Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-28
1 Thessalonians 5:4 Some injustice has been done to the Christian creed of immortality as an influence in determining men's conduct Paul preached the imminent advent of Christ and besought his disciples therefore to watch, and we ask ourselves what is the moral value to us of such an admonition. But surely if we are to have any reasons for being virtuous, this is as good as any other. It is just as respectable to believe that we ought to abstain from iniquity because Christ is at hand, and we... read more
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Thessalonians 5:6
(6) Let us not sleep.—The metaphor here expresses not so much actual sin (Ephesians 5:14) as carelessness in spiritual and moral things. “Let us not say, ‘Peace and safety,’ and resign ourselves to indifference about Christ’s coming.” St. Paul (as always) indicates that it was possible for “children of light” to be converted back into “children of darkness.”Others.—Rather, the rest, as in 1 Thessalonians 4:13 : so also Romans 11:7; Ephesians 2:3.Watch and be sober.—The comparison of night now... read more