Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians

Comm on Phil, Col, Thes
In the beginning of the Fourth Chapter, he exhorts them, in general terms, to holiness of life,
afterwards he recommends mutual benevolence, and all offices that flow from it. Towards the end,
however, he touches upon the question of the resurrection, and explains in what way we shall all
be raised up from death. From this it is manifest, that there were some wicked or light-minded
persons, who endeavored to unsettle their faith by unseasonably bringing forward many frivolous
things. 487 Hence with the view of cutting off all pretext for foolish and needless disputations, he
instructs them in few words as to the views which they should entertain.
In the Fifth Chapter he prohibits them, even more strictly, from inquiring as to times; but
admonishes them to be ever on the watch, lest they should be taken unawares by Christ’s sudden
and unexpected approach. From this he proceeds to employ various exhortations, and then concludes
the Epistle.
COMMENTARY ON
THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE
THESSALONIANS.
CHAPTER 1
1 Thessalonians 1:1
1. Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto 1. Paulus et Silvanus et Timotheus Ecclesiae
the Church of the Thessalonians which is in God Thessalonicensium, in Deo Patre, et Domino Iesu
the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be Christo, gratia vobis et pax a Deo Patre nostro,
unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and et Domino Iesu Christo.
the Lord Jesus Christ.
The brevity of the inscription clearly shews that Paul’s doctrine had been received with reverence
among the Thessalonians, and that without controversy they all rendered to him the honor that he
deserved. For when in other Epistles he designates himself an Apostle, he does this for the purpose
of claiming for himself authority. Hence the circumstance, that he simply makes use of his own
name without any title of honor, is an evidence that those to whom he writes voluntarily
acknowledged him to be such as he was. The ministers of Satan, it is true, had endeavored to trouble
this Church also, but it is evident that their machinations were fruitless. He associates, however,
two others along with himself, as being, in common with himself, the authors of the Epistle. Nothing
farther is stated here that has not been explained elsewhere, excepting that he says, “the Church in
God the Father, and in Christ;” by which terms (if I mistake not) he intimates, that there is truly
among the Thessalonians a Church of God. This mark, therefore, is as it were an approval of a true
and lawful Church. We may, however, at the same time infer from it, that a Church is to be sought
487 “En mettant en auant sur ce propos beaucoup de choses frivoles et curieuses;” — “By bringing forward upon this subject
many frivolous and curious things.”
145
John Calvin