1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

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.

1 Thessalonians 4:4. his own vessel: either (a) his own wife, or (b) his own body. In view of the fact that in 1 Peter 3:7 the term weaker vessel is definitely applied to the wife and that there is no example of its application to the body, most commentators adopt the former interpretation. The verse enjoins fidelity to the marriage vow.

1 Thessalonians 4:6. no man trespass: the words might be translated as in AV, that no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter, but the context shows that RV is to be preferred. AV intrudes a new line of thought, i.e. fair dealing in business, which is irrelevant to the context.

1 Thessalonians 4:9. love of the brethren: the affection of Christians for each other. The term brother in NT is used to describe the relationship between Christians (Harnack, Mission and Expansion of Christianity, i. 405 f.).

1 Thessalonians 4:11. study to be quiet: the word study in the original means, to be ambitious. It is used also in Romans 15:20; 2 Corinthians 5:9, Make it your ambition to pursue your ordinary avocations with a quiet mind.