1 Thessalonians 4:3-6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 4:3

Verse 3 3For this is the will of God. This is doctrine of a general nature, from which, as from a fountain, he immediately deduces special admonitions. When he says that this is the will of God, he means that we have been called by God with this design. “For this end ye are Christians — this the gospel aims at — that ye may sanctify yourselves to God. ” The meaning of the term sanctification we have already explained elsewhere in repeated instances — that renouncing the world, and clearing... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 4:6

Verse 6 6Let no man oppress. Here we have another exhortation, which flows, like a stream, from the doctrine of sanctification. “God,” says he, “has it in view to sanctify us, that no man may do injury to his brother. ” For as to Chrysostom’s connecting this statement with the preceding one, and explaining ὑπερβαίνειν καὶ πλεονεκτεῖν to mean — neighing after the wives of others, (Jeremiah 5:8) and eagerly desiring them, is too forced an exposition. Paul, accordingly, having adduced one instance... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:1-5

With this chapter commences the hortatory part of the Epistle. I. EXHORTATION TO ADVANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT HAD BEEN DELIVERED TO THEM OF THE DIVINE WILL . "Finally then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even as ye do walk,—that ye abound more and more." The announcement which is made by "finally" of the close of the Epistle is to be taken as meaning that the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:1-18

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

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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