Bible Commentaries
1 Thessalonians 5

Verses 1-3

12 Paul gives us the true motive and incentive of a holy life and a steadfast faith. It springs from the overflow of love to our fellow saints and to all others as well. It looks forward to the presence of Him Who does not decide by the outward appearance, but rewards according to the secret motives of the heart. The presence of our Lord is to be understood in its plainest literal sense. This is His absence. Whenever He is actually near and known, He will be present.

ASKING AND ENTREATING

3 Looseness in marriage relations is one of the saddest spots on the history of mankind. The gods of the nations were most offensive in this regard and their reputed misdeeds gave ample excuse for the trespasses of their devotees. Besides this the religious ceremonies and rites by which they were worshiped gave sanction to the most debasing excesses and abuses. No wonder the apostle speaks plainly and sharply. He will allow no trifling. Each one is to have his own wife and is not to interfere with his brother in this matter. No doubt the apostle refers to special customs and abuses in Thessalonica.

9 One of the earliest impulses of the new life of the believer is to love his fellow saints. We are taught by God. It is instinctive and should be fostered and encouraged. Let us not allow party lines and differences in details to divide between us and all who have the same life and harbor the same love.

11 In the midst of such a great spiritual awakening as occurred at Thessalonica there is a temptation to neglect the necessary duties of life and mistake enthusiasm and noise for the quiet yet powerful operations of the spirit. The apostle urges them to attend to their own affairs and provide for their needs, so that their enemies will not find occasion to reproach them.

THE LORD'S PRESENCE

13 We do not sorrow when our dear ones are literally reposing. The reference is to death under a most beautiful figure for the distressed Thessalonian saints. The resurrection of Jesus is the guarantee that all who are His will likewise be raised. Until Paul received this revelation, the only resurrection of the saints was the "resurrection of life" ( Joh_5:29 ) called the "former" resurrection ( Rev_20:5 ), at the beginning of the thousand years, after the judgment period. Then the Lord comes down to earth. The saints are not snatched into the air. But this resurrection follows the Lord's presence in the air long before His coming to the earth. It precedes the great judgment era which ushers in the day of Jehovah. Being justified in the blood of Christ, we shall be saved from God's indignation through Him ( Rom_5:9 ). God has not assigned us to indignation but to the procuring of salvation ( 1Th_5:9 ). This new revelation is further unfolded to the Corinthians ( 1Co_15:51 ), where the secret is disclosed that the living, as well as the dead, will be changed . Both will be given incorruptible, spiritual, celestial bodies, without which, indeed, they could hardly meet Him in the air. The crowning glory of this blessed expectation was made known to the Philippians. These bodies of humiliation will be transfigured to conform them to that glorious body which blinded Paul when first he beheld Him ( Php_3:21 ; Act_9:3 ; Act_9:8 ; Act_9:18 ) .

17 "We, the living." Paul does not insist that he must survive to the advent, any more than he meant to assert positively that he should die when he said the Lord Jesus "shall raise us up" ( 2Co_4:14 ).

2 This is man's day ( 1Co_4:3 ). It is near its end. The day of Jehovah, with its awful divine judgments, is fast approaching. It will give no notice of its coming. On the contrary, it will seem unnecessary and impossible. Is it not true that never, in the history of the race, was there such a hope and expectation of the end of war? The parliament of nations, the reduction of armaments, the federation of the world-are we not always hoping for peace and security?

Verses 4-28

4 The day of the Lord with its terrors and destruction is not for us. The cry of "peace and security" should not lull us to sleep. We should be on the alert, knowing the futility of all security and peace apart from Christ. And, though aware of the whirlpool into which this world is sweeping, we have no fear, for it will not engulf us. But, suppose that we, too, relax our vigilance and take a nap along with the rest. Will we be left for judgment? At His coming to set up the kingdom it is vital that they watch or they will lose their reward ( Mat_24:42 ; Mat_25:13 ; Mar_13:34 ; Luk_12:37 ; Rev_3:3 ; Rev_16:15 ). Not so here. Those who received Paul's gospel of faith apart from deeds, find their salvation a matter of pure unadulterated grace. This is true of the future as well as the past. The death of Christ, not our conduct, our watchfulness or the lack of it, is the foundation on which our future salvation rests just as really as the salvation which we already enjoy. This confidence will not lead to laxness.

8 The believer's armor is defensive. His only weapon is the spirit's sword, the word of God. Not, indeed, every statement in the Scriptures, for some of it is an inspired record of human philosophy and the very lies of the adversary are contained in its pages, but every actual declaration which has proceeded forth from God through His accredited prophets and apostles. These are powerful and effective. No other weapon should be used. For defense we rely on faith and love for the present and on the blessed expectation of our gathering together unto Him for the future. This is figured by the helmet. No judgment from above can harm us. When heaven's judgments fall we will be safe above them in His presence.

ASKING AND ENTREATING

12 Love and patience should characterize all our intercourse with fellow saints. Love will lead us to acknowledge those who are over us and to bear with those below. It will rule out all retaliation.

16 Constant joy, constant prayer, constant thanksgiving is the normal privilege of all saints.

20 These exhortations are made in view of the changing character of Paul's ministries. They became more spiritual as time advanced. The gift of prophecy was especially adapted to meet the need of the saints until God's complete revelation should be given ( 1Co_12:10 ; 1Co_13:8 ). Yet they were to be tested and only those in line with the ideal toward which God was working were to be permanent.

23 The lame man who sat at the Beautiful gate of the temple ( Act_3:2-16 ) had unimpaired health and strength after he was healed. The same word is used here but is extended to the soul and spirit as well. This, and far more, will be our lot in His presence even should any part be lame or deficient now!