1 Thessalonians 5:16-17

The Biblical Illustrator - 1 Thessalonians 5:17

1 Thessalonians 5:17Pray without ceasing I.What is it to pray?1. It is a desire. That is the nature of it. We may desire a thing--(1) With our mouths only (Isaiah 29:13).(2) With our hearts only (1 Samuel 1:13).(3) Both with heart and mouth. This is prayer; and so prayer is both cordial and oral (John 17:1).2. The subject: good things (1 Timothy 4:8).(1) For our natural life.(a) For our being (James 5:14-15).(b) For our well-being (Proverbs 30:8).(2) For our spiritual life.(a) To understand the... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 5:16

16 Rejoice evermore. Ver. 16. Rejoice evermore ] A duty much pressed in both Testaments, but little practised by many of God’s whinnels, who are ever puling and putting finger in the eye, through one discontent or another. The wicked may not rejoice, Hosea 9:1 ; the saints must,Psalms 32:11; Psalms 32:11 ; Psalms 33:1 , and that continually, striving to a habitual cheerfulness, which occurs when faith heals the conscience, and grace husheth the affections, and composeth all within: what... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 5:17

17 Pray without ceasing. Ver. 17. Pray without ceasing ] While prayer standeth still, the trade of godliness stands still. All good comes into the soul by this door, all true treasure by this merchant’s ship. Paul beginneth, continueth, and concludeth his Epistles with prayer, Nehemiah sends up ejaculations ever and anon. Of Carolus Magnus it was spoken, Carolus plus cum Deo quam cum hominibus loquitur, that he spake more with God than with men. Our hearts should be evermore in a praying... read more

Samuel Bagster

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge - 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Rejoice: 2 Corinthians 6:10, Philippians 4:4, Matthew 5:12, Luke 10:20, Romans 12:12 Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 16:14 - General Psalms 68:3 - rejoice Ecclesiastes 3:12 - but Isaiah 65:18 - General John 15:11 - your Acts 4:24 - they Acts 16:25 - sang 2 Corinthians 13:11 - farewell Philippians 3:1 - rejoice Hebrews 3:6 - rejoicing read more

Samuel Bagster

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge - 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Pray: Luke 18:1, Luke 21:36, Romans 12:12, Ephesians 6:18, Colossians 4:2, 1 Peter 4:7 Reciprocal: Exodus 30:8 - a perpetual 1 Samuel 1:12 - continued praying Nehemiah 11:17 - thanksgiving Job 27:10 - will he always Psalms 55:17 - Evening Isaiah 62:6 - keep Daniel 6:10 - gave Daniel 6:20 - servest Matthew 6:5 - when Matthew 20:31 - but they cried Acts 10:2 - and prayed Acts 12:5 - prayer was made without ceasing Romans 1:9 - that Romans 13:13 - as Ephesians 1:16 - Cease Philippians 4:6 - in... read more

John Wesley

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Rejoice evermore.Rejoice evermore — In uninterrupted happiness in God.Pray without ceasing — Which is the fruit of always rejoicing in the Lord.In everything give thanks — Which is the fruit of both the former. This is Christian perfection. Farther than this we cannot go; and we need not stop short of it. Our Lord has purchased joy, as well as righteousness, for us. It is the very design of the gospel that, being saved from guilt, we should be happy in the love of Christ. Prayer may be said to... read more

Daniel Whedon

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 5:16

16. Rejoice Why not? Are not Christ and all heaven yours? The wicked, the proud, the laughers, the revellers, the bloody rulers of this world, amid all their boisterous mirth and drunken hilarity, have just reason for despondency and despair. And underneath all their rollick and riot are a true despondency and hopelessness. They stand on a thin crust over the abyss of hell, and are dropping down and in by successive thousands. But beneath you is the basis of the everlasting atonement, above... read more

Daniel Whedon

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

b. Duty of Christian joy, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 . The central purpose of this epistle was to dismiss all spiritual despondency over their lately deceased. The writer now adds a few thrilling words to awaken their hearts to the right, nay, duty, for Christians to rejoice! read more

Daniel Whedon

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 5:17

17. Pray without ceasing This recipe of St. Paul’s for a perpetual rejoice is in two Greek words, Pray incessantly. It means, not the being incessantly upon our knees, provided there be a perpetual submission of soul. It requires not perpetual utterance of words, provided there be a permanent communion of the heart with God. Yet will that submission and that communion often frame themselves in definite thought and positive words, and go out in vocal prayer for our own well-being and the... read more

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