands. Christi...

Verse 12. _THAT YE MAY WALK HONESTLY_] ευσχημονως. _Becomingly,_ _decently, respectably_; as is _consistent_ with the _purity, holiness,_ _gravity_, and _usefulness_ of your Christian calling. _THEM THAT ARE WITHOUT_] The unconverted _Gentiles_ and Jews. See this expression explained at large on Colossians 4:5. THAT _YE MAY HAVE LACK OF NOTHING._] That ye may be able to get your bread by honest labour, which God will ever bless; and be chargeable to no man. He that is dependent on another is necessarily in bondage; and he who is able to get his own bread by the sweat of his brow, should not be under obligation even to a king. I do not recollect whether, in any other part of this work, I have given the following story from the _Hatem Tai Nameh_. Hatem Tai w

THAT YE MAY WALK HONESTLY TOWARD THEM THAT ARE WITHOUT - Out of the church; comp notes on Colossians 4:5. The word rendered honestly, means “becomingly, decorously, in a proper manner;” Romans 13:13; 1 Corinthians 14:40. It does not refer here to mere honesty in the transaction of business, but to their general treatment of those who were not professing Christians. They were to conduct themselves toward them in all respects in a becoming manner - to be honest with them; to be faithful to their engagements; to be kind and courteous in their conversation; to show respect where it was due, and to endeavor in every way to do them good. There are few precepts of religion more import

EXPOSITION CONTENTS.—With this chapter the second portion of the Epistle—its practical application-commences. The apostle exhorts and entreats the Thessalonians to make progress in the Christian life, and to practice those commandments which, when he was with them, he gave them by the authority of Jesus Christ. God had called them to holiness and to the renunciation of their heathen practices. They must especially be on their guard against impurity, to which as Gentiles they were formerly so prone. He who rejected his injunctions rejected, not man, but God, whose commands they were. As they were already taught of God in the active practice of Christian love, so they must abound therein. They must not allow themselves to be led away by excitement, as if the day of Christ were at hand, but with quietness and honesty perform the duties of their earthly calling, and so commend the gospel to...

THAT YE MAY WALK HONESTLY,.... Decently, in good credit and reputation, providing things honest in the sight of all men, for themselves and families, and honestly paying every man his own; on which account it became them to mind their own business, and work at their trades; otherwise their walk and conversation would be scandalous, and not honest and honourable: TOWARD THEM THAT ARE WITHOUT: the men of the world, who were without the church; see 1 Corinthians 5:12 profane sinners, unconverted Gentiles, that were without Christ and hope, and God in the world, and were aliens and strangers; and yet care should be taken that no occasion be given to such to reproach the name of God, the ways of Christ, and the doctrines of the Gospel: AND THAT YE MAY HAVE LACK OF NOTHING; but have wherewith to supply the necessaries of life, and give to them als

IV. THE SEPARATED WALK AND THE BLESSED HOPE CHAPTER 4 _ 1. The separated walk 1 Thessalonians 4:1)_ 2. The coming of the Lord for His saints 1 Thessalonians 4:13) 1 Thessalonians 4:1 “Furthermore, then, brethren, we beg you and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, even as ye received from us, how ye ought to walk and please God, even as ye also do walk, that ye would abound still more. For ye know what charges we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor (not in passionate desire, eve

PRACTICAL EXHORTATIONS TO PURITY OF LIFE AND BROTHERLY LOVE. The Church at Thessalonica has begun well and is encouraged to go forward. 1 THESSALONIANS 4:1. ABOUND: 1 THESSALONIANS 3:12 *. 1 Thessalonians 4:3. abstain, etc.: the inculcation of such an elementary principle of conduct seems strange, but we need to remember that certain heathen cults regarded immorality as part of the ritual of worship, and religion and immorality were to them almost convertible terms. This consecration of vice in paganism made it absolutely necessary for Paul to insist upon moral purity....

THE SUMMONS TO PURITY (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8)...

HONESTLY. Greek. _euschemonos._ See Romans 13:13. THEM THAT ARE WITHOUT. Compare 1 Corinthians 5:12; 1 Corinthians 5:13.Colossians 4:5. NOTHING. Greek. _medeis._...