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1Th 5:27. Ὁρκιζω ὑμᾶς, I adjure you) In the Old Testament Moses and the prophets were publicly read. In the New Testament this epistle, as being the first of all that Paul wrote, is, as a sample of what they should do in the case of the others, recommended to be publicly read, as afterward the Apocalypse, ch. Rev 1:3. This was the very important reason, why Paul so adjured the Thessalonians [and these too so greatly beloved by him.-V. g.]; and there had been some danger, lest they should think, that the epistle should be concealed on account of the praises given to themselves.-τὸν Κύριον, the Lord) Christ. The divine worship of invocation is presented to Him, Ps. 63:12 (Psa 63:11).-πᾶσι, to all) at Thessalonica, or even in the whole of Macedonia.-ἀδελφοῖς, the brethren) The dative, in the strict force of it. The epistle was to be read, whilst all gave ear to it [in the hearing of all], especially those, who could not read it themselves; women and children not being excluded. Comp. Deu 31:12; Jos 8:33-34. What Paul commands with an adjuration, Rome forbids under a curse. [Those who stealthily take away the Scripture, and render the reading of the word of God so difficult to the common people, beyond all doubt deal unfairly in their own treatment of it (they must themselves in their mode of handling it evade its meaning by subterfuges and perversions); they therefore are shunners of the light. But how sadly will they be struck dumb, when the Judge shall inquire, Why have you so violently forbidden others to read My word? Why did you take it from those, who would have used it better than yourselves? “It would be desirable (and this is the remark of a Wittemberg divine of high character) that in many places, and those too of a more exalted condition, instead of the sacred prayers, which seem to be often more numerous than was suitable, the reading of certain chapters of sacred Scripture should be appointed in the Church, and should be a solemn and regular usage,” etc., Franz. de Interpret., p. 47. That would be indeed quite right. At present it is so much the more our duty to lament, that many esteem the dignity of the public assemblies of the Church to be greater only in proportion as the regard paid to Scripture is the less.-V. g.][35]
[35] Bengel, J. A. (1860). Vol. 4: Gnomon of the New Testament (M. E. Bengel & J. C. F. Steudel, Ed.) (J. Bryce, Trans.) (189-211). Edinburgh: T&T Clark.