1 THESSALONIANS 4:1 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.”
Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to live and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more — the paraenetic turn shifts from encouragement to exhortation; the community is already living well ('just as you are doing') but must intensify (perisseuō). 'Please God' (aresko tō theō) becomes the supreme ethical metric. Progress in sanctity is the mark of authentic faith.
Church Fathers on 1 Thessalonians 4:1
When he has met what was pressing, and what was upon his hands, and is about henceforth to enter upon things that are perpetual, and which they ought continually to hear, he adds this expression, “finally,” that is, always and forever. “We beseech and exhort you in the Lord.” Strange! He does not even speak of himself as of sufficient credit to exhort. And yet who was so worthy of credit? But he takes Christ along with him. We exhort you, he says, by God. Which also he said…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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