III. PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS AND EXHORTATIONS 4:1-5:24The second major part of this epistle contains instructions and exhortations about Christian living in general, the Rapture, personal watchfulness, church life, and individual behavior. All of this is vital for believers who are undergoing opposition for their faith. read more
This is one of approximately 70 New Testament commands to rejoice. This volitional choice is extremely important for the Christian. We can always rejoice if we remember what God has given us in Christ. read more
1. Personal actions and attitudes 5:16-18 read more
E. Individual behavior 5:16-24The preceding exhortations led Paul naturally to focus on other individual responsibilities to enable his readers to perceive their personal Christian duty clearly (cf. Galatians 6). However all these things are the duties of Christians corporately (the church assembled) as well as individually. read more
Greek writers used the adverb translated "without ceasing" to describe a hacking cough. Paul did not expect his readers to be in prayer every minute but to continue praying frequently."Not surprisingly Paul wished his converts to be people of prayer. He himself was devoted to prayer as a fundamental activity in his life (cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:2 b; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; Romans 1:10; Colossians 1:3; Colossians 1:9). In several of his letters he instructs his readers to devote themselves to prayer... read more
The Need of Watchfulness. Final Injunctions1. Times and seasons] St. Paul always lays stress on the uncertainty as to the time of the Advent (2 Thessalonians 2:2 cp. 2 Peter 3:3-4). 3. When they shall say] i.e. when people are saying.4, 5. Thief] better, ’as thieves.’ Thieves work in darkness. You are all children of light. Live up to your birthright. 6. Let us not sleep] i.e. in carelessness and sin. Others] better, ’the others.’8-10. Mason paraphrases, ’Let us arm ourselves with a brave hope... read more
(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... read more
(17) Pray without ceasing.—Theophylact well says, “This shows the way to ‘rejoice always’—to wit, incessant prayer and eucharist, for he that has accustomed himself to hold converse with God, and to give thanks to Him over everything that happens as happening well, will evidently have unbroken joy.” Though a man cannot be incessantly praying in words, the mind may be held continuously in an attitude of prayer, even in sleep (Song of Solomon 5:2). read more
1 Thessalonians 5:4 Some injustice has been done to the Christian creed of immortality as an influence in determining men's conduct Paul preached the imminent advent of Christ and besought his disciples therefore to watch, and we ask ourselves what is the moral value to us of such an admonition. But surely if we are to have any reasons for being virtuous, this is as good as any other. It is just as respectable to believe that we ought to abstain from iniquity because Christ is at hand, and we... read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Thessalonians 5:17
17. The Greek is, "Pray without intermission"; without allowing prayerless gaps to intervene between the times of prayer. read more