1 Thessalonians 5:16

Rejoice evermore. Not in a carnal, but in a spiritual way, with joy in the Holy Ghost; and which arises from a view of pardon by the blood of Christ, of justification by his righteousness, and

Rejoice evermore. In order to "rejoice evermore" we must "pray without ceasing." He who thanks God for all things as happening for the best, will have continuous joy (Theophylact).

Here the apostle adds more Christian duties, briefly expressed, and set close one to another; and they seem to have a mutual connection, but not so relative to others as those before mentioned, but personal to themselves. He begins with the duty of rejoicing. Joy is an affection of the soul springing from the hope or possession of some suitable good. And it is either natural, which is common to men with beasts, arising from that good that is suitable to their several natures; or spiritual, which is joy wrought by the Spirit, and exercised upon spiritual objects. And this the apostle here means, and is called rejoicing in the Lord, , and joy in the Holy Ghost, ; arising either from what spiritual good we already possess, or hope to possess, exhibita et promissa, Bernard; which is thereupon called a rejoicing in hope, 12:12. The apostle speaks here of the duty indefinitely, only requires it to be evermore; so . Though God sometimes calls to mourning, yet it is no where said: Mourn evermore, because rejoicing ought to be in a more constant practice, and all spiritual mourning tends to it, and will end in it; and he commends it as seasonable to these Thessalonians, to support them under their present sufferings. The grounds of a Christian’ s joy always abide, and he is not only to retain it in the habit, but to mix it with all his sorrows and sufferings, as : Ye greatly rejoice, though for a season, in heaviness: whereas carnal mirth is mixed with sadness, . So that a Christian ought to rejoice in every condition, not only in prosperity but adversity, and especially when called to suffer for righteousness sake; as . It is not only allowed but commanded. This joy is one great part of God’ s kingdom even in this world, ; much more in the world to come. And therefore the apostle speaks of rejoicing evermore, whereas mourning is but for a time, and ends to the saints in this life.

16 Rejoice evermore. Ver. 16. Rejoice evermore] A duty much pressed in both Testaments, but little practised by many of God’ s whinnels, who are ever puling and putting finger in the eye, through one discontent or another. The wicked may not rejoice, Hosea 9:1; the saints must, Psalms 32:11; Psalms 33:1, and that continually, striving to a habitual cheerfulness, which occurs when faith heals the conscience, and grace husheth the affections, and composeth all within: what should ail such a man, not to be perpetually merry?

(16) Rejoice evermore.—The remaining commands are more simply spiritual, and hardly form part of the same paragraph as 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15, which related to discipline; though from 1 Thessalonians 5:19 et seq. we see that St. Paul was still addressing the Church in its corporate capacity, not only the individual members. The Christian who remains in sadness and depression really breaks a commandment: in some direction or other he mistrusts God—His power, providence, forgiveness. The command is specially good for a persecuted Church like that of Thessalonica (Matthew 5:10-12).

Verse 16. Rejoice evermore.] Be always happy; the religion of Christ was intended to remove misery. He that has God for his portion may constantly exult. Four MSS. of good note add εντωκυριω, in the Lord: Rejoice in the Lord evermore.

16. Rejoice evermore] alway (R. V.)—same as in ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:2. 1 Thessalonians 2:16, &c. This seems a strange injunction for men afflicted like the Thessalonians (see ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:6, 1 Thessalonians 2:14, 1 Thessalonians 3:2-4; 2 Thessalonians 1:4). But the Apostle had learnt, and taught the secret, that in sorrow endured for Christ’s sake there is hidden a new spring of joy. See Romans 5:3-5, “Let us glory in our tribulations;” 2 Corinthians 12:10; and the Beatitude of Christ in Matthew 5:10-12; also 1 Peter 4:12-14.This phrase supplied the key-note of St Paul’s subsequent letter, written from prison, to the Philippians (ch. 1 Thessalonians 4:4-5).

Rejoice evermore - See the notes on Phi 3:1; Phi 4:4.

16. Rejoice—Why not? Are not Christ and all heaven yours? The wicked, the proud, the laughers, the revellers, the bloody rulers of this world, amid all their boisterous mirth and drunken hilarity,