1 Thessalonians 4

The Apostle further exhorts them in general to a godly conversation and in special to chastity and honesty, 6. Unto justice in their dealing, 9. To brotherly, 11. To a quiet life, and medling of their own things. 13. He exhorts them also to moderate their sorrow for those, that are fallen asleep, 14. Seeing they shall be raised again by Christ, 15. Who shall come from heaven with a great shout and voice of the Archangel; first to rise up to them that are dead, from the dead, 17. And afterward to take them up unto him, with the rest who shall then be yet alive.

1. Moreover then brethren, [Or what remaineth, brethren] we entreat and exhort you in the Lord Jesus [That is, in the name of the Lord Jesus, or for Jesus Christ’s sake. See 2 Cor. 5. 20.] That as ye have received of us [that is, learned, or were instructed] how ye must walk and please God, you do more abound [therein]

2. For ye know what commandments we gave unto you [He speaketh not here of any hidden secret commands, but of manifest ones which he rehearseth again afterwards] by the Lord Jesus, [that is, in the name of the Lord, or by order from the Lord Jesus.]

3. For this is the will of God, [That is, that which God requires, or will have done by you] your sanctification: [this word may be taken in general for all manner of holiness; or in particular for chastity or honesty, as is declared hereafter] that ye withhold your selves from fornication:

4. That every one of you should know to possess his vessel [That is, his body, which by a Hebraism is so called, because it is an instrument of the soul] in sanctification and honor, [that is, honesty. For nothing dishonors the body of men more than uncleanness.]

5. Not in [evil] motion of concupiscence [Or immodest motion] even as the Gentiles who know not God, [namely, as they ought, and as he hath revealed himself in his word, 2 Thes. 1. 8. Otherwise the Gentiles also knew God by nature; but this knowledge was not powerful enough to move them duly unto the love and obedience of him, Romans 1:19. & c.]

6. That no man trample on his brother [Gr. Pass over, and signifieth to injure any man by force, or take more from him then is fit, as the following word declares] nor deceive him in [his] dealing : Gr. Covet, which signifies to deceive or injure anyone out of covetousness. See 2 Cor. 2. 10. and 12. 17.] For the Lord is a revenge upon all these, as we also foretold and testified unto you.

7. For God hath not called us to uncleanness, [Here under the Apostle comprehends not only lasciviousness, but also covetousness and injustice, whereby the soul itself is also defiled] but unto sanctification.

8. So then he that rejecteth [this] [That is, those fore mentioned commands, as he called them in the second verse] he rejecteth not man [namely, only, but chiefly God, who gave these commands himself, by his Prophets and Apostles,] but God, who hath given his holy spirit unto us. [this may either be understood of the Apostles, who being moved by God’s Spirit had given these commands : or else of all Christians, who are sanctified by God’s Spirit, that they should no more follow the desires of the flesh, but of the spirit, Gal. 5. ver. 24, 25.]

9. Now of brotherly love ye have no need that I should write to you: for ye yourselves are taught of God [Gr. God taught: whereof see Job. 6. 45.] to love one another.

10. For ye also do the same to all the brethren which are all in Macedonia. [That is, ye show also really that ye do love the brethren.] But we exhort you brethren, that ye be more abundant.

11. And that ye gave diligence to be quiet, [Namely, as they do who seek after honor, or place honor in anything, as the Greek word imports. This the Apostle saith because worldly men commonly place honor in or are diligent to trouble themselves with many things which concern not themselves, against which fault he here warns believers, and exhorts them rather to seek honor, and to give diligence in quietness to look to their own affairs.] and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, [namely, to provide you and yours of sitting necessaries. Which the Apostle speaks unto them, who under a pretext of busying themselves with common business without their calling, sought to live on other men’s labor, whereof is spoken more at large, 2 Thes. 3. 10. etc] as we commanded you:

12. That ye may walk honestly, [That is, without reproach. For the Gentiles themselves also dispraise such doings. The Greek word signifies that which fits or becomes well] with them that are without, [that is, who are yet strangers from the faith, as 1 Cor. 5. 12.] And may have need of nothing. [Or, of naught, or of no man. Namely, of them which are without: for the Greek word may bear both.]

13. But brethren I would not have you ignorant concerning whom are fallen asleep, [That is, are dead or at rest, as John 11:11. etc] that ye may not be sad even as the rest [hereby the Apostle shows that he forbids not all sorrow for the dead; which even Christ himself showed for Lazarus, John 11:35. The Church for Stephen, Acts 8:2. And Paul for Epaphroditus when he was deadlt sick, Philippians 2:27. But he speaks here onely of immoderate and heathenish sorrow.] Who have no hope, [namely, of a blessed resurrection, whereof he speaks in the following verses. For although the heathen believed the immortality of the souls, yet they were never able to comprehend or believe the resurrection of the bodies and re-uniting them with their souls. See Acts 17:32. and 26. 23, etc.]

14. For if we believe that Jesus died and is risen, so also shall God bring again [namely unto life and glory when he shall raise them up from their graves and united them with their souls] with him [namely when he shall appears from heaven at the last day unto judgment] those that are fallen asleep in Jesus [or by Jesus that is by the power of Jesus the judge of the quick and dead Job 5:21]

15. For that we say unto you for the word of the Lord [Gr in the word of the Lord whereby some understand the promise of Christ Matthew 24:31 and Job 5.28where there are almost such like words others a special and further revelation of Christ hereof made of Paul as he testifies 1Corinthians 15.51]that we who shall remain alive [namely faithful persons putting himself also amongst them because of the uncertainty of the day of Christ coming see further hereof 1Corinthians 15.51]unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them that are fallen asleep [namely glorified by Christ.]

16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout [the Greek word Keleusma properly signifies a cry which is joined with a command as used to be made to such as were to do any work jointly or those that ply ores together in a ship or begin a battle]with the voice [what voice or trump this shall be the scripture doth not further declare but thereby the great power and glory of glory of Christ in his second coming is set before our eyes who shall come with his angels as the commanders of his army with trumpet and great noise which shall be terrible for his enemies and shall give courage and comforts to his friends see the like description Matthew 25:31 Job5.28 1Corinthians 15.52 2Thesallonians 1.7,8 Jude 14 Revelations 11.15c] of the arch-angel [that is of the chiefest angel who is here expressly distinguished from Christ see further hereof Jude verse9]and with the trumpet of God and they that are dead in Christ [that is in the faith of Christ as Revelation 14:13]shall arise first.

17. Afterwards we that are left alive shall be taken up [Gr pluck haled namely after that they shall be changed and in a moment of time be conformable to his glorious body 1Corinthians 15.51,52 Philippians 3:20,21] together with them in the clouds [namely which shall be carried up to Christ in the air as is said of Elias 2 Kings2.11 and of Christ himself Acts 1:9]to meet the Lord in the air namely where he shall keep his judgment before the eyes of all men who shall be brought together by the angels at his right and his left hand see Matthew 25.31c Revelations 1.7] and so shall we always be with the Lord namely Christ Jesus in heaven Job 14:2,3.]

18. So then comfort one another with those words [Gr in these words that is speeches and considerations.]