1 Thessalonians 4:1 - Exposition

Furthermore ; literally, finally ; for the rest—introducing the closing or practical part of the Epistle. The apostle uses the same word elsewhere at the close of his Epistles. Then ; or rather, therefore ; connecting this exhortation with the closing verses of the last chapter: In order that you may be established un-blamably in holiness at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, you must do your part, you must earnestly strive after holiness. We ; to be restricted to Paul. Beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus ; or rather, in the Lord Jesus ; that is, in fellowship with him—the sphere or element within which the apostle besought and exhorted the Thessalonians. He wrote as the organ or instrument of the Lord Jesus. That as ye have received of us. Paul here appeals to the exhortations which he gave them during his residence among them at Thessalonica. How ye ought to walk and to please God ; how you ought to conduct yourselves so as to please God. The walking was the means of pleasing. The R.V., after these words, on the authority of manuscripts, adds, "even as ye do walk." So ye would abound more and more. The apostle acknowledges their Christian walking; they had already entered upon the road; their conduct was sanctified; but he exhorts them to abound therein with still greater care and fidelity.