_HE PROCEEDETH IN THE FORMER DESCRIPTION OF CHRIST'S COMING TO JUDGMENT, AND GIVETH DIVERS PRECEPTS; AND SO CONCLUDETH THE EPISTLE._ _Anno Domini 52._ THE Apostle, after describing the coming of Christ to raise the dead, and carry the righteous with him into heaven, does not quit the subject of Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT OF THE TIMES AND THE SEASONS, &C.— "I have told you that the solemn day of universal judgment will certainly come; and have been endeavouring to lead your minds to those views of it which must be most reviving to every true believer: but concerning the particular times and seasons of this grand... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DAY OF THE LORD— This phrase may be understood either _figuratively,_ of Christ's coming in judgment upon the Jews; or _literally,_ of his coming in glory to judge the world. Sometimes, indeed, it is used in the former sense; but it is more generallyemployed in the latter, by the writers of the... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ARE ALL THE CHILDREN OF LIGHT,— Having compared our Lord's sudden and unexpected appearance to the coming of a thief in the night, he takes up the comparison again, 1 Thessalonians 5:4 and pursues it to 1 Thessalonians 5:10 calling holy and righteous men the _children of the day,_ and _of the lig... [ Continue Reading ]
PUTTING ON THE BREASTPLATE OF FAITH AND LOVE, &C.— The breast and head being particularly exposed in battle, and wounds in these parts being extremely dangerous, the ancients carefully defended the breast and the head of their soldiers by armour, to which the Apostle here compares the Christian grac... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR GOD HATH NOT APPOINTED US TO WRATH,— The primary design of God in sending his Son into this world, was _not to condemn the world,_ but to _save it._ He did not reveal the gospel that men might sin with the greater aggravation, and so be punished the more; but the motive was _love,_ and the desig... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO DIED FOR US,— The Apostles lay a great stress upon this,—that Christ not onlywas incarnate, but died also to save the penitent, believing, and obedient; and therefore he has a just claim to our love and obedience. See Romans 5:6; Romans 14:8. 1 Corinthians 6:20. _Whether we wake or sleep,_ means... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE COMFORT YOURSELVES TOGETHER,— He had used this expression ch. 1 Thessalonians 4:18. All that he has said since, concerning the time of Christ's coming, and the necessity of preparing for it, is to be looked upon as a parenthesis, or digression, though an exceedingly proper and useful one:... [ Continue Reading ]
_1 Thessalonians 5:12_. In a church which had been so lately planted, and that in the midst of so much confusion and opposition, it is no wonder that there should be several disorders. Among other things, many of them did not behave themselves with a proper deference and respect to such as _presided... [ Continue Reading ]
THEM THAT ARE UNRULY,— Dr. Heylin, with the margin of our Bibles, renders the original ατακτους, by _disorderly._ It is a military term, expressing the character of soldiers, who keep not their _ranks,_ and will not know their colours.... [ Continue Reading ]
REJOICE EVERMORE.— _"Be alway rejoicing_ in the midst of your trials and afflictions, knowing that you mayhave always the reconciled and approving presence of your God and Saviour, from which you may continually derive unutterable satisfaction and delight, sufficient to support you under all your su... [ Continue Reading ]
PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.— "And, in order to maintain and improve this holy joy, _pray incessantly._ Be constant in your stated devotions at their returning seasons, and endeavour to keep your minds habitually prepared for those pious ejaculations which have so happy a tendency to promote the Christian... [ Continue Reading ]
QUENCH NOT THE SPIRIT.— This has generally been expounded as referring to the gifts of the Spirit; the exercise of which in themselves or others, should not be hindered. See 1 Timothy 4:14. 1 Corinthians 14:39. The phrase here used, σβεννυτε, _quench,_ or _extinguish,_ according to some, has a refer... [ Continue Reading ]
DESPISE NOT PROPHESYINGS.— By _prophesying,_ here, we are not to understand barely a _foretelling of future events,_ but a _preaching by immediate inspiration;_ that is, speaking what tended to instruct or establish, convert or confirm, reprove or comfort mankind, in matters relating either to faith... [ Continue Reading ]
PROVE ALL THINGS, &C.— Though they were not to _despise prophesyings,_ yet they were not to receive every thing which might be so called; but to _prove_ and _examine_ all things that went under that name. Nor were they to stop here; but when they had separated them, or could distinguish between them... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE VERY GOD OF PEACE, &C.— "And may that God himself, who is reconciled to you by the blood of Christ, and is the author, giver, and approver of peace one with another, and in your own consciences, and of all manner of prosperity; may he thoroughly purge _your whole person_ from all iniquity, a... [ Continue Reading ]
I CHARGE YOU BY THE LORD, &C.— This was in the nature of a solemn _oath,_ which the apostle upon occasion used himself, and by which he here obliges the Thessalonians. See Joshua 6:26. Matthew 26:63. St. Paul was not for having the scripture locked up from the common people, nor did he recommend it... [ Continue Reading ]