1 Thessalonians 4:1

1 THESS. 4

As in practically all of the apostle Paul's letters, the doctrinal foundation is followed by practical exhortations; although, of course, there is an overlapping in both sections. This chapter begins the second section of the epistle and contains an exhortation to sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8), admonitions concerning mutual love among the Christians (1 Thessalonians 4:9-12), and encouragement regarding the status of their Christian dead (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

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. (1 Thessalonians 4:1)

Finally ... The Phillips translation renders this, "to sum up"; but as Morris said, "This is not the thought; `finally' of English Revised Version (1885) and RSV is better. Perhaps `for the rest' will give us the sense of it."[1]

We beseech and exhort ... Kelcy stated that these two words "are practically synonymous though the second is stronger."[2] Also, there is a distinction in that "beseech" carries a certain note of tenderness which is not in the other.

In the Lord Jesus ... This is Paul's great phrase used so frequently in his writings (169 times) to indicate the status of believers in relationship to Christ. Here the thought is that all of his instructions have been conveyed to them in respect of their common bond "in Christ," and in view of his apostolic relationship to the Lord himself.

How ye ought to walk ... Paul's use of this metaphor for living the Christian life is extensive. Implicit in this remark is the fact that Paul and his fellow-preachers had instructed the Thessalonians at the time of their conversion in the basic requirements of Christian living, making his admonitions here to be a plea that they would continue faithfully in the instructions they had already received.

And to please God, even as ye do walk ... Paul here credited them with being in the right way; and the second clause is to make that clear. One does not say to a Christian, "Do right," except in the sense of growth and perseverance in the course already begun.

That ye abound more and more ... David Lipscomb observed that life is never a static condition. "There is no finality to progressive holiness while the believer remains on earth. Life is marked by either growth or decay."[3] Thus the only way to avoid slipping backward is to move forward.

[1] Leon Morris, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, 1,2Thessalonians (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1956), p. 72.

[2] Raymond C. Kelcy, The Letters of Paul to the Thessalonians (Austin, Texas: R. B. Sweet Company, Inc., 1975), p. 81.

[3] David Lipscomb, Commentary on 1Thessalonians (Nashville: The Gospel Advocate Company, 1976), p. 45.