1The apostle proceedeth to shew that Christ's coming will be sudden, exhorting Christians to watch and be sober, so as not to be taken by surprise. 12He beseecheth them to respect their spiritual guides; 14and giveth various other precepts; 23concluding with a prayer and salutations.
1BUT of the times and 1the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
1 Namely, of the times; by the first is understood the year, month, or day; by the last is understood, whether it shall be by the light, night, morning time, evening or midnight, or the like. See Mark 13:34, 35; Acts 1:7.
2For yourselves know perfectly thata2the day of the Lord so 3cometh 4as a thief in the night.
a Mat. 24:43; 2 Peter 3:10; Rev. 3:3; 16:15.
2 The last day is generally called as such, because then Christ shall come as a Lord to judge the quick and the dead.
3 Or, shall come. Thus the prophets speak of things to come as if they were already present, because of the certainty of the same.
4 From this it does not follow that Christ shall come by night, as some think, but is taught thereby that He shall come unawares and unexpectedly; namely, in respect of worldly men, as the following verse declares. For, the godly must always long after it, and be upon their guard against it, as is testified hereafter, verse 4. See also Mat. 24:42, etc.
3For when 5they shall 6say, Peace and 7safety; then 8suddenb destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
5 Namely, worldly and ungodly men.
6 Namely, either in words, or at least in their heart, as Psalm 14:1.
7 Gr. certainty. That is, there is no accident to be feared. See Mat. 24:37, etc.
8 Or, at unawares, Luke 21:34.
b 2 Thes. 1:9.
4Butc ye, brethren, are not 9in darkness, that that day should overtake you 10as a thief.
c Eph. 5:8.
9 That is, in ignorance and carelessness, as the others of whom he spoke before.
10 Namely, who commonly comes unexpected and in the dark.
511Ye are all the 12childrend of light, and the children ofe the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
11 Namely, who believe in Christ.
12 That is, endued with the true knowledge of Christ and of His will, and obey as such as children do their father.
d Luke 16:8; Eph. 5:8.
e Rom. 13:12.
6Thereforef let us not 13sleep, as do others; but letg us 14watch andh be 15sober.
f Rom. 13:11, 13; Eph. 5:14.
13 That is, live in carnal security.
g Luke 21:36.
14 That is, be on our guard and with spiritual care wait for Him.
h 1 Cor. 15:34.
15 This is not contrary to moderate eating and drinking, but to gluttony, drunkenness and other worldly encumbrances, as Christ Himself declares, Luke 21:34.
7For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken 16in the night.
16 That is, commonly commit to be drunk by night. He takes here a reason from what is usually done for the most part; for, there are indeed also those who arise early in the morning to drink strong drink, Isa. 5:11.
8But let us, who are 17of the day, be sober, puttingi on 18the breastplate of faith and love; and 19for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
17 That is, who are children of the light, as he spoke in verse 5.
i Isa. 59:17; Eph. 6:14, etc.
18 That is, being furnished with faith and love, as with a breastplate against the assaults of Satan. See 1 Peter 5:8, 9.
19 That is, as a helmet. See of this entire spiritual armor of a Christian, Eph. 6:11, etc.
9For God hath not 20appointed us 21to wrath, but to 22obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
20 That is, ordained, or, prepared, as 1 Peter 2:8.
21 That is, to be vessels of wrath, or, to bring a righteous judgment and destruction upon us. See Rom. 9:22.
22 The Greek word signifies properly: to do much about a thing to obtain it, as Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 2:9. Although therefore God has elected us to salvation, and Christ has procured it for us, nevertheless we must be careful to use the means whereby God brings us unto salvation. See Eph. 2:10 and Philip. 2:12.
10Who died for us, that,j whether we wake or 23sleep, we should live together with him.
j Rom. 14:7; 2 Cor. 5:15; Gal. 2:20; 1 Peter 4:2.
23 This word sleep is here not taken as previously in verse 6, for, they, who sleep in sin, do not live with Christ; but is taken either for the natural sleep of persons, or, much rather to be fallen asleep or have passed away. For, Christ died for this purpose, in order that whether we wake, that is, live here, or sleep, that is, have died, we would live with Christ, namely, a spiritual life here, and hereafter an eternal and incorruptible life in glory. See similar in Rom. 14:8, etc.
11Wherefore 24comfort yourselves together, and 25edify one another, even as also ye do.
24 Or, exhort, for the Greek word signifies both.
25 Namely, both with good examples, and with good instructions.
12Andk we beseech you, brethren, to 26know them which 27labour among you, and 28are over you 29in the Lord, and 30admonish you;
k Rom. 15:27; 1 Cor. 9:11; 16:18; Gal. 6:6; Philip. 2:29; 1 Tim. 5:17; Heb. 13:7, 17.
26 Namely, for such as they are by reason of their calling, and ought to be accounted. See 1 Cor. 16:18.
27 Namely, in the Word and doctrine, as he adds, 1 Tim. 5:17.
28 Gr. to take the lead; namely, together with the teachers in the government of the congregation and exercise of discipline, as the apostle also clearly distinguishes these two kinds of elders, 1 Tim. 5:17.
29 That is, in the work of the Lord. Namely, to distinguish them from the worldly authorities under which they resorted.
30 This may be understood of both, of the elders who labor in the Word, as well as of them who are only rulers in governing, to whom also belong particular admonitions together with the teachers. See hereof Rom. 12:8; 1 Cor. 12:28.
13And to esteem them very highly 31in love 32for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
31 That is, not out of fear or constraint, but of a ready inclination.
32 That is, on account of the service which they do you in Christ’s name, and for the furtherance of this same service.
14Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are 33unruly, comfort the feebleminded, 34support the weak, be patient toward all men.
33 Namely, idle persons and the like, of whom he treats in more detail, 2 Thes. 3:10, etc.
34 Or, keep the weak standing. Namely, in the faith, as Rom. 15:1.
15Seel that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is 35good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
l Lev. 19:18; Prov. 20:22; 24:29; Mat. 5:39; Rom. 12:17; 1 Cor. 6:7; 1 Peter 3:9.
35 That is, liberality, seeing this is here in contrast to revengefulness.
1636Rejoicem evermore.
36 That is, be always of good courage and well content, even in the midst of all tribulations, Rom. 5:3; 2 Cor. 6:10.
m Mat. 5:12; Luke 10:20; Rom. 12:12; Philip. 4:4.
17Prayn37without ceasing.
n Luke 18:1; Rom. 12:12; Col. 4:2.
37 That is, upon all opportunities, and in all your distresses.
1838In every thing giveo thanks: for this is 39the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
38 That is, in adversity as well as in prosperity, submitting so willingly to the will of the Lord. See Job 1:21; Mat. 5:11, 12.
o Eph. 5:20.
39 That is, that which is acceptable to God in Christ Jesus, Heb. 13:21. Or, the good pleasure of God concerning you. See 1 Peter 3:17.
1940Quenchp not the Spirit.
40 This may be understood, either of the illumination and other gifts of the Spirit which are in believers themselves, and which must continually be stirred up by the means thereunto appointed, as Paul exhorts, 2 Tim. 1:6, 7, and by the neglect of these means the Spirit is grieved in us, and His gifts, as it were, are quenched, Eph. 4:30; or, of the spiritual gifts which are in others, which are sometimes suppressed by contempt and contention. This last seems to agree best with that which follows.
p 1 Cor. 14:30.
20Despise not 41prophesyings.
41 That is, the explanations and appropriations of God’s Word, whereof the apostle treats in detail, 1 Cor. 14:3, etc., which may be understood of ordinary as well as extraordinary prophesyings, against those who judged themselves wise enough and thought that they had no need of such. See Heb. 10:25; 2 Peter 1:19, etc.
2142Proveq all things; 43hold fast that which is 44good.
42 Namely, which are propounded to you by the teachers, by the touchstone of God’s Word. See a laudable example, Acts 17:11.
q 1 John 4:1.
43 Namely, steadfastly, without turning from it.
44 That is, the good doctrine, which you find firmly grounded in God’s Word.
22Abstainr45from all appearance of evil.
r Philip. 4:8.
45 Or, from all evil appearance; abstain yourselves much more from the evil itself.
23Ands46the very God of peace sanctify you 47wholly; and I pray God your whole 48spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless 49unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
s 1 Cor. 1:8; Philip. 4:9; 1 Thes. 3:13.
46 That is, God, Who is the Author of all prosperity and salvation, since this word peace is taken in the Scripture as a rule. Or, Who is the Author of the true peace with God and with our neighbor. See Rom. 5:1; 14:17.
47 Or, in every part, that is, He Who has begun the good work in you, finish the same also unto the day of Jesus Christ, as he speaks in Philip. 1:6.
48 By the word spirit is suitably understood the understanding of man, and by the word soul the will and affections, and by the word body the members themselves, whereby, which the understanding consults and the will decrees, (it) is finally executed; as the like difference is almost also to be seen in the words of Christ, Mat. 22:37 and Luke 10:27; for, although a man has but one soul, notwithstanding there are several faculties in the same, which, seeing that, they are all corrupted in the natural man, Eph. 4:17, 18, so all must be renewed and sanctified by the Spirit of God.
49 This the apostle adds to show that this sanctification of all our faculties shall not be fully done until then, although we must increase therein daily more and more. See 1 Cor. 13:9, 10; Philip. 3:12, etc.
24Faithful is het that calleth you, who also will 50do it.
t 1 Cor. 1:9; 10:13; 2 Cor. 1:18; 2 Thes. 3:3.
50 That is, sanctify you completely in due time according to His promise.
25Brethren, pray for us.
26Greetu all the brethren with 51an holy kiss.
u Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 16:20; 2 Cor. 13:12; 1 Peter 5:14.
51 See of this the annotation on Rom. 16:16.
2752I charge 53you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
52 See similarly Mat. 26:63.
53 Namely, the rulers and leaders of the congregation to whom this epistle was sent, to impart the same afterward to the entire congregation. Whereof they do evil who seek to withhold from the congregations the reading of Paul’s epistles, and the entire Scripture.
2854The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
54 See of this conclusion Rom. 16:20.