Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary: 1 Thessalonians
Chapter 4
Ver. 1. In this chapter the apostle begins to remind them of their obligation of always striving to increase in virtue. Though he praises them through the whole epistle, he still thinks it necessary to warn them not to be surprised in uncleanness. He repeats what he had taught them before; first, that there is vengeance awaiting the workers of evil; and secondly, that the favour of God is the reward of those who deal with the brethren in simplicity, and preserve themselves from the defilements of the Gentiles. (St. Ambrose, Comment., on this place)
Ver. 4. His vessel. That is, his own body. See 1 Kings xxi. 5. (Witham)
Ver. 6. That no man overreach, nor deceive his brother in business.[1] The Protestant and Mr. N. even in their translations, add, in any matter, because some expound it of frauds and circumventions in any kind of business. But this addition of any, should be left out, seeing the best interpreters expound it of a prohibition of adultery, and the injury thereby done to another, and of sins of that kind only, which is confirmed by what follows and what goes before. See St. Jerome in chap. iv. ad Ephes. tom. 4. p. 369.; St. Chrysostom serm. 3 on this place. Here, says he, he speaks of adultery, as before of fornication, &c. See Theodoret, Theophylactus, Estius, Menochius, Cornelius a Lapide, &c. (Witham)
Ver. 11. And that you want nothing of any man's.[2] This is the sense by the Greek, nor does the Latin here signify to desire, but to want them that are without; i.e. infidels out of the pale of the Church. (Witham) --- In regard of brotherly love, he advises them to remain quiet, at peace with every one, troubling nobody, nor interfering with the concerns of others, but each one minding his own work. It had been reported to the apostle that there were some at Thessalonica who made religion a pretext for idleness. It is to reprove such persons as these, that we are given to understand in this place that religion will never excuse the neglect of relative duties, either to our neighbours or to ourselves. It is the duty of all to labour, in order to prevent the evils of poverty; for involuntary poverty is a great snare, and a dangerous temptation against salvation. It exposes to ignorance, to meanness, and low actions; it conducts to fraud, to falsities, to impudence, and forgetfulness of God. Happy are the poor in spirit, but miserable they who are involuntarily so: miserable, not for the wants, the humiliations, or inconveniences of their state, but for the irregularities and disorders of conduct to which they are exposed. It is therefore wise of man to pray, Give me not riches nor poverty, but give me only what is sufficient, &c. (Calmet)
Ver. 15. With commandment.[3] God's command will in a moment raise and bring all to judgment. --- And the dead, who are in Christ, in the grace of Christ, shall rise first, not as to time, but in dignity. (Witham) --- Shall rise first. Not in order of time, for all shall rise in the twinkling of an eye, but first in order of dignity. St. Chrysostom, however, thinks that the elect rise before the reprobate, to go before the Lord; whereas the latter shall come behind him, only to appear before the tribunal of justice. (St. Chrysostom)
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[1] Ver. 6. Ne quis supergrediatur, neque circumveniat in negotio fratrem, en to pragmati. See St. Jerome: diligenter observa, quia ad castitatem nos provocans, et volens uxoribus tantùm esse contentos, dixerit, ne quis supergrediatur, &c. St. Chrysostom, (log. e. p. 186.) entautha peri moicheias phesin, anotero de peri porneias pases.
[2] Ver. 11. Nullius aliquid desideretis, medenos chreian echete. i.e. nullius opus habeatis.
[3] Ver. 15. In jussu, en keleusmati, from keleuo, in celeusmate, in voce simul clamantium.
Bible Text & Cross-references:
He exhorts them to purity and mutual charity: he treats of the resurrection of the dead.
1 For the rest therefore, brethren, we pray and beseech you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us, how you ought to walk, and to please God, so also you would walk, that you may abound the more.
2 For you know what commandments I have given to you by the Lord Jesus.
3 *For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from fornication:
4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour:
5 Not in the passion of lust, like the Gentiles, who know not God:
6 And that no man overreach, nor deceive his brother in business: because the Lord is the avenger of all these things, as we have told you before, and have testified.
7 For God hath not called us to uncleanness, but to holiness.
8 He, therefore, that despiseth these things, despiseth not man, but God: who also hath given his holy spirit in us.
9 But concerning the love of brotherhood, we have no need to write to you: *for yourselves have learned of God to love one another.
10 For indeed you do it towards all the brethren in all Macedonia. But we entreat you, brethren, that you abound more.
11 And that you use your endeavour to be quiet, and that you do your own business, and work with your own hands, as we commanded you: and that you walk honestly towards them that are without: and that you want nothing of any man's.
12 And we will not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that are asleep, that you be not sorrowful, even as others who have no hope.
13 For if we believe that Jesus died, and rose again, even so them who have slept through Jesus, God will bring with him.
14 For this we say unto you in the word of the Lord, *that we who are alive, who remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them, who have slept.
15 For the Lord himself shall come down from heaven with commandment, and with the voice of an Archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead, who are in Christ, shall rise first.
16 Then we who are alive, who are left, shall be taken up together with them in the clouds, to meet Christ in the air, and so shall we be always with the Lord.
17 Wherefore comfort ye one another with these words.
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*
3: Romans xii. 2.; Ephesians v. 17.
9: John iii. 34. and xv. 12. and 17.; 1 John ii. 10. and iv. 12.
14: 1 Corinthians xv. 23.
Chapter 5
Ver. 1. Of the times and moments. That is, of the day of judgment, of the end of the world, of the destruction of Jerusalem. It is enough to know the time is uncertain, and that death cometh as a thief in the night. (Witham) --- When the judgment shall take place the Angels themselves do not know. Perhaps St. Paul, when wrapt up to the third heaven, may have learnt something on this subject; for he was told many things which he could not announce to man; therefore, he says, I need not write to you: it is unnecessary for us to know it. (Calmet)
Ver. 4. Overtake you. It is a subject of astonishment, that some people are so childishly afraid of the last day, that they cannot think of it without consternation, lest it should happen in their time. Weak souls! Do they not recollect that death will certainly overtake them, and that will be to them individually the end of the world, and the last day. The whole world then does perish as far as regards them. (Haydock)
Ver. 5. You are the children of light. That is, there is little danger of thieves in the day time, when it is light. Also watch and have arms to defend you, the coat of mail of faith; the helmet of hope: you are under the protection of Christ, who died for you, and for your salvation. See St. Chrysostom, p. 293, &c. (Witham)
Ver. 8. The Christian's panoply is not faith alone, but faith, hope and charity, as we see here.
Ver. 10. Whether we wake or sleep. That is, whether we be of the number of those whom Jesus Christ shall find still upon earth, when he shall come to judgment, or among those who have slept and returned to dust, it is his will that we should be his. (Theodoret)
Ver. 14. Rebuke, or correct the unquiet.[1] By the Greek, it signifies the disorderly, or those that keep no order. (Witham)
Ver. 16. Always rejoice. It is usual for St. Paul to recommend joy to the faithful. Cheerfulness is indeed the characteristic of true virtue, which by no means consists in, nor encourages, sourness or moroseness, as some mistaken people imagine. God loves a cheerful giver. Sorrow, which is of this world, killeth. (Haydock)
Ver. 19. Do not oppose either the interior gifts of the holy Spirit, which are his graces, nor his exterior gifts of prophecy, &c. Take the regular precautions of prudence, that you be not deceived by those who pretend to be inspired; but when satisfied that the inspiration comes from heaven, do not despise it. Be like good bankers, take the good coin, and reject the counterfeit. (St. Cyril of Alexandria)
Ver. 21. Prove all things. That is, examine prophecies whether they be true, and the doctrine which you hear from new preachers, and refrain yourselves not only from evil, but from every thing that hath the appearance of evil, and which may disedify and scandalize others. (Witham) --- Hold that which is good. This we can best learn from the doctrine of the apostles, and the spirit of the Catholic Church. Men can deceive and be deceived, but the Spirit of God, speaking to us by his Church, can neither deceive us nor be deceived.
Ver. 23. Spirit, and soul. The former marks the understanding, the latter the will: hence these two terms give the two principal faculties of the soul. (Bible de Vence)
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[1] Ver. 14. The unquiet: inquietos, ataktous, inordinatos, sine ordine et regula viventes.
Bible Text & Cross-references:
The day of the Lord shall come, when least expected. Exhortations to several duties.
1 But of the times and moments, brethren, you need not that we should write to you.
2 *For yourselves know perfectly, that the day of the Lord shall so come, as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, peace and security, then shall sudden destruction come upon them, as the pains upon her that is with child, and they shall not escape.
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief:
5 For all you are the children of light, and children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do: but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they who sleep, sleep in the night: and they who are drunk, are drunk in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, *having on the breastplate of faith and charity, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation:
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to the purchasing of salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us: that whether we watch or sleep, we may live together with him.
11 Wherefore comfort one another: and edify one another, as you also do.
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them who labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you,
13 That you esteem them more abundantly in charity for their work: have peace with them.
14 And we beseech you, brethren, rebuke the unquiet, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient towards all men.
15 *See that none render evil for evil to any one: but always follow that which is good towards each other, and towards all men.
16 Always rejoice.
17 *Pray without ceasing.
18 In all things give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you all.
19 Extinguish not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophecies.
21 But prove all things: hold that which is good.
22 From all appearance of evil refrain yourselves.
23 And may the God of peace himself sanctify you in all things: that your whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 *He is faithful who hath called you: who will also perform.
25 Brethren, pray for us.
26 Salute all the brethren with a holy kiss.
27 I charge you, by the Lord, that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren:
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
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*
2: 2 Peter iii. 10.; Apocalypse iii. 3. and xvi. 15.
8: Isaias lix. 17.; Ephesians vi. 14. and 17.
15: Proverbs xvii. 13. and xx. 22.; Romans xii. 17.; 1 Peter iii. 9.
17: Ecclesiasticus xviii. 22.; Luke xviii. 1.; Colossians iv. 2.
24: 1 Corinthians i. 9.