1 Thessalonians 5:21 NIV

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Prove . Greek. dokimazo. See Romans 12:2 .Ephesians 6:10 . 1 John 4:1 . holdfast . Greek. katecho. See Matthew 21:38 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Thessalonians 5:21-23

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22. 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, they were to reject the evil and hold fast the good. These two verses and the preceding verse ought to have been joined together, and then the connection would have been more... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Thessalonians 5:21

21, 22. Some of the oldest manuscripts insert "But." You ought indeed not to "quench" the manifestations of "the Spirit," nor "despise prophesyings"; "but," at the same time, do not take "all" as genuine which professes to be so; "prove (test) all" such manifestations. The means of testing them existed in the Church, in those who had the "discerning of spirits" (1 Corinthians 12:10; 1 Corinthians 14:29; 1 John 4:1). Another sure test, which we also have, is, to try the professed revelation... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-24

III. PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS AND EXHORTATIONS 4:1-5:24The second major part of this epistle contains instructions and exhortations about Christian living in general, the Rapture, personal watchfulness, church life, and individual behavior. All of this is vital for believers who are undergoing opposition for their faith. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

E. Individual behavior 5:16-24The preceding exhortations led Paul naturally to focus on other individual responsibilities to enable his readers to perceive their personal Christian duty clearly (cf. Galatians 6). However all these things are the duties of Christians corporately (the church assembled) as well as individually. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

2. Actions and attitudes in corporate living 5:19-22 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21

There appears to have been a tendency in the Thessalonian church to despise prophetic utterances (i.e., the announcing of some word from God; cf. 1 Corinthians 14:1). Paul warned against regarding these words from God as only words from men. However, he also counseled that his readers should test these utterances. They could do this by comparing what the speaker said with the standard of previously given divine revelation (cf. Deuteronomy 13:1-5; Deuteronomy 18:20; 1 John 4:1-3). Their... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-28

The Need of Watchfulness. Final Injunctions1. Times and seasons] St. Paul always lays stress on the uncertainty as to the time of the Advent (2 Thessalonians 2:2 cp. 2 Peter 3:3-4). 3. When they shall say] i.e. when people are saying.4, 5. Thief] better, ’as thieves.’ Thieves work in darkness. You are all children of light. Live up to your birthright. 6. Let us not sleep] i.e. in carelessness and sin. Others] better, ’the others.’8-10. Mason paraphrases, ’Let us arm ourselves with a brave hope... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Thessalonians 5:21

(21) Prove all things.—The right reading inserts a “but”:—“I bid you pay all reverence to the cheering utterances of your prophets (comp. Acts 15:32); but take care! put everything to the test.” That the warning was needed, or would be needed soon, is shown by 2 Thessalonians 2:2. It is couched in general terms (all things), but, of course, has special reference to all things purporting to be manifestations of the Spirit. And how were these revelations to be tested? If they were not in... read more

William Nicoll

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

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Thessalonians 5:21-23

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-24

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-28

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-28

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