Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians

Comm on Phil, Col, Thes
for only where God presides, and where Christ reigns, and that, in short, there is no Church but
what is founded upon God, is gathered under the auspices of Christ, and is united in his name.
1 Thessalonians 1:2-5
2. We give thanks to God always for you all, 2. Gratias agimus Deo semper de omnibus
making mention of you in our prayers; vobis, memoriam vestri facientes in precibus
nostris,
3. Indesinenter 488 memores vestri, propter
opus fidei, et laborem caritatis, 489 3. Remembering without ceasing your work
of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope
et patientiam
in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and spei Domini nostri Iesu Christi coram Deo et
our Father;
Patre nostro,
4. Scientes, fratres dilecti, 490 4. Knowing, brethren beloved, your election
a Deo esse
of God.
electionem vestram.
5. For our gospel came not unto you in word 5. Quia Evangelium nostrum non fuit erga
only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, vos in sermone solum, sed in potentia, et in
and in much assurance; as ye know what manner Spiritu sancto, et in certitudine multa:
of men we were among you for your sake. quemadmodum nostis quales fuerimus in vobis
propter vos.
2 We give thanks to God. He praises, as he is wont, their faith and other virtues, not so much,
however, for the purpose of praising them, as to exhort them to perseverance. For it is no small
excitement to eagerness of pursuit, when we reflect that God has adorned us with signal endowments,
that he may finish what he has begun, and that we have, under his guidance and direction, advanced
in the right course, in order that we may reach the goal. For as a vain confidence in those virtues,
which mankind foolishly arrogate to themselves, puffs them up with pride, and makes them careless
and indolent for the time to come, so a recognition of the gifts of God humbles pious minds, and
stirs them up to anxious concern. Hence, instead of congratulations, he makes use of thanksgivings,
that he may put them in mind, that everything in them that he declares to be worthy of praise, is a
kindness from God. 491 He also turns immediately to the future, in making mention of his prayers.
We thus see for what purpose he commends their previous life.
3 Unceasingly remembering you. While the adverb unceasingly might be taken in connection
with what goes before, it suits better to connect it in this manner. What follows might also be
488 “En nos prieres, sans cesse ayans souuenance; ou, En nos prieres sans cesse, Ayans souuenance;” — “In our prayers, without
ceasing having remembrance; or, In our prayers without ceasing, Having remembrance.”
489 “De vous pour l’œuure de la foy, et pour le trauail de vostre charite; ou, de l’effect de vostre foy, et du trauail de vostre
charite;” — “Of you for the work of faith, or for the labor of your love; or, of the effect of your faith, or of the labor of your
love.”
490 “Freres bien—aimez, vostre election estre de Dieu; ou, freres bien—aimez de Dieu, vostre election; ou, vostre election, qui
est de Dieu;” — “Brethren beloved, your election to be of God; or, brethren beloved of God, your election; or, your election,
which is of God.”
491 “Est vn benefice procedant de la liberalite de Dieu;” —”Is a kindness proceeding from God’s liberality.”
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John Calvin