Bible Commentary

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 16. For the Lord Himself ] “In His personal august presence” (Ellicott). Comp. 2Th 2:16; 2Th 3:16, for this kind of emphasis; also Ch. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Thessalonians 4:16”

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 15. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord ] Lit., in a word of the Lord, in the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Thessalonians 4:15”

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again ] The faith of a Christian man in its briefest and simplest form. So in Rom 10:9 the Apostle declares the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Thessalonians 4:14”

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 13. But I would not have you to be ignorant ] True reading, we would not, consistently with the first person plural (“Paul and Silas and Timothy”) in which … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Thessalonians 4:13”

That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and [that] ye may have lack of nothing. 12. that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without ] Honestly is rather honourably, honest (Vulgate) in decent, comely fashion, in such manner as to “adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour” (Tit 2:10), and … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Thessalonians 4:12”

And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 11. and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business ] Lit., that you be ambitions to be quiet an example of St Paul’s characteristic irony; the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Thessalonians 4:11”

And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; 10. And indeed ] should be For indeed. Their practice of the Divine lesson, as described in this verse, showed that they were truly “taught of God” to this effect. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Thessalonians 4:10”

But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 9. But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you ] More exactly, you have no need that one write to you. “Have no need” recurs in … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Thessalonians 4:9”

He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit. 8. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God ] Therefore should stand first, as in R. V.; it gathers up and re-affirms with emphasis the charge of 1Th 4:2-7: Wherefore then. For despiseth read rejecteth … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Thessalonians 4:8”

For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 7. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness ] The two prepositions alike rendered “unto” in the A.V., are quite distinct in the Greek. St Paul writes, God called us not for (with a view to) uncleanness, but in sanctification; … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Thessalonians 4:7”