I. Thessalonians. Of Christ's coming CHAP. V. 1 He sheweth Christ's second coming to judgment, 16 and giveth divers precepts, 23 and so concludeth. BUT of the times and seasons,a brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly, that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken, are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and for an helmet the hope of salvation : ; 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain a The times and the seasons, the duration of the world, and the particular season, at which Christ will come to judgment. to judgment, &c. salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Wherefore, comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now, we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men. 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesy ings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all ances of evil. appear 23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit, and, soul, and body, be TO THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE THESSALONIANS. IT appears from this Epistle, that Timothy, who carried Paul's first Epistle to the Thessalonians, gave him, on his return, a particular account of their affairs; and among other things told him, that many had mistaken some part of his former letter, by supposing he intended to inform them, that the day of judgment was to happen in that age; and that those, who had imbibed this sentiment, neglected all temporal concerns, as inconsistent with the care of their souls; and that false teachers were busy to inculcate the same ideas, which greatly alarmed the timid and credulous. Paul therefore wrote this second Epistle at Corinth A. D. 52, to correct these errors, so prejudicial to the good of society, and so inconsistent with the duties of Christianity; and also to fortel the rise and progress of the mystery of iniquity, and the coming and destruction of the Man of sin. N. B. It may perhaps not be improper here to observe, that the coming of Christ, the coming of the Son of Man, the day of the Lord, &c. denote in scripture four different events; and some pious persons in modern times, as well as among the ancient Thessalonians, have by misunderstanding these phrases, been needlessly alarmed by the apprehension, that the day of judgment was at hand. The first of these events was the destruction of Jerusalem, of the temple and of the Jewish state by the Roman armies, the abrogation of the Mosaic institutions, and the establishment of the Gospel. Matt. xxiv. 30. This event is sometimes called the end of the world or the age; meaning Paul's opinion of II. Thessalonians. their faith, love, Sic. the end of the age under the law, and the beginning of the age under the Messiah; 1 Cor. x. 11. Phil. iv. 5. Heb. ix. 26, x. 25-37. James v. 7-9. 1 Peter iv. 7. 1 John ii. 18, &c. The second event was the destruction of the man of sin, 2 Thess. ii. 8. The third is death, which releases all the followers of Christ from their trials and sufferings, 1 Cor. i. 8. Phil. i. 6. 1 Thess. v. 23. The fourth is Christ's coming in person to judge the world, and to put an end to the present state of things. This event is probably still far distant; as the final consummation of all things is not to take place till Christ has triumphantly reigned on earth a thousand years in the hearts of men. THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL, THE APOSTLE, TO THE THESSALONIANS. 2 Grace unto you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; 4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God, for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure; 5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be count ed worthy of the kingdom of God,a for which ye also suffer: 6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that a Which faith and patience are an righteous judgment of God, who counted evidence or a manifest token of the you Gentiles worthy of the kingdom of God, c. to steadfastness, &c. come a falling away first,e and that man of sin d be revealed,e the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what e Except there come a falling away first; or, there come the apostacy, that great departure from the true faith and worship, of which I formerly told you, (see ver. 5.) It is probable the apostle here alludes to some future state of the church, in which the disciples of Christ should greatly depart from the true faith & worship of God, enjoined in the Gospel; and it is thought by many, that this apostacy denoted Popery or the Roman Catholic religion. d That man of sin, the son of perdi tion, and that wicked, or wicked one, verse 8, signify the same thing: but what that particular thing was, is not perhaps fully ascertained. It has, however, generally been supposed, that these phrases were designed to signify, not any one man, but a succession of wicked teachers, who would corrupt the church, and exercise a most cruel tyranny: and by the descrip tion in verse 4 these false teachers seem to have been exemplified in the popes and bishops of Rome. e Revealed. The revelation of the man of Sin consisted in his openly assuming the titles and honours of God, and shewing himself that he is a god. The Roman catholic clergy have actually been guilty of this shocking impiety. Antichrist revealed. II. Thessalonians. Divers exhortations. withholdeth.f that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquityg doth already work; only he who now letteth,h will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wick. ed i be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth,j and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and lying wonders,k f What withholdeth or restraineth. That which restrained the man of sin from revealing or displaying himself, is generally supposed to have been the Roman empire; for so long as that power, which was idolatrous, continued unbroken, and exercised universal dominion, it would not suffer another, especially one bearing the name of Christian, to gain ascendancy, and rule with despotic power. 8 The mystery of iniquity, a system of error, which secretly encouraged iniquity it here signifies the same as the man of sin. b He who letteth, &c. He who hindereth or restraineth, will continue to restrain the open operations of the mystery of iniquity, till he (meaning the power of the Roman magistrates) be taken out of the way. i Wicked, or lawless one. j Spirit, it should be, breath of bis mouth, which is a figurative expression, that probably denotes the preaching of the Gospel, which will eventually destroy all sin and opposition to the Redeemer's cause. k Lying wonders, miracles of falsehood, impositions upon the senses of mankind. 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our Gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions, which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. 16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. I Traditions here signify those doctrines and precepts, which Paul was inspired to teach. |