Chapter 5:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 Colossians 2 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 5
Concise Complete
The apostle exhorts to be always ready for the
coming of Christ to judgment, which will be with suddenness and surprise. (1-11)
He directs to several particular duties. (12-22) And concludes with prayer,
greetings, and a blessing. (23-28)
Verses 1-5
It is needless or useless to ask about the particular time of Christ's coming.
Christ did not reveal this to the apostles. There are times and seasons for us
to work in, and these are our duty and interest to know and observe; but as to
the time when we must give up our account, we know it not, nor is it needful
that we should. The coming of Christ will be a great surprise to men. Our Lord
himself said so. As the hour of death is the same to each person that the
judgment will be to mankind in general, so the same remarks answer for both.
Christ's coming will be terrible to the ungodly. Their destruction will overtake
them while they dream of happiness, and please themselves with vain amusements.
There will be no means to escape the terror or the punishment of that day. This
day will be a happy day to the righteous. They are not in darkness; they are the
children of the light. It is the happy condition of all true Christians. But how
many are speaking peace and safety to themselves, over whose heads utter
destruction is hovering! Let us endeavour to awaken ourselves and each other,
and guard against our spiritual enemies.
Verses
6-11 Most of mankind do not consider the things of another world at all,
because they are asleep; or they do not consider them aright, because they sleep
and dream. Our moderation as to all earthly things should be known to all men.
Shall Christians, who have the light of the blessed gospel shining in their
faces, be careless about their souls, and unmindful of another world? We need
the spiritual armour, or the three Christian graces, faith, love, and hope.
Faith; if we believe that the eye of God is always upon us, that there is
another world to prepare for, we shall see reason to watch and be sober. True
and fervent love to God, and the things of God, will keep us watchful and sober.
If we have hope of salvation, let us take heed of any thing that would shake our
trust in the Lord. We have ground on which to build unshaken hope, when we
consider, that salvation is by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, to atone
for our sins and to ransom our souls. We should join in prayer and praise one
with another. We should set a good example one before another, and this is the
best means to answer the end of society. Thus we shall learn how to live to Him,
with whom we hope to live for ever.
Verses
12-15 The ministers of the gospel are described by the work of their office,
which is to serve and honour the Lord. It is their duty not only to give good
counsel, but also to warn the flock of dangers, and reprove for whatever may be
amiss. The people should honour and love their ministers, because their business
is the welfare of men's souls. And the people should be at peace among
themselves, doing all they can to guard against any differences. But love of
peace must not make us wink at sin. The fearful and sorrowful spirits, should be
encouraged, and a kind word may do much good. We must bear and forbear. We must
be long-suffering, and keep down anger, and this to all men. Whatever man do to
us, we must do good to others.
Verses
16-22 We are to rejoice in creature-comforts, as if we rejoiced not, and
must not expect to live many years, and rejoice in them all; but if we do
rejoice in God, we may do that evermore. A truly religious life is a life of
constant joy. And we should rejoice more, if we prayed more. Prayer will help
forward all lawful business, and every good work. If we pray without ceasing, we
shall not want matter for thanksgiving in every thing. We shall see cause to
give thanks for sparing and preventing, for common and uncommon, past and
present, temporal and spiritual mercies. Not only for prosperous and pleasing,
but also for afflicting providences, for chastisements and corrections; for God
designs all for our good, though we at present see not how they tend to it.
Quench not the Spirit. Christians are said to be baptized with the Holy Ghost
and with fire. He worketh as fire, by enlightening, enlivening, and purifying
the souls of men. As fire is put out by taking away fuel, and as it is quenched
by pouring water, or putting a great deal of earth upon it; so we must be
careful not to quench the Holy Spirit, by indulging carnal lusts and affections,
minding only earthly things. Believers often hinder their growth in grace, by
not giving themselves up to the spiritual affections raised in their hearts by
the Holy Spirit. By prophesyings, here understand the preaching of the word, the
interpreting and applying the Scriptures. We must not despise preaching, though
it is plain, and we are told no more than what we knew before. We must search
the Scriptures. And proving all things must be to hold fast that which is good.
We should abstain from sin, and whatever looks like sin, leads to it, and
borders upon it. He who is not shy of the appearances of sin, who shuns not the
occasions of it, and who avoids not the temptations and approaches to it, will
not long keep from doing sin.
Verses
23-28 The apostle prays that they might be sanctified more perfectly, for
the best are sanctified but in part while in this world; therefore we should
pray for, and press toward, complete holiness. And as we must fall, if God did
not carry on his good work in the soul, we should pray to God to perfect his
work, till we are presented faultless before the throne of his glory. We should
pray for one another; and brethren should thus express brotherly love. This
epistle was to be read to all the brethren. Not only are the common people
allowed to read the Scriptures, but it is their duty, and what they should be
persuaded to do. The word of God should not be kept in an unknown tongue, but
transplanted, that as all men are concerned to know the Scriptures, so they all
may be able to read them. The Scriptures should be read in all public
congregations, for the benefit of the unlearned especially. We need no more to
make us happy, than to know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is an
ever-flowing and an over-flowing fountain of grace to supply all our wants.
Chapter 5:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 Colossians 2 Thessalonians
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
