1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

Section VII. Rules for the Sanctified Life. Ch. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

In Section v. (ch. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12) the saintshipof his readers supplied the basis and the nerve of the Apostle's charge. He there enforced on the Thessalonian believers the virtues which they needed to cultivate, in the light of their consecration to God. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit served as the sovereign motive for the leading of a pure life (ch. 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8). The same thought runs through this Section. The string of sententious exhortations it contains, find their goal and their uniting principle in the prayer, "May the God of peace Himself sanctify you fully" (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Hence the title we prefix to the paragraph.

1 Thessalonians 5:12 relate to socialduties, spreading out in widening circles from "those who preside over yon in the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 5:12) to "all men" (1 Thessalonians 5:15). Then we pass to religiousduties, 1 Thessalonians 5:16: to those (1) of the most general character, 1 Thessalonians 5:16; and (2) to the more specific injunctions arising from the special gifts of the Spirit then bestowed upon the Church, 1 Thessalonians 5:19. These directions lead up to the great prayer of the Apostle for entire sanctification, 1 Thessalonians 5:23.