1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

§ 7. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12. A Lesson in Christian Morals

We pass from the first to the second half of the Letter, from narration to exhortation Chh. 1–3 are complete in themselves, setting forth the relations between the writers and the readers since their first acquaintance, and explaining the failure of the former to return to Thessalonica as they had promised. The Thanksgiving and Prayer of the last section would have fittingly closed the Epistle, had no admonition been necessary. But 1 Thessalonians 4:10 of ch. 3 indicated certain ὑστερήματα πίστεως in this Church (see note ad loc.), which Timothy had reported to his leaders, having found himself unable to supply them from his own resources, especially in so short a visit. These defects must be remedied by letter. Hence the addition of chh. 4 and 5, which attach themselves by λοιπόν to the main portion of the Epistle. The ὑστερήματα were chiefly twofold—lying (a) in a defective Christian morality (1 Thessalonians 4:1-12), and (b) in mistaken and unsettling notions about the Lord’s advent (1 Thessalonians 4:13 to 1 Thessalonians 5:11). (c) Brief and pungent exhortations are further appended, of a more general scope, bearing on Church life and personal character (1 Thessalonians 5:12-22). Exhortation (α) covers three topics: (1) social purity (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8); (2) brotherly love (1 Thessalonians 4:9 f.); (3) diligence in secular work (1 Thessalonians 4:11 f.).