1 Thessalonians 4

1. Masters, give unto your servants, etc. See note on Eph. vi. 9.

2 watch in the same. Lit., “being wakeful in it”—withstanding the listlessness which is apt to creep over long-continued devotion (Lightfoot).

3 of utterance. Rather, “for the word.”

the mystery of Christ. See notes on Eph. vi. 19, 20.

5 redeeming the time. See notes on Eph. v. 16.

6. Let your speech be alway with grace. Or, “Let your discourse be always in grace”; i.e., in a kind and winning spirit, seasoned with what is pure and salutary: ep. Eph. iv. 29. “Salt” (ep. Lev. ii. 13) both preserves food from corruption and renders palatable what otherwise might be distasteful. The words have special reference to the relation to non-Christians (ver. 5).

7 my state. Or, “my affairs,” as in Eph. vi. 21; on which see note.

9. Onesimus. See Epistle to Philemon, ver. 10. He had come from Colossæ, but was not yet known there as a Christian.

10 sister’s son. Rather, “cousin.” “This relationship is not mentioned in the history, but it accounts for Barnabas’s adherence to Mark in the contest that arose concerning him (Acts xv. 37-39)” (Barrett: Companion to the Greek Testament). The words “receive him” seem intended to show that no ground remained for doubting his fidelity: see 2 Tim. iv. 11.

11. These only. That is, These only of the circumcision had proved a comfort to Paul as fellow-labourers: all the rest of the Jewish Christians in Rome having been more or less in opposition to him: ep. Phil. i. 15-17. Epaphras (12), Luke, and Demas (14) were Gentiles.

13. Hierapolis. A large city in Phrygia, near Colossæ and Laodicea. On Laodicea, see Rev. iii. 14, and note.

16 the epistle from Laodicea. This was in all probability the letter known as the “Epistle to the Ephesians”; addressed to the churches in Proconsular Asia, which letter was to be passed on from Laodicea, where Tychicus would have left a copy of it on his way from Ephesus on to Colossæ. Ellicott and Lange, however, think that the reference is to a lost Epistle from Paul to the Laodiceans.

19. Remember my bonds. The “bonds” which shackle the hand that writes this salutation: ep. 1 Cor. xvi. 21; 2 Thess. iii. 17: see Rom. xvi. 22, note. “St. Paul’s bonds were providential. If he had been continually moving from place to place in missionary journeys, the Church might never have possessed this Epistle. She has therefore good cause to remember his bonds with thankfulness. The word of God here written is not bound” (Wordsworth).

THESSALONICA, to which two of St. Paul’s letters were written, has a special interest for us to-day. It is the modern Salonika, where during the Great War many of our troops were stationed. It was there that Paul preached on his first visit to Europe, and it was there that the hostile Jews compelled him to depart from the city (Acts xvii. 1-14). A noteworthy fact about the population of Salonika to-day is that it contains a large number of Spanish-speaking Jews.

1 [so] ye would abound, etc. Carrying out more thoroughly the directions which we gave you by the Lord’s authority, and which in fact you have already observed.

4 possess. Or, “acquire,” i.e., gain control over. To live chastely in the married state is a safeguard against irregular indulgence of the passions. “Vessel” here probably means body (“son corps,” French version).

5 the lust of concupiscence. “The passion of lust” (R.V.), as opposed to rational and Christian attachment.

6 in [any] matter. Lit., “in the matter”; i.e., in the matter under discussion. Reference is to the double wrong caused by adultery.

the avenger of all such. Rather, “the avenger respecting all these things”: which men treat as of little consequence, but God does not. “He who rejects” (8) these admonitions, “rejects God,” who “called us, not for uncleanness, but in sanctification”: and for this purpose “gave His Holy Spirit unto you.”

11 study to be quiet. “Endeavour earnestly,” or “make it your ambition to be.”

12 honestly. That is, “becomingly.”

13 which are asleep. The best authorities read, “which are falling asleep,” i.e., from time to time.

others. Those who are not Christians.

14 in Jesus. Rather, “through Jesus”; and the words are perhaps best connected with those that follow: “God will raise them up by means of Jesus.”

15 by the word of the Lord. “In a word of the Lord”; probably a special revelation on this subject: cp. 1 Cor. xv. 51.

we which are alive, etc. Such of us believers as may be then alive shall not “leave behind” those that are asleep; for these “shall rise first” (16), i.e., before the living in Christ; and “afterwards we,” etc. (17): cp. 1 Cor. xv. 52.

16 with a shout. The Greek κέλευσμια means “a word of command”: so the Vulgate translates it, “in jussu.”

the archangel. Or “an archangel”; a leader among the angelic hosts: cp. Jude 9.

the trump. “Trumpet.” Cp. 1 Cor. xv. 52.

17 in the clouds. Rather “in clouds”; i.e., as Jesus Himself ascended (Acts i. 9). “And so” (i.e., after the resurrection of the dead, and the change of the living) all the saved will dwell with Christ for ever (John xiv. 3).