1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:3

For this is the will of God. The phrase, "the will of God," has two significations in Scripture: the one is the determination of God—his decree; the other is his desire, that in which he delights—a will, however, which may be frustrated by the perversity of his creatures. It is in this latter sense that the word is here employed. Even your sanctification ; complete consecration; holiness taken in its most general so. use. Our holiness is the great design of Christ's death, and is the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7

Holiness is the end aimed at in all the dispensations of God. 1 Thessalonians 4:9 - Brotherly love. 1. Its nature. It is a love to all believers as believers, as being the children of the same Father, the brethren of the same Savior, the members of the same family, the sharers of the same grace, and the expectants of the same glorious immortality. To all men we are related by a common humanity, but to Christians we are still more closely related by a common Christianity. 2. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:4

That every one of you should know how to possess. The word here rendered "possess" rather signifies "acquire." The R.V. renders the clause, "that each one of you know how to possess himself of;" hence it admits of the translation, "to obtain the mastery over." His vessel. This word has given rise to a diversity of interpretation. Especially two meanings have been given to it. By some it is supposed to be a figurative expression for "wife," in which sense the word is used, though rarely, by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:5

Not in the lust of concupiscence — not in the passion of lust (R.V.)— even as the Gentiles which know not God ; and therefore from whom nothing better was to be expected. The moral sense of the heathen was so perverted, and their natures so corrupt, that they looked upon fornication as a thing indifferent. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:6

That no man go beyond ; or, transgress. And defraud ; or, as it is in the margin of our Bibles, oppress, or, overreach ; wrong (R.V.). His brother. Not an exhortation against dishonesty, or prohibition against all attempts to overreach in usual mutual intercourse, as the words would at first sight seem to imply, and as some consider it (Hofmann, Lunemann, Riggenbach); but, as is evident from the context, a continuation of the former exhortation, a prohibition against impurity. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:7

For God hath not called us unto ; or, for the purpose of. Uncleanness ; moral uncleanness in general. But unto ; or, in ; in a state of Holiness ; or sanctification ; the same word as in the third verse; so that holiness is the whole sphere of cur Christian life. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:8

He therefore that despiseth ; or, as it is in the margin, rejecteth (R.V.). What is rejected is either the above commands to moral purity, or the Christian calling to holiness, or, better still, Paul himself, as the organ of God. Despiseth ; or, rejecteth. Not man; that is, not me, as if the commands were given from myself—were of mere human origin. But God ; the Giver of these commands. So also Peter said unto Ananias, "Thou hast not lied unto man, but unto God" ( Acts 5:4 ); and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Thessalonians 4:1

Furthermore then - Τὸ λοιπὸν To loipon. “As to what remains.” That is, all that remains is to offer these exhortations; see the 2 Corinthians 13:11 note; Galatians 6:17 note; Ephesians 6:10 note; Philippians 4:8 note. The phrase is a formula appropriate to the end of an argument or discourse.We beseech you - Margin, “request.” The Greek is, “we ask you” - ἐρωτῶμεν erōtōmen. It is not as strong a word as that which follows.And exhort you - Marg, “beseech.” This is the word which is... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Thessalonians 4:2

For ye know what commandments - It was but a short time since Paul was with them, and they could not but recollect the rules of living which he had laid down.By the Lord Jesus - By the authority of the Lord Jesus. Some of those rules, or commandments, the apostle refers to, probably, in the following verses. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Thessalonians 4:3

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification - It is the will or command of God that you should be holy. This does not refer to the purpose or decree of God, and does not mean that he intended to make them holy - but it means that it was his command that they should be holy. It was also true that it was agreeable to the divine will or purpose that they should be holy, and that he meant to use such an influence as to secure this; but this is not the truth taught here. This text,... read more

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