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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadMatthew Poole Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:12 - 4:12
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He enforceth his commands by a twofold reason, the former is ab honesto, the other is ab utili. First:
That ye may walk honestly, or decently, as the word is rendered, 1Co_14:40.
Toward them that are without; that is, Gentiles, infidels, so they are described, 1Co_5:12 Col_4:5; as those that were received into the church of Christ are said to be within. The apostle would have them honour the gospel before the heathen in such moral actions which they did approve of, and were able to judge of, not understanding the higher mysteries of faith and gospel holiness; which he calls walking in wisdom totoards them that are without, Col_4:5. The other reason is ab utili:
That ye may have lack of nothing; or, of no man, have no need to beg of any man. It might offend and be a stumblingblock to the Gentiles, to see Christians to beg of any, and especially of themselves, for their necessary relief. Or, of nothing; that you may by your own labour be able to subsist, and not depend upon others, and so not be a burden to friends, or a scandal to strangers. For every man to subsist by his own labour, was the primitive law to Adam, Gen_3:19, commended often by Solomon in his Proverbs, and enjoined by the apostle to believing Christians, 2Th_3:10.