1 Thessalonians 5

Notes

Ver. 1. But with respect to the precise time or opportunity that Christ will take for his appearance to judge the world and complete your happiness, I have no need to say anything. 2. For from what ye have heard from Christ and his ministers, ye cannot but perfectly know that however unalterably that time be fixed in the mind of God, yet, to excite all concerned to constant preparation and watching for it, the precise period or day thereof is altogether concealed; and it will come as unexpectedly on all, and as terribly on the wicked, as a thief who breaks into a house at midnight, when the master and all his family are asleep; 3. For while secure sinners shall be flattering themselves with nothing but peace and prosperity, that awful day, and the everlasting destruction which attends it, shall, by means of the sin which they carry about in them, overtake them in the most sudden, agonizing, and unavoidable manner. 4. But ye, my dear Christian brethren, are not like others under the power of spiritual darkness, that ye should sleep secure in sin, faithless and unconcerned about that awful event, or unprepared for it; and therefore, though it may unexpectedly surprise you, it cannot issue in your hurt or ruin. 5. Nay, all of you by profession, and I hope most of you in reality, are enlightened in the knowledge of Christ, and the way of salvation through him, that ye may be watchful, and walk honourably in the light of gospel truth and holiness, with your eyes open, and as persons exposed to public view; and being thus made light in the Lord, we are no more covered with the shadows of judaism, darkness of heathenism, mist of error, or natural ignorance of our own minds, as others still are, and we once were. 6. Being therefore brought into this happy state, let us never give way to a slothful, careless, and indolent frame of spirit, as others do who are still in their sins; but, as enlightened by the gospel and Spirit of Christ, let us maintain a wakeful temper of mind, watch over our own hearts and ways, and watch against sins and temptations, and for the coming of Christ; and let us, in view of it, be modest in our opinions of ourselves, and moderate in our cares and pleasures relative to this present world. 7. For as men sleep in the night that their rest may not be disturbed, and drink in the night that they may not be exposed to shame, so they who indulge themselves in carnal security, or immoderate cares or pleasures of this world, delight in and are under the power of ignorance, error, guilt, and corruption. 8. But let us who are spiritually begotten unto God by, and endowed and surrounded with, the light of gospel truth and grace, be vigilant and moderate in our affections or pursuits of earthly enjoyments; and being in a state of warfare with sin, Satan, and the world, let us make use of our Christian armour for defending ourselves—particularly of faith in Christ, and in God through him; and of love to him, and to one another in him, which, as a breastplate, may defend our heart; and of a well-grounded, solid, and satisfying hope of eternal life through him, which, as a helmet, may secure our head, till we come off more than conquerors through him that loved us: 9. For by what God has wrought for and in us, it is evident that he would have none of us through our sins to be lost without hope for ever, but come to a free, rich, and everlasting redemption through the merits and mediation of Christ. 10. Who, as our Saviour, obeyed and died in our room and stead, to take away our sin, that, by the merit and efficacy of his death, we who believe in him, whether we be found dead or alive at the last day, should, together with, in union to, and fellowship with him, be solemnly admitted into eternal blessedness. 11. Wherefore, with the views and hopes of and converse about these glorious events, labour, as ye have begun, to comfort, establish, and edify one another. 12. And as they who minister in holy things are the ordinary means and instruments which Christ hath appointed for the instruction, conversion, and edification of men's souls unto complete salvation, we earnestly entreat and charge you to converse freely with, own, and honour, and show your liberality, love, and respect to all his faithful servants and their ministrations—who painfully labour among you for the good of your souls; and, by virtue of their commission and ability from Christ, watch over your spiritual concerns, according to the laws which he has enacted in his Word; and who, as occasions require, warn you against all sin, error, and danger; reprove what is amiss in your conduct; and exhort, counsel, and encourage you to persevere in the ways of truth, sobriety, and holiness; 13. And to esteem them in the most honourable and affectionate manner, on account of the dignity and importance of the work in which they are employed for the glory of God and your spiritual advantage; and, as ye would not dishonour Christ, grieve them, or his Spirit in them, nor prevent your profiting by their labours, follow the things that make for harmony, peace, and friendship, with them and with one another. 14. And we further beseech both ministers and people among you, in their respective stations, to admonish those that are any ways disorderly in their walk towards God or men, and to warn them of their sin and danger, and the dishonour which they bring on their holy profession, and the pernicious influence of their conduct on others, and thus endeavour to reclaim them. Encourage and comfort distressed, timorous, and dejected fellow-Christians; deal tenderly with and endeavour to strengthen the weak in faith or knowledge, and labour to uphold them from falling or stumbling; and, as far as ye can, without sin, exercise patience and forbearance towards all men, friends or enemies. 15. Whatever injurious treatment ye receive, see that ye never attempt to revenge the injuries done you, but render good for evil; and always apply yourselves to do whatever is kind, useful, and beneficial, not only to fellow-Christians, but to every one with whom ye are connected.—16. And as to personal duties, study, for the credit of religion and your own comfort, always to maintain a cheerfulness of temper, rejoicing in the Lord Jesus Christ, and God in him, in whatever he is in himself or to you, or has done, does, or will do for you. 17. But as in this world your weakness, sinfulness, necessities, and dangers are constant, let your souls always maintain a praying frame; and see that ye daily, on stated or other occasions, abound in fervent prayer for yourselves and others. 18. Always, and in all circumstances, mingling your supplications with hearty thanksgivings to God for the unnumbered mercies, spiritual and temporal, which ye have or do receive, and the eternal which ye have in hope; for this is the grateful tribute which God, by the strongest obligations, requires of you for his honour in the receipt of these favours. 19. And as none of these duties can be performed without the special assistance of the Holy Ghost, beware of neglecting, stifling, and extinguishing his gifts, graces, or operations; but carefully comply with, cherish, and improve his gracious illuminations, suggestions, and motions, to excite and enable you to proper fervour in every good work. 20. And as the Holy Ghost works by means of and according to the Word of God, see that ye never contemn, but highly prize and improve the Scriptures, and every gospel ministration thereof, whether extraordinary or not. 21. But as many false teachers are gone abroad into the world, take care, under the direction and assistance of the Holy Ghost, thoroughly to try all doctrines and practices by the rule of God's Word; and whatever ye find to be really true, good, and honourable, steadfastly cleave to it in your faith and practice. 22. And, with the greatest care, avoid everything erroneous or sinful, and even the most distant appearances thereof, or temptations thereto. 23. And, for these purposes, may that God who is reconciled to you in Christ, and who is the author, giver, commander, and approver of all true peace with himself, or with each other, thoroughly purge you from all iniquity, and make you eminently partakers of his image; and may he preserve all the powers of your soul—all your animal spirits, senses, appetites, or natural tempers, and all the members of your body, from every sinful inclination or work, that ye may be found perfect at the coming of Christ. 24. On his faithfulness ye may indeed depend; for he who has by his grace lovingly called you to his kingdom and glory, will, according to his promise, carry on and perfect whatever concerns you in your way to glory, if you will only continue faithful. 25. As we ministers are so earnest in our prayers for you, we beg that ye will daily and fervently pray for us, that, by the direction and assistance of the Holy Ghost, we may be inclined, enabled, and encouraged to the diligent and faithful discharge of our important trust, and at the end receive a crown of glory as our gracious reward. 26. Let our most affectionate and religious respects be presented to all our Christian brethren with you; and see that ye testify your cordial love to one another in the most sincere, friendly, chaste, and pious manner. 27. And as the contents of this letter are of great importance and general use, I solemnly charge you, in the name of the Lord Jesus, that it be distinctly read unto all your members, who, I hope, live together as brethren in faith, profession, holiness, and comfort.

Ver. 1. Times. Long periods marked by prophetic signs.—Seasons. Briefer periods wherein the prophecy is fulfilled. C.

Ver. 7. Even among the heathen drunkenness during the day was considered so utterly scandalous that the apostle, writing to the Thessalonian converts, treats of it as a thing unknown. What a humiliating contrast with the state of many countries nominally Christian, where drunkards may be seen revelling in their streets in the open face of day; and so far from being ashamed, glorying in their beastly degradation. C.

Ver. 8. Believers are here described as putting on their armour, because they are considered as in a state of constant danger from inveterate enemies. C.

Ver. 17. Pray without ceasing. Not as if it were possible to have the thoughts always engaged in prayer, but to observe such regular and stated times, seasons, and opportunities as the Word of God prescribes, the practice of his people exemplifies, or as Providence or the Spirit calls us to observe and improve. C.

Ver. 23. Spirit. The separable intellectual being that 'has neither flesh nor bones,' and which, when 'the dust returns to the earth,' returns for judgment 'to God who gave it.'—Soul. Man, considered as a living and sentient being.—Body. The members that obey the will in good or evil. C.

Reflections.—To desire to know the time of Christ's great coming is but needless and sinful curiosity. But great is the importance of earnest watchfulness and diligent preparations for it. With sudden ruin it will dreadfully overwhelm the world of the ungodly; but will bring the most abundant comfort to those who are begotten again to a lively hope of eternal felicity through the resurrection of Christ from the dead. And the blessed, the distinguishing grace of their pardon, will then most evidently appear. What activity, watchfulness, and sobriety; what daily warring against the devil, the world, and the flesh, in the exercise of faith, love, and hope; what mutual harmony and study of one another's edification and comfort; what due regard to the messengers, ministration, and Spirit of Christ; what careful examination of doctrines and practices, and of our own hearts, by the Word of God; what steadfast adherence to and following after that which is good; what careful avoiding of sinful anger, and every other appearance of evil; what a joyful, prayerful, and thankful frame of spirit; what cordial love and friendship—are necessary to prepare us for that great event! Infinite then is the mercy that the God of peace hath undertaken our sanctification, and will, through faith, certainly effect it. And it is his grace, power, and faithfulness, and our living faith, that are the great security of our eternal happiness. Never then let me murmur at nor fear the event of any duty when my reconciled God is so full of compassion for me; and in fervent prayer and serious perusal of the Scriptures let me be a worker together with him.

Concluding Remarks on the First Epistle to the Thessalonians.

This epistle is remarkable for its consolatory doctrines and precepts addressed to mourners. The sincere mourner is always an object of deep interest to a believer, for he beholds in him—not merely a brother in trouble, and, as such, entitled to his sympathy—but a copy, as it were, of the Lord Jesus himself, who was emphatically 'a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.' There are not a few who address themselves to mourners as if they were, in some degree, guilty of a sin when they mourn. And, no doubt, there may be in mourning a rebellious murmuring against God. There may be ungrateful forgetfulness of past mercies, and unbelieving distrust for the future. Still, all this will not prove that mourning for the loss of friends is, in itself, sinful. Abraham mourned for Sarah; Joseph for Jacob; Martha and Mary for Lazarus; and the women stood afar off weeping at Calvary. The true remedy, therefore, for mourning, is not condemnation, but right direction. That direction guides to the coming of the Lord, the rising of the departed dead, and the hope of meeting in glory,—topics that inculcate no stoical insensibility, but accompany us to 'the house of mourning,' and sanction, while they moderate, that 'sadness of the countenance by which the heart is made better.' C.