Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians

Comm on Phil, Col, Thes
As to their objecting that we must not indulge grief on occasion of the death of our relatives, lest
we should resist God, this would apply in all adversities; but it is one thing to bridle our grief, that
it may be made subject to God, and quite another thing to harden one’s self so as to be like stones,
by casting away human feelings. Let, therefore, the grief of the pious be mixed with consolation,
which may train them to patience. The hope of a blessed resurrection, which is the mother of
patience, will effect this.
14 For if we believe. He assumes this axiom of our faith, that Christ was raised up from the
dead, that we might be partakers of the same resurrection: from this he infers, that we shall live
with him eternally. This doctrine, however, as has been stated in 1 Corinthians 15:13, depends on
another principle — that it was not for himself, but for us that Christ died and rose again. Hence
those who have doubts as to the resurrection, do great injury to Christ: nay more, they do in a
manner draw him down from heaven, as is said in Romans 10:6
To sleep in Christ, is to retain in death the connection that we have with Christ, for those that
are by faith ingrafted into Christ, have death in common with him, that they may be partakers with
him of life. It is asked, however, whether unbelievers will not also rise again, for Paul does not
affirm that there will be a resurrection, except in the case of Christ’s members. I answer, that Paul
does not here touch upon anything but what suited his present design. For he did not design to
terrify the wicked, but to correct 578 the immoderate grief of the pious, and to cure it, as he does, by
the medicine of consolation.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
15. For this we say unto you by the word of 15. Hoc enim vobis dicimus in sermone
the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto Domini, quod nos, qui vivemus et superstites
the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them erimus in adventum Domini, non praeveniemus
which are asleep.
eos, qui dormierunt.
16. For the Lord himself shall descend from 16. Quoniam ipse Dominus cum clamore,
heaven with a shout, with the voice of the cum voce Archangeli et tuba Dei descendet e
archangel, and with the trump of God: and the cœlo: ac mortui, qui in Christo sunt, resurgent
dead in Christ shall rise first:
primum.
17. Then we which are alive and remain shall 17. Deinde nos qui vivemus, ac residui
be caught up together with them in the clouds, to erimus, simul cum ipsis rapiemur in nubibus, in
meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be occursum Domini in aera: et sic semper cum
with the Lord.
Domino erimus.
18. Wherefore comfort one another with these 18. Itaque consolamini vos mutuo in
words.
sermonibus istis.
establishing among Christians that strange manner of acting, which the Stoics required on the part of an individual—that he
should not be moved by any grief, but should be as it were of iron, and stupid, so as to be devoid of feeling.”
578 “Mais seulement de corriger ou reprimer;” — “But merely to correct or repress.”
175
John Calvin