1 Thessalonians 4

1 Thessalonians 4:1

BEseech you] Or, request.

exhort you] Or, beseech.

by the Lord Jesus] Gr. in. That is, by the command of the Lord Jesus: or, in the Lord Jesus, that is, in the Name of the Lord Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 4:3

the will of God] He meaneth the object of Gods will; or his commandement, which is, that we endeavour to keep our selves holy, both in body and soule; and carefully shun all pollution both of flesh and spirit, 2 Corinthians 7:1.

your sanctification] Or, holinesse. The word in the Originall 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, signifieth sometimes sanctification, as Matthew 6:9. 2 Thessalonians 2:13. Sometimes sanctimonie, or holinesse, as Romans 6:19. It may be taken here in either sense: for if we refer it to the former words, the meaning is, This is God revealed will, or word which sanctifieth you, as John 17:17. If it be referred to the latter words, it may be well rendred your holinesse: for abstaining from all filthinesse, is a great part of our holinesse.

from fornication] He taketh here fornication generally for all uncleannesse committed alone, or with others, men, or women, single, or married: as also all incestuous marriages within the degrees prhibited, 1 Corinthians 5:1.

1 Thessalonians 4:4

possesse his vessel] Or, keep. Some of the ancients, as Saint Augustine l. de pt. c. 8. understand our wife; or the body of our wife; applying this exhortation peculiarly to married folk, that they keep their bed undefiled, and that they wrong not one another in that kind. For though such defrauding and wrong be done never so secretly; yet God, to whose eyes all things are naked, taketh notice thereof. But by the antecedents, and consequence, and scope of the place, it should seeme that the exhortation is generall; and that by Vessel, here he understandeth the body of every man, or woman, which is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as a vessell, or utensill of the soul, which we ought not to prostitute to any manner of uncleannesse; but use and govern it holily and chastly; keep it in honour, and in holinesse, as the vessels were kept clean and sweet, which were dedicated to the service of the Sanctuary.

1 Thessalonians 4:5

lust of concupiscence] Gr passion. In the Originall it is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which signifieth a passion or disease of the mind, whereby a man is inslaved to beastly and inordinate desires; so the word is used, Romans 1:26. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

1 Thessalonians 4:6

and defraud] Or, overpresse, or, over-reach. Either by false weights or measures, or lying words, or fraudulent intentions, or over-reaching policies and devices: for though these things come not at least usually within the walk of mans justice, yet God will meet with such persons, and revenge all such wrongs done to our brethren.

in any matter] Or, in the matter.

1 Thessalonians 4:7

unto holinesse] Gr. in.

1 Thessalonians 4:8

that despiseth] Or, rejecteth. These wholesome and Apostolicall counsels and commands; or he that maketh light of such fraudulent dealing above mentioned, slighteneth God himself, and rejecteth his holy commands.

1 Thessalonians 4:9

taught of God] See John 13:34. and John 15:12.

1 Thessalonians 4:11

do your own businesse] In these words he reproveth two vices; idlenesse, and curiositie; idlenesse, in neglecting their own businesse; and curiositie, in intermedling with other mens affairs, which vice he reproveth also else-where, 1 Timothy 5:13.

1 Thessalonians 4:12

walk honestly] Or, decently. See Col. 4. 5.

of nothing] Or, of no man.

1 Thessalonians 4:13

which are asleep] Acts 7:60. 1 Corinthians 15:20.

sorrow not] He forbiddeth not Christian sorrow for the dead, but heathenish; not moderate, but excessive, and immoderate; either in respect of time, or the measure of our grief: we may water our plants for our deceased friends, but not drown them.

no hope] To wit, of the resurrection of the dead: supposing that their departed friends are utterly lost, and perished, and that they shall never see them againe.

1 Thessalonians 4:14

them also which, &c.] See 1 Corinthians 15:23.

sleep in Jesus] The dead in Christ who continue in faith, whereby they are grassed into Christ even to the last gaspe.

God bring with him] He will raise their bodies and joyn their soules unto them, and so bring them with him to heaven; or to see the face of God. And it is to be observed that the Apostle here speaking of the resurrection, maketh no mention at all of the resurrection of the wicked to condemnation; but onely of the resurrection of the elect to life and glory: and the reason hereof is two-fold. First, because his purpose was in this part of his Epistle to comfort the Thessalonians, vers 18. whereas the doctrine of the raising of the wicked to their condemnation and everlasting punishment, is a doctrine of terrour. Secondly, because he directeth his speech here to them who lived and died in the faith of Christ; who as members of Christ shall be raised with him to everlasting glory, and never experimentally know any resurrection to condemnation.

1 Thessalonians 4:15

by] Gr. in.

word o the Lord] Some understand this word of the Lord to be the promise of Christ, Matthew 24:31. and John 5:28-29. Some take it for a peculiar revelation of Christ to Saint Paul, when he was rapt up into the third heaven, 2 Corinthians 12:4.

alive and remain] In these words the Apostle doth not imply that he and those to whom he wrote, should continue living in the flesh untill the day of judgement; for the event shewed the contrarie: but dividing all the faithfull into two ranks, those that were already dead, and the rest which were yet living; he reckoneth himself among the living, as then he was, and the secret he revealeth unto them is this, That the dead which have long lyen in their graves, and their bones resolved to dust, shall notwithstanding by the mighty power of God be assoone brought before Christ, and glorified, as they that shall be alive at his second coming, 1 Corinthians 15:51. 52. Or he speaketh of these things as though he should be one of them, whom the Lord shall finde alive at his coming, because that time is uncertain, and therefore every one of us ought to be in such a readinesse as if the Lord were coming at every moment.

1 Thessalonians 4:16

with a shout] Gr. in.〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The word doth properly signifie such voyces and cries, as are used by Mariners, or gatherers of the vintage, to encourage one another to joyn their strength together, and go on cheerfully with their work.

with the voyce] Gr. in.

voyce of the archangel] Or, an. See Cor. 15. 52.

with] Gr. in.

the trump of God] See 1 Corinthians 15:52.

1 Thessalonians 4:17

In the clouds] These clouds shall serve as chariots in which the Saints shall be carried up into the ayre, as it is said of Elias, 2 Kings 2:11. and of Christ, Acts 1:9.

1 Thessalonians 4:18

comfort] Or, exhort.

with] Gr. in.