Analysis Of The Chapter This chapter consists of two parts: * The continuation of the subject of the coming of the Lord; 1 Thessalonians 5:1; and, * Various practical exhortations. I. In the first part, the apostle states: (1)That it was well understood by the Thessalonians that the coming of... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT OF THE TIMES AND THE SEASONS - See the notes, Acts 1:7. The reference here is to the coming of the Lord Jesus, and to the various events connected with his advent; see the close of 1 Thessalonians 4. YE HAVE NO NEED THAT I WRITE UNTO YOU - That is, they had received all the information on the pa... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YOURSELVES KNOW PERFECTLY - That is, they had been fully taught this. There could be no doubt in their minds respecting it. THE DAY OF THE LORD SO COMETH - Of the Lord Jesus - for so the word “Lord” in the New Testament commonly means; see the notes, Acts 1:24. The “day of the Lord” means that... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHEN THEY SHALL SAY, PEACE AND SAFETY - That is, when the wicked shall say this, for the apostle here refers only to those on whom “sudden destruction” will come; compare Matthew 24:36 notes; 2 Peter 3:3 notes. It is clear from this: (1) That when the Lord Jesus shall come the world will not al... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YE, BRETHREN, ARE NOT IN DARKNESS, THAT THAT DAY SHOULD OVERTAKE YOU AS A THIEF - The allusion here is to the manner in which a thief or robber accomplishes his purpose. He comes in the night, when people are asleep. So, says the apostle, the Lord will come to the wicked. They are like those who... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ARE ALL THE CHILDREN OF LIGHT - All who are Christians. The phrase” children of light” is a Hebraism, meaning that they were the enlightened children of God. AND THE CHILDREN OF THE DAY - Who live as if light always shone round about them. The meaning is, that in reference to the coming of the L... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE LET US NO SLEEP, AS DO OTHERS - As the wicked world does; compare notes, Matthew 25:5. BUT LET US WATCH - That is, for the coming of the Lord. Let us regard it as an event which is certainly to occur, and which may occur at any moment; notes, Matthew 25:13. AND BE SOBER - The word here us... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEY THAT SLEEP, SLEEP IN THE NIGHT - Night is the time for sleep. The day is the time for action, and in the light of day people should be employed. Night and sleep are made for each other, and so are the day and active employment. The meaning here is, that it is in accordance with the characte... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT LET US, WHO ARE OF THE DAY, BE SOBER - Temperate, as people usually are in the daytime. PUTTING ON THE BREAST-PLATE OF FAITH AND LOVE - This is a favorite comparison of the apostle Paul; see it explained at length in the notes on Ephesians 6:14. AND FOR AN HELMET, THE HOPE OF SALVATION - See t... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR GOD HATH NOT APPOINTED US TO WRATH - This is designed as an encouragement to effort to secure our salvation. The wish of God is to save us, and therefore we should watch and be sober; we should take to ourselves the whole of the Christian armor, and strive for victory. If he had appointed us to... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO DIED FOR US - That is, to redeem us. He designed by his death that we should ultimately live with him; and this effect of his death could be secured only as it was an atoning sacrifice. WHETHER WE WAKE OR SLEEP - Whether we are found among the living or the dead when he comes. The object here i... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE COMFORT YOURSELVES - notes, 1 Thessalonians 4:18. AND EDIFY ONE ANOTHER - Strive to build up each other, or to establish each other in the faith by these truths; notes, Romans 14:19. EVEN AS ALSO YE DO - Continue to do it. Let nothing intervene to disturb the harmony and consolation whic... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WE BESEECH YOU, BRETHREN, TO KNOW THEM WHICH LABOUR AMONG YOU - Who they were is not mentioned. It is evident, however, that the church was not left without appointed persons to minister to it when its founders should be away. We know that there were presbyters ordained over the church at Ephesu... [ Continue Reading ]
AND TO ESTEEM THEM VERY HIGHLY IN LOVE - To cherish for them an affectionate regard. The office of a minister of religion demands respect. They who are faithful in that office have a claim on the kind regards of their fellow-men. The very nature of the office requires them to do good to others, and... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW WE EXHORT YOU, BRETHREN - Margin, “beseech.” This earnest entreaty is evidently addressed to the whole church, and not to the ministers of the gospel only. The duties here enjoined are such as pertain to all Christians in their appropriate spheres, and should not be left to be performed by minis... [ Continue Reading ]
SEE THAT NONE RENDER EVIL FOR EVIL - See the notes on Matthew 5:39, Matthew 5:44. The meaning here is, that we are not to take vengeance; compare notes on Romans 12:17, Romans 12:19. This law is positive, and is universally binding. The moment we feel ourselves acting from a desire to “return evil f... [ Continue Reading ]
REJOICE EVERMORE - See the notes on Philippians 3:1; Philippians 4:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
PRAY WITHOUT CEASING - See the notes on Romans 12:12. The direction here may be fairly construed as meaning: (1) That we are to be regular and constant in the observance of the stated seasons of prayer. We are to observe the duty of prayer in the closet, in the family, and in the assembly convened... [ Continue Reading ]
IN EVERY THING GIVE THANKS - See the Ephesians 5:20 note; Philippians 4:6 note. We can always find something to be thankful for, and there may be reasons why we ought to be thankful for even those dispensations which appear dark and frowning. Chrysostom, once the archbishop of Constantinople, and th... [ Continue Reading ]
QUENCH NOT THE SPIRIT - This language is taken from the way of putting out a fire, and the sense is, we are not to extinguish the influences of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Possibly there may be an allusion here to fire on an altar, which was to be kept constantly burning. This fire may have been... [ Continue Reading ]
DESPISE NOT PROPHESYINGS - On the subject of prophesyings in the early Christian church, see the notes on 1 Corinthians 14:1 ff1 ff. The reference here seems to be to preaching. They were not to undervalue it in comparison with other things. It is possible that in Thessalonica, as appears to have be... [ Continue Reading ]
PROVE ALL THINGS - Subject everything submitted to you to be believed to the proper test. The word here used (δοκιμάζετε dokimazete), is one that is properly applicable to metals, referring to the art of the assayer, by which the true nature and value of the metal is tested; see notes, 1 Corinthian... [ Continue Reading ]
ABSTAIN FROM ALL APPEARANCE OF EVIL - Not only from evil itself, but from that which seems to be wrong. There are many things which are known to be wrong. They are positively forbidden by the laws of heaven, and the world concurs in the sentiment that they are wicked. But there are also many things... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE VERY GOD OF PEACE - The God who gives peace or happiness; compare notes, Romans 1:7. SANCTIFY YOU - See the notes at John 17:17. WHOLLY - ὁλοτελεῖς holoteleis. In every part; completely. It is always proper to pray that God would make his people entirely holy. A prayer for perfect sancti... [ Continue Reading ]
FAITHFUL IS HE THAT CALLETH YOU - That is, your sanctification after all depends on him, and as he has begun a work of grace in your hearts, you may depend on his faithfulness to complete it; see the 1 Thessalonians 4:3 note; Philippians 1:6 note; 1 Corinthians 1:9 note.... [ Continue Reading ]
BRETHREN, PRAY FOR US - A request which the apostle often makes; notes on Hebrews 13:18. He was a man of like passions as others: liable to the same temptations; engaged in an arduous work; often called to meet with opposition, and exposed to peril and want, and he especially needed the prayers of t... [ Continue Reading ]
GREET ALL THE BRETHREN WITH AN HOLY KISS - see the notes on Romans 16:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
I CHARGE YOU BY THE LORD - Margin, “adjure.” Greek, “I put you under oath by the Lord” - ενορκίζω ὑμᾶς τὸν Κύριον enorkizō humas ton Kurion. It is equivalent to binding persons by an oath; see the notes on Matthew 26:63; compare Genesis 21:23; Genesis 24:3, Genesis 24:37. THAT THIS EPISTLE BE... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, ... - notes, Romans 16:20. In regard to the subscription at the close of the Epistle, purporting that it was written from Athens, see the introduction, section 3. These subscriptions are of no authority, and the one here, like several others, is probably wrong. F... [ Continue Reading ]