返回Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Chapter Five
1 Thess. 5:1. Concerning the times and the seasons, there is no need to write to you, brothers,
It is superfluous and useless to know "the times and the seasons" of the end (Acts 1:7). Even to the apostles the Lord did not reveal this, when they, having approached, asked Him. But Paul, from the "unspeakable words" (2 Cor. 12:4), could perhaps have known about this as well.
1 Thess. 5:2. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
By the Day of the Lord one must understand both the general end and the particular end of each person, for this latter is also unknown as to when it will come for each one. And this is beneficial for us for many reasons. First, because if a person knew his final hour, he would ceaselessly commit every sin, and then, toward the end of life, would approach the baptismal font. Second, because many, if they learned that they would die tomorrow, would inflict countless calamities upon their enemies, either simply out of despair or from a desire to satiate themselves with the blood of their enemies — which does not happen now, thanks to the fact that they are restrained by the fear of death and the love of life. Moreover, people attached to life could die of grief if they learned the fateful hour of their death. Finally, even the righteous, when exposed to dangers, would not deserve such a reward, because it would appear that since they know they will not die now but after so many years, they therefore do not spare themselves. But now, when it is unknown whether they will survive the dangers, and yet they do not spare themselves, their virtue is beyond doubt. Just as the three Hebrew youths deserve all the more admiration because, not knowing for certain whether they would be saved from the fire, they still did not worship the idol (Dan. 3:24). Thus, our end comes like a thief in the night. You know this, Thessalonians, from what the Lord said: "you do not know at what hour your Lord will come" (Matt. 24:42).
1 Thess. 5:3. For when they shall say, "Peace and safety," then sudden destruction shall come upon them, as labor pains come upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape.
Since those who were insulting the Thessalonians were leading a life of pleasures, the apostle now comforts the believers, saying: do not think that they will escape punishment. Destruction will come upon them too, unexpected destruction, heavy and containing within it much grief, like the pangs of a woman in labor. But if Elijah and the Antichrist are to come, why does Paul now say that destruction will overtake them suddenly? Because the Antichrist and Elijah are a sign of the general end; but the coming of Christ is not yet; it will be sudden and no one knows when. Pay attention to the comparison with the pangs of birth. For there too, a woman knows that she will give birth, but exactly when — this she does not yet know. That is why many women, foreseeing nothing, gave birth even at seven months and on the roads. And just as they, while playing and laughing, are suddenly subjected to inexpressible pangs, so too the souls of those who now lead a life of amusements, when that day arrives, will by no means escape torment.
1 Thess. 5:4. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you as a thief.
That is, you do not lead a dark and impure life. So then, what? Will the end not come upon them unexpectedly, even if they are not impure? It will come unexpectedly, but it will bring them no sorrow. For a thief can do no harm to those who are awake and have light, even if he manages to enter their house — on the contrary, those who are in darkness and sleeping he robs completely and departs.
1 Thess. 5:5. For you are all sons of light and sons of the day.
Sons of Gehenna are those who do things worthy of Gehenna, and sons of disobedience are the disobedient; so also sons of light and day are those who do the deeds of light.
1 Thess. 5:5. We are not sons of night, nor of darkness.
That is, of sin.
1 Thess. 5:6. Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others, but let us watch and be sober.
That is, let us not be negligent in good works. The intensification of watchfulness is sobriety. For it is possible to be watchful, but not be sober; therefore the apostle says, as it were: let us do good works soberly and attentively.
1 Thess. 5:7. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.
1 Thess. 5:8. But we, being sons of the day, let us be sober,
Sleeping here the apostle calls those who remain in evil, as being immovable toward virtue and immersed in dreamlike delusions. Such, indeed, are the affairs of the present life, in no way differing from the visions of sleep. Furthermore, by drunkenness he means not only drunkenness from wine, but from all passions, as that which draws a person out of his ordinary state and darkens the ruling faculty of the soul, that is, the mind. Therefore, you ought not to be such, for you are not sons of night and darkness, but sons of the day through baptism and the acceptance of the yoke of God's commandments.
1 Thess. 5:8. Having put on the breastplate of faith and love
It is not enough to be watchful and sober; one must also be armed. For he who is alert and sober but does not have weapons can be immediately overcome by robbers. By saying "the breastplate of faith and love," the apostle pointed to doctrines and a righteous life, which is precisely what it means to "be sober." And one must not simply have these things, but have them as a breastplate. For nothing can easily cut through a breastplate; on the contrary, it serves as a kind of fortress for the chest, and none of the fiery darts of the devil will touch us.
1 Thess. 5:8. and in the helmet of the hope of salvation,
As a helmet, covering our most important part – the head, saves and preserves it, so also hope guards the mind and saves it, not allowing anything from outside to fall into it. Pay attention to the "faith, hope, and love," these three, which he pointed out in another place (1 Cor. 13:13), and which he now also commands to acquire.
1 Thess. 5:9. For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Thess. 5:10. who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we might live together with Him.
Therefore, he says, one must acquire this armor, because God has not appointed us to wrath, that is, He has not destined us to bear His wrath, but rather to acquire us for Himself and save us, having given His Son to death for us. So then, we ought to expect everything beneficial and great amid dangers. For if we believe that He did not spare His own Son for our sake, then let us hope that He will all the more readily deliver us from these dangers. Let us therefore keep this example before us and love both Him and our neighbors. For this reason, he says, Christ died, so that whether we "watch," that is, live, "or sleep," that is, die, we might "live together with Him." The apostle meant one kind of sleep above and another kind here. What he says here has this meaning: do not fear bodily dangers, do not fear even death, for if we die, we shall live, because He is alive who so loved us that He died for us.
1 Thess. 5:11. Therefore encourage one another and edify one another, just as you also do.
You see? So why do you make excuses, saying "I am not a teacher"? "Exhort one another," he says, since teachers do not have the ability to teach everyone.
1 Thess. 5:12. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you,
Since he said: "exhort one another," then, lest they conclude that he himself elevates them to the dignity of teachers, and lest they rise up against their teachers, he says: even if I have entrusted to you the edification of one another, I still urge you to treat them with honor. For teachers are compelled to endure many hardships, which honor for them will, of course, somewhat alleviate.
1 Thess. 5:12. and your leaders in the Lord, and those who admonish you,
If you honor those who intercede for you before man, then how much more should you show full gratitude to those who intercede for you before God? "In the Lord," that is, he does not preside over worldly things, but over spiritual things, which are in the Lord — he prays for you, regenerates you through baptism, watches over you, admonishes and heals you — at midnight, if you call, he comes. You see how he intercedes for you.
1 Thess. 5:13. and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake;
He did not simply say "love," but "exceedingly," as children love parents. For whoever loves Christ will also love His servant, whatever kind he may be, because through him he was deemed worthy of the dread Mysteries. If you have taken an honorable wife, do you not respect and love the one who brought her to you? You have received the Kingdom of Heaven, and you despise the one who brought it to you. Heed Paul: "for their work's sake," he says, love them.
1 Thess. 5:13. Be at peace among yourselves.
Some also read: "with them," that is, with the teachers. For he knew the possibility of the arising of displeasures against them. Since they rebuke and restrain them from evil, they are hated. Therefore one must "be at peace" with them, and moreover not in outward appearance, but within themselves.
1 Thess. 5:14. We exhort you also, brethren, admonish the disorderly,
Here the apostle addresses the teachers. Not with severity, he says, or with haughtiness make reproofs, but with meekness "admonish." For, having fallen into despair, a person becomes more insolent when given a harsh reproof. "The unruly" are those who act contrary to what God has ordained. God has appointed to each his own rank; the one who transgresses it is unruly. The drunkard, the reviler, the covetous person, and all who sin live in a disorderly manner.
1 Thess. 5:14. Comfort the fainthearted,
Fainthearted is he who does not endure temptation. He is precisely the one sown on the rock (Matt. 13:5). Thus, he too is in need of support.
1 Thess. 5:14. support the weak,
That is, support the weak in faith, as he says in another place: "Him that is weak in the faith receive" (Rom. 14:1).
1 Thess. 5:14. Be patient with everyone.
And to the disorderly, and the fainthearted, and the weak. For this is the most fitting means for a teacher, capable of converting all, even the most coarse.
1 Thess. 5:15. See that none render evil for evil to anyone;
If one must not repay evil for evil, then how much more so — evil for good, or to begin doing evil and harming one who has done no harm at all.
1 Thess. 5:15. But always seek what is good both for one another and for all.
It is not enough not to repay evil for evil; one must, he says, repay with good the one who has done evil. This is exactly what the apostle teaches when he says: "seek what is good." That is, earnestly strive to do good, both toward one another, that is, toward the faithful, and toward all, that is, toward the unfaithful as well.
1 Thess. 5:16. Rejoice always.
Even if you have fallen into temptation. Look: after he said that one must not repay evil for evil, he further commands to rejoice. If a person is trained such that he never avenges himself against anyone, but on the contrary, even does good to the person who caused him grief, then from where can the sting of sorrow penetrate him?
1 Thess. 5:17. Pray without ceasing.
1 Thess. 5:18. In everything give thanks:
The Apostle showed the path to constant joy, to unceasing prayer, and to thanksgiving. For whoever is accustomed to turning to God and thanks Him for everything that has served for his benefit — that person will obviously have constant joy.
For such is the will of God concerning you in Christ Jesus.
How then will you always give thanks? If you realize that it is the will of God for you to always be grateful to Him, as your constant benefactor in Christ Jesus, that is, through the cooperation of the Lord Jesus. For He Himself also cooperates with us in being thankful: He taught us to do that which we have learned from the Gospel.
1 Thess. 5:19. Do not quench the Spirit.
1 Thess. 5:20. Do not despise prophecies.
Since the present life is a night, God gave us a bright lamp — the Holy Spirit. But this lamp some made brighter, as all the saints did; while others extinguished it, as the five virgins who left it without oil, as the Corinthian fornicator who poured impurity into it. Therefore he said: "Do not quench the Spirit," that is, the gift. Lock the doors, that is, the senses, so that the spirit of wickedness does not enter and the lamp is not extinguished. Do not bring in earthly cares, and the lamp will remain unquenchable. Or it can also be understood this way: they had among them prophets of God and false prophets. Since it was unknown who was a true prophet, they turned away from all of them. Therefore the apostle says to them: "The Spirit," that is, the gift in the true prophets, "do not quench" by turning away as from false prophets, and do not despise prophecies from the Holy Spirit.
1 Thess. 5:21. Test all things, hold fast to what is good.
So then, what? Surely we should accept false prophets too? No, he says. But test all things, that is, examine both the false and the true with discernment, and then accept the prophecies that prove to be good, that is, regard them as true and keep them in mind.
1 Thess. 5:22. Abstain from every form of evil.
Not only from this or that, but simply from everything: both from false prophets and from sin.
1 Thess. 5:23. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely,
To his instruction the apostle also joins prayer, so that from both sides they might have security. What does "in all fullness" mean? That is, in body and soul, as is evident further on.
1 Thess. 5:23. and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Spirit, that is, the gift of the Holy Spirit, which we received through baptism. If we keep His lamp bright and unextinguished, then we shall enter the bridal chamber of the Bridegroom; and both soul and body will then be blameless, if the spirit within us shines brightly. Gregory of Nyssa says: since man is composed of every kind of soul — the physical soul, the sensory soul, and the rational soul — the apostle by the word "spirit" designated the rational part; by "soul" the sensory part; and by "body" the physical life within us. Thus, he prays that all of them and in all things be preserved blameless, in all things well-pleasing to God.
1 Thess. 5:24. Faithful is He Who calls you, Who will also do this.
Look, what humility! After he offered a prayer for them, he says: do not think that you will be saved by my prayers, but by the goodness of the God who called you. For if He called you to salvation, and He is faithful, that is, true, then He will certainly do according to His will and save you.
1 Thess. 5:25. Brethren, pray for us.
Pay attention to the humility: even Paul asked for their prayers.
1 Thess. 5:26. Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.
Since he, being absent, could not greet them with a kiss from his own lips, he wishes to greet them through others, just as we also say: give so-and-so a kiss for me. And since there is also a treacherous kiss, like the kiss of Judas, he says: "with a holy kiss."
1 Thess. 5:27. I adjure you by the Lord to read this epistle to all the holy brethren.
Not so much for the sake of instruction, as for the sake of conversing with them through the epistle: a proof of ardent love. And he adjures them so that if they do not respect him, then at least for the sake of the oath they would fulfill what had been commanded to them. So fearful were adjurations for the early Christians! But alas, they are not such now, they are not such for us.
1 Thess. 5:28. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
All good things, he says, He has bestowed upon us. Therefore, strive to attract to yourselves the most abundant grace by living worthily of what has already been granted to you. And may this grace preserve us also from every unrighteous path; may we live to the glory of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. To Him belongs all glory forever. Amen.
1 Thess. 5:1. Concerning the times and the seasons, there is no need to write to you, brothers,
It is superfluous and useless to know "the times and the seasons" of the end (Acts 1:7). Even to the apostles the Lord did not reveal this, when they, having approached, asked Him. But Paul, from the "unspeakable words" (2 Cor. 12:4), could perhaps have known about this as well.
1 Thess. 5:2. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
By the Day of the Lord one must understand both the general end and the particular end of each person, for this latter is also unknown as to when it will come for each one. And this is beneficial for us for many reasons. First, because if a person knew his final hour, he would ceaselessly commit every sin, and then, toward the end of life, would approach the baptismal font. Second, because many, if they learned that they would die tomorrow, would inflict countless calamities upon their enemies, either simply out of despair or from a desire to satiate themselves with the blood of their enemies — which does not happen now, thanks to the fact that they are restrained by the fear of death and the love of life. Moreover, people attached to life could die of grief if they learned the fateful hour of their death. Finally, even the righteous, when exposed to dangers, would not deserve such a reward, because it would appear that since they know they will not die now but after so many years, they therefore do not spare themselves. But now, when it is unknown whether they will survive the dangers, and yet they do not spare themselves, their virtue is beyond doubt. Just as the three Hebrew youths deserve all the more admiration because, not knowing for certain whether they would be saved from the fire, they still did not worship the idol (Dan. 3:24). Thus, our end comes like a thief in the night. You know this, Thessalonians, from what the Lord said: "you do not know at what hour your Lord will come" (Matt. 24:42).
1 Thess. 5:3. For when they shall say, "Peace and safety," then sudden destruction shall come upon them, as labor pains come upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape.
Since those who were insulting the Thessalonians were leading a life of pleasures, the apostle now comforts the believers, saying: do not think that they will escape punishment. Destruction will come upon them too, unexpected destruction, heavy and containing within it much grief, like the pangs of a woman in labor. But if Elijah and the Antichrist are to come, why does Paul now say that destruction will overtake them suddenly? Because the Antichrist and Elijah are a sign of the general end; but the coming of Christ is not yet; it will be sudden and no one knows when. Pay attention to the comparison with the pangs of birth. For there too, a woman knows that she will give birth, but exactly when — this she does not yet know. That is why many women, foreseeing nothing, gave birth even at seven months and on the roads. And just as they, while playing and laughing, are suddenly subjected to inexpressible pangs, so too the souls of those who now lead a life of amusements, when that day arrives, will by no means escape torment.
1 Thess. 5:4. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you as a thief.
That is, you do not lead a dark and impure life. So then, what? Will the end not come upon them unexpectedly, even if they are not impure? It will come unexpectedly, but it will bring them no sorrow. For a thief can do no harm to those who are awake and have light, even if he manages to enter their house — on the contrary, those who are in darkness and sleeping he robs completely and departs.
1 Thess. 5:5. For you are all sons of light and sons of the day.
Sons of Gehenna are those who do things worthy of Gehenna, and sons of disobedience are the disobedient; so also sons of light and day are those who do the deeds of light.
1 Thess. 5:5. We are not sons of night, nor of darkness.
That is, of sin.
1 Thess. 5:6. Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others, but let us watch and be sober.
That is, let us not be negligent in good works. The intensification of watchfulness is sobriety. For it is possible to be watchful, but not be sober; therefore the apostle says, as it were: let us do good works soberly and attentively.
1 Thess. 5:7. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.
1 Thess. 5:8. But we, being sons of the day, let us be sober,
Sleeping here the apostle calls those who remain in evil, as being immovable toward virtue and immersed in dreamlike delusions. Such, indeed, are the affairs of the present life, in no way differing from the visions of sleep. Furthermore, by drunkenness he means not only drunkenness from wine, but from all passions, as that which draws a person out of his ordinary state and darkens the ruling faculty of the soul, that is, the mind. Therefore, you ought not to be such, for you are not sons of night and darkness, but sons of the day through baptism and the acceptance of the yoke of God's commandments.
1 Thess. 5:8. Having put on the breastplate of faith and love
It is not enough to be watchful and sober; one must also be armed. For he who is alert and sober but does not have weapons can be immediately overcome by robbers. By saying "the breastplate of faith and love," the apostle pointed to doctrines and a righteous life, which is precisely what it means to "be sober." And one must not simply have these things, but have them as a breastplate. For nothing can easily cut through a breastplate; on the contrary, it serves as a kind of fortress for the chest, and none of the fiery darts of the devil will touch us.
1 Thess. 5:8. and in the helmet of the hope of salvation,
As a helmet, covering our most important part – the head, saves and preserves it, so also hope guards the mind and saves it, not allowing anything from outside to fall into it. Pay attention to the "faith, hope, and love," these three, which he pointed out in another place (1 Cor. 13:13), and which he now also commands to acquire.
1 Thess. 5:9. For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Thess. 5:10. who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we might live together with Him.
Therefore, he says, one must acquire this armor, because God has not appointed us to wrath, that is, He has not destined us to bear His wrath, but rather to acquire us for Himself and save us, having given His Son to death for us. So then, we ought to expect everything beneficial and great amid dangers. For if we believe that He did not spare His own Son for our sake, then let us hope that He will all the more readily deliver us from these dangers. Let us therefore keep this example before us and love both Him and our neighbors. For this reason, he says, Christ died, so that whether we "watch," that is, live, "or sleep," that is, die, we might "live together with Him." The apostle meant one kind of sleep above and another kind here. What he says here has this meaning: do not fear bodily dangers, do not fear even death, for if we die, we shall live, because He is alive who so loved us that He died for us.
1 Thess. 5:11. Therefore encourage one another and edify one another, just as you also do.
You see? So why do you make excuses, saying "I am not a teacher"? "Exhort one another," he says, since teachers do not have the ability to teach everyone.
1 Thess. 5:12. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you,
Since he said: "exhort one another," then, lest they conclude that he himself elevates them to the dignity of teachers, and lest they rise up against their teachers, he says: even if I have entrusted to you the edification of one another, I still urge you to treat them with honor. For teachers are compelled to endure many hardships, which honor for them will, of course, somewhat alleviate.
1 Thess. 5:12. and your leaders in the Lord, and those who admonish you,
If you honor those who intercede for you before man, then how much more should you show full gratitude to those who intercede for you before God? "In the Lord," that is, he does not preside over worldly things, but over spiritual things, which are in the Lord — he prays for you, regenerates you through baptism, watches over you, admonishes and heals you — at midnight, if you call, he comes. You see how he intercedes for you.
1 Thess. 5:13. and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake;
He did not simply say "love," but "exceedingly," as children love parents. For whoever loves Christ will also love His servant, whatever kind he may be, because through him he was deemed worthy of the dread Mysteries. If you have taken an honorable wife, do you not respect and love the one who brought her to you? You have received the Kingdom of Heaven, and you despise the one who brought it to you. Heed Paul: "for their work's sake," he says, love them.
1 Thess. 5:13. Be at peace among yourselves.
Some also read: "with them," that is, with the teachers. For he knew the possibility of the arising of displeasures against them. Since they rebuke and restrain them from evil, they are hated. Therefore one must "be at peace" with them, and moreover not in outward appearance, but within themselves.
1 Thess. 5:14. We exhort you also, brethren, admonish the disorderly,
Here the apostle addresses the teachers. Not with severity, he says, or with haughtiness make reproofs, but with meekness "admonish." For, having fallen into despair, a person becomes more insolent when given a harsh reproof. "The unruly" are those who act contrary to what God has ordained. God has appointed to each his own rank; the one who transgresses it is unruly. The drunkard, the reviler, the covetous person, and all who sin live in a disorderly manner.
1 Thess. 5:14. Comfort the fainthearted,
Fainthearted is he who does not endure temptation. He is precisely the one sown on the rock (Matt. 13:5). Thus, he too is in need of support.
1 Thess. 5:14. support the weak,
That is, support the weak in faith, as he says in another place: "Him that is weak in the faith receive" (Rom. 14:1).
1 Thess. 5:14. Be patient with everyone.
And to the disorderly, and the fainthearted, and the weak. For this is the most fitting means for a teacher, capable of converting all, even the most coarse.
1 Thess. 5:15. See that none render evil for evil to anyone;
If one must not repay evil for evil, then how much more so — evil for good, or to begin doing evil and harming one who has done no harm at all.
1 Thess. 5:15. But always seek what is good both for one another and for all.
It is not enough not to repay evil for evil; one must, he says, repay with good the one who has done evil. This is exactly what the apostle teaches when he says: "seek what is good." That is, earnestly strive to do good, both toward one another, that is, toward the faithful, and toward all, that is, toward the unfaithful as well.
1 Thess. 5:16. Rejoice always.
Even if you have fallen into temptation. Look: after he said that one must not repay evil for evil, he further commands to rejoice. If a person is trained such that he never avenges himself against anyone, but on the contrary, even does good to the person who caused him grief, then from where can the sting of sorrow penetrate him?
1 Thess. 5:17. Pray without ceasing.
1 Thess. 5:18. In everything give thanks:
The Apostle showed the path to constant joy, to unceasing prayer, and to thanksgiving. For whoever is accustomed to turning to God and thanks Him for everything that has served for his benefit — that person will obviously have constant joy.
For such is the will of God concerning you in Christ Jesus.
How then will you always give thanks? If you realize that it is the will of God for you to always be grateful to Him, as your constant benefactor in Christ Jesus, that is, through the cooperation of the Lord Jesus. For He Himself also cooperates with us in being thankful: He taught us to do that which we have learned from the Gospel.
1 Thess. 5:19. Do not quench the Spirit.
1 Thess. 5:20. Do not despise prophecies.
Since the present life is a night, God gave us a bright lamp — the Holy Spirit. But this lamp some made brighter, as all the saints did; while others extinguished it, as the five virgins who left it without oil, as the Corinthian fornicator who poured impurity into it. Therefore he said: "Do not quench the Spirit," that is, the gift. Lock the doors, that is, the senses, so that the spirit of wickedness does not enter and the lamp is not extinguished. Do not bring in earthly cares, and the lamp will remain unquenchable. Or it can also be understood this way: they had among them prophets of God and false prophets. Since it was unknown who was a true prophet, they turned away from all of them. Therefore the apostle says to them: "The Spirit," that is, the gift in the true prophets, "do not quench" by turning away as from false prophets, and do not despise prophecies from the Holy Spirit.
1 Thess. 5:21. Test all things, hold fast to what is good.
So then, what? Surely we should accept false prophets too? No, he says. But test all things, that is, examine both the false and the true with discernment, and then accept the prophecies that prove to be good, that is, regard them as true and keep them in mind.
1 Thess. 5:22. Abstain from every form of evil.
Not only from this or that, but simply from everything: both from false prophets and from sin.
1 Thess. 5:23. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely,
To his instruction the apostle also joins prayer, so that from both sides they might have security. What does "in all fullness" mean? That is, in body and soul, as is evident further on.
1 Thess. 5:23. and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Spirit, that is, the gift of the Holy Spirit, which we received through baptism. If we keep His lamp bright and unextinguished, then we shall enter the bridal chamber of the Bridegroom; and both soul and body will then be blameless, if the spirit within us shines brightly. Gregory of Nyssa says: since man is composed of every kind of soul — the physical soul, the sensory soul, and the rational soul — the apostle by the word "spirit" designated the rational part; by "soul" the sensory part; and by "body" the physical life within us. Thus, he prays that all of them and in all things be preserved blameless, in all things well-pleasing to God.
1 Thess. 5:24. Faithful is He Who calls you, Who will also do this.
Look, what humility! After he offered a prayer for them, he says: do not think that you will be saved by my prayers, but by the goodness of the God who called you. For if He called you to salvation, and He is faithful, that is, true, then He will certainly do according to His will and save you.
1 Thess. 5:25. Brethren, pray for us.
Pay attention to the humility: even Paul asked for their prayers.
1 Thess. 5:26. Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.
Since he, being absent, could not greet them with a kiss from his own lips, he wishes to greet them through others, just as we also say: give so-and-so a kiss for me. And since there is also a treacherous kiss, like the kiss of Judas, he says: "with a holy kiss."
1 Thess. 5:27. I adjure you by the Lord to read this epistle to all the holy brethren.
Not so much for the sake of instruction, as for the sake of conversing with them through the epistle: a proof of ardent love. And he adjures them so that if they do not respect him, then at least for the sake of the oath they would fulfill what had been commanded to them. So fearful were adjurations for the early Christians! But alas, they are not such now, they are not such for us.
1 Thess. 5:28. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
All good things, he says, He has bestowed upon us. Therefore, strive to attract to yourselves the most abundant grace by living worthily of what has already been granted to you. And may this grace preserve us also from every unrighteous path; may we live to the glory of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. To Him belongs all glory forever. Amen.