1 Thessalonians 4:4 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Here we have, I. An exhortation to abound in holiness, to abound more and more in that which is good, 1 Thess. 4:1, 2. We may observe, 1. The manner in which the exhortation is given?very affectionately. The apostle entreats them as brethren; he calls them so, and loved them as such. Because his love to them was very great, he exhorts them very earnestly: We beseech and exhort you. The apostle was unwilling to take any denial, and therefore repeats his exhortation again and again. 2. The... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

4:1-8 Finally then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you have received instructions from us as to how you must behave to please God, even so you do behave, that you may go on from more to more. For you know what orders we gave you through the Lord Jesus; for this is God's will for you, that you should live consecrated lives, I mean, that you should keep yourselves from fornication, that each of you should know how to possess his own body in consecration and in honour,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:4

That everyone of you should know how to possess his vessel ,.... By which may be meant, either a man's wife, or his body, and it is not very easy to determine which, for the Jews call both by this name. Sometimes they call F16 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol 22. 2. a woman גולם , which the gloss says is a "vessel" unfinished. It is reported F17 Juchasin, fol. 48. 2. Shalsheleth Hakkabala, fol. 23. 1. , that when R. Eleazar died, Rabbenu Hakkadosh would have married his widow, and she... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 4:4

How to possess his vessel - Let every man use his wife for the purpose alone for which God created her, and instituted marriage. The word σκευος answers to the Hebrew כלי keli , which, though it signifies vessel in general, has several other meanings. That the rabbins frequently express wife by it, Schoettgen largely proves; and to me it appears very probable that the apostle uses it in that sense here. St. Peter calls the wife the weaker Vessel, 1 Peter 3:7 . Others think that the... 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 4:3-7

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

Albert Barnes

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

That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel - The word “vessel” here (σκεῦος skeuos), probably refers to the body. When it is so used, it is either because the body is frail and feeble, like an earthen vessel, easily broken 2 Corinthians 4:7, or because it is that which contains the soul, or in which the soul is lodged. Lucret. Lib. iii. 441. The word vessel also (Greek σκεῦος skeuos) was used by the latter Hebrews to denote a wife, as the vessel of her husband. Schoettg. Hor.... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Thessalonians 4:3-6

1 Thessalonians 4:3-6. For As we solemnly assured you, and charged you to keep continually in remembrance; this is the will of God, your sanctification That, as God hath chosen us from the rest of the world to be a people dedicated to his honour and service, we should not pollute ourselves with those abominations which are so common among the heathen, but that we should be perfectly holy in heart and life; and therefore, to mention one single branch of the contrary; that ye should... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 4:4

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:1-5

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:1-18

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:4

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

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Thessalonians 4:3-6

Group of Brands