Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians

Comm on Phil, Col, Thes
“Behold,” says he, “the virtues for which they deserve praise among the good and pious! —
they killed their own prophets and at last the Son of God, they have persecuted me his servant, they
wage war with God, they are detested by the whole world, they are hostile to the salvation of the
Gentiles; in fine, they are destined to everlasting destruction.”
It is asked, why he says that Christ and the prophets were killed by the same persons? I answer,
that this refers to the entire body, 545 for Paul means that there is nothing new or unusual in their
resisting God, but that, on the contrary, they are, in this manner, filling up the measure of their
fathers, as Christ speaks. (Matthew 23:32)
16 Who hinder us from speaking to the Gentiles. It is not without good reason that, as has been
observed, he enters so much into detail in exposing the malice of the Jews. 546 For as they furiously
opposed the Gospel everywhere, there arose from this a great stumblingblock, more especially as
they exclaimed that the gospel was profaned by Paul, when he published it among the Gentiles. By
this calumny they made divisions in the Churches, they took away from the Gentiles the hope of
salvation, and they obstructed the progress of the gospel. Paul, accordingly, charges them with this
crime — that they regard the salvation of the Gentiles with envy, but adds, that matters are so, in
order that their sins may be filled up, that he may take away from them all reputation for piety; just
as in saying previously, that they pleased not God, (1 Thessalonians 2:15) he meant, that they were
unworthy to be reckoned among the worshippers of God. The manner of expression, however, must
be observed, implying that those who persevere in an evil course fill up by this means the measure
of their judgment, 547 until they come to make it a heap. This is the reason why the punishment of
the wicked is often delayed — because their impieties, so to speak, are not yet ripe. By this we are
warned that we must carefully take heed lest, in the event of our adding from time to time 548 sin
to sin, as is wont to happen generally, the heap at last reaches as high as heaven.
For wrath has come. He means that they are in an utterly hopeless state, inasmuch as they are
vessels of the Lord’s wrath. “The just vengeance of God presses upon them and pursues them, and
will not leave them until they perish — as is the case with all the reprobate, who rush on headlong
to death, to which they are destined.” The Apostle, however, makes this declaration as to the entire
body of the people, in such a manner as not to deprive the elect of hope. For as the greater proportion
resisted Christ, he speaks, it is true, of the whole nation generally, but we must keep in view the
exception which he himself makes in Romans 11:5, — that the Lord will always have some seed
remaining. We must always keep in view Paul’s design — that believers must carefully avoid the
society of those whom the just vengeance of God pursues, until they perish in their blind obstinacy.
Wrath, without any additional term, means the judgment of God, as in Romans 4:15, — the law
worketh wrath; also in Romans 12:19, — neither give place unto wrath
1 Thessalonians 2:17-20
545 “A tout le corps du peuple;” — “To the whole body of the people.”
546 “Il insiste si longuement a deschiffrer et toucher au vif la malice des Juifs;” — “He insists to so great a length in distinctly
unfolding and touching to the quick the malice of the Jews.”
547 “Et condemnation;” — “And condemnation.”
548 “Chacun iour;” — “Every day.”
161
John Calvin