1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 1Finally then, brothers [and sisters], we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, in order that as you received from us how it is necessary to walk and please God, just also you are walking, so that you may abound even more. 2For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
Λοιπὸν οὖν, ἀδελφοί, ἐρωτῶμεν ὑμᾶς καὶ παρακαλοῦμεν ἐν κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ, ἵνα καθὼς παρελάβετε παρʼ ἡμῶν τὸ πῶς δεῖ ὑμᾶς περιπατεῖν καὶ ἀρέσκειν θεῷ, καθὼς καὶ περιπατεῖτε, ἵνα περισσεύητε μᾶλλον. 2 οἴδατε γὰρ τίνας παραγγελίας ἐδώκαμεν ὑμῖν διὰ τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ.
The letter makes a shift (finally, loipon) at the beginning of chapter 4 from Paul encouraging the Thessalonians to stand strong in suffering in chapter 3, to exhortation as he calls them to live as God’s holy people. His urging (parakaloumen, the same word from 2:12; 3:2, meaning to encourage and come alongside people to help them in their decisions) came in the Lord Jesus and through the Lord Jesus. Both of these prepositions phrases imply the source of the exhortation, that these were not Paul’s ideas but came by revelation from Jesus. They also show that Paul’s authority to give these directions came from Jesus. These are divine word, “God’s will” (verse 3). The implication is that the Thessalonians should pay careful attention to these instructions.
Paul had taught the Thessalonians some basic Christian ethics. The word walk (peripatein) is often used in the New Testament for behavior or lifestyle. Paul is not telling them anything new in his instructions. He uses three time references. First, he reminds the Thessalonians of what they had learned from the mission team (aorist tense parelabete). The Thessalonians were making good progress, but as for us all, we need reminded of holiness and be called back to the essentials of the Christian lifestyle. Second, they were making good progress, indicated with the present tense are walking (peripateite). Third, his hope is that they will continue to make good progress even experiencing the abundance God promises his children (the use of the subjunctive mood verb perisseuēte, showing a wish for the future).
Verse 2 restates the reminder for emphasis. Instruction (parangelias) can have the strong sense of command or exhortation. Paul’s exhortations were strong but came through the love of the Lord Jesus. The truth of the gospel has an innate power to transform and guide those who are willing to listen and obey. The way to grow in the Christian life is to obey in faith what God has revealed in the truth of Jesus and the Bible that contains and points to this truth. Believers will struggle with temptation and compromise with bad cultural practices if they ignore this teaching and listen to other voices or influences.
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