For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
Parallel Translations
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For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
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Ye remember what commaundmentes we gave you in oure lorde Iesu Christ.
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For ye knowe what commandements we gaue you by the Lord Iesus.
Cross-references (5)
Passages linked to 1 Thessalonians 4:2 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Matthew 28:20 teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
- Ezekiel 3:17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman to the house of Israel. Therefore hear the word from my mouth, and warn them from me.
- 1 Corinthians 9:21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw yourselves from every brother who walks in rebellion, and not after the tradition which they received from us.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: “If anyone is not willing to work, don’t let him eat.”
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (14 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you…
2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
Ver. 2. For ye know what, &c.] It is expected therefore that ye do them; else the more heinous will be your sin, and the more heavy your reckoning, Isa 59:11-12. What brought such roarings and trouble on them, and that when salvation was looked for? Our iniquities testify to our faces, and we know them.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain This explains what he said before; what they had…
This explains what he said before; what they had received of him about their walking he here calls commandments, not so much his own as the Lord’s, as the word itself imports here used, and is expressed in the text.
By the Lord Jesus: though the apostle had authority, yet it was but derivative from Christ; and therefore not to walk as the apostle had commanded would be disobedience to Christ himself. And he minds them of what they knew, that their knowledge might be exemplified in practice; for as faith, so knowledge, is dead which doth not influence the life; and they knew that he commanded them not in his own name, but in the name of Christ.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain Here our apostle subjoins a reason, to enforce his…
Here our apostle subjoins a reason, to enforce his foregoing exhortation; what he now required of them, was nothing but what at their first conversion to Christianity he had commanded them, and that in the name, and by the authority of Jesus Christ, to be performed by them; so that they were not his commands, but Christ’s by him, and, as such, to be esteemed of them.
Learn hence, that the instructions and rules for a holy life, laid down by the apostles before the churches, are to be looked upon as the commandments of Christ, as being dictated by his Spirit, and delivered by his authority, and as such to be received of them, and obeyed by them.
William Burkitt's Expository Notes on the New Testament (1700–1703) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain For ye know what commandments we gave you,.... When…
For ye know what commandments we gave you,.... When among them; such as those of faith and love, the ordinances of the Gospel, baptism, and the Lord's supper, and all such as relate to the worship and service of God, to the discipline of Christ's house, to their behaviour one towards another, and their conduct in the world: and which were delivered to them, not as from themselves, and by their own authority, but
by the Lord Jesus; in his name, and by his authority, and as ordered by him; for their commission ran to teach men all things, whatsoever Christ commanded: now since they knew what these commandments were, and whose they were, and the obligation they lay under to regard them, the apostle makes use of it as a reason or argument to engage them to obedience to them; for he that knows his Lord's will, and does it not, shall be beaten with many stripes, Luk 12:47.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 2. Ye know what commandments we gave you]…
Verse 2. Ye know what commandments we gave you] This refers to his instructions while he was among them; and to instructions on particular subjects, which he does not recapitulate, but only hints at.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain For ye know what commandments - It was but…
For ye know what commandments - It was but a short time since Paul was with them, and they could not but recollect the rules of living which he had laid down.
By the Lord Jesus - By the authority of the Lord Jesus. Some of those rules, or commandments, the apostle refers to, probably, in the following verses.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain by the Lord Jesus--by His authority and direction, not…
by the Lord Jesus--by His authority and direction, not by our own. He uses the strong term, "commandments," in writing to this Church not long founded, knowing that they would take it in a right spirit, and feeling it desirable that they should understand he spake with divine authority. He seldom uses the term in writing subsequently, when his authority was established, to other churches. Co1 7:10; Co1 11:17; and Ti1 1:5 (Th1 4:18, where the subject accounts for the strong expression) are the exceptions. "The Lord" marks His paramount authority, requiring implicit obedience.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 2. For ye know—Again appealing to their memories as…
2. For ye know—Again appealing to their memories as to the how enjoined by the commandments which he gave in his preaching while with them. By—Rather, through Jesus; as their moral commandments were first given by him.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 2. For ye know what commandments we gave you…
2. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord jesus] Lit., charges … through the Lord Jesus; similarly in 1Th_4:11, “as we charged you,” and in 2Th_3:4, &c. The Greek word signifies an announcement, then a command or advice publicly delivered. In 1Ti_1:5; 1Ti_1:18 the whole practical teaching of Christianity is called a “charge.” Here the Apostle is referring to particular items of conduct as matter of so many “charges.” These charges were given “through the Lord Jesus,” since His name and authority were used to support them (comp. 2Th_3:6, “in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”); while they were given “in the Lord Jesus” (1Th_4:1), as they appealed to the Christian standing of the readers and their conscious relationship to Christ, Whose coming in glory they expected.
The Apostle is “writing no new commandment;” he recalls to his readers’ remembrance what he had so often urged upon them (see note on ch. 1Th_1:5). It is on one prominent subject of those well-remembered charges that he has now to dwell:—
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (2) For ye know.—He calls on the Thessalonians’ memory…
(2) For ye know.—He calls on the Thessalonians’ memory to support his statement, “ye received;” at the same time awakening their interest to catch the special point next to come, by laying stress on “what commandments.”
By the Lord Jesus.—Not as if the Lord were the person who took the commandments from St. Paul to the Thessalonians, but the person by means of whose inspiration St. Paul was enabled to give such commandments.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain For ye know; appealing to their memory in confirmation…
For ye know; appealing to their memory in confirmation of what he had said. What commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus; or, through the Lord Jesus; that is, not merely by his authority, but by means of him, so that these commandments did not proceed from Paul, but from the Lord Jesus himself. We have here, and indeed in this chapter throughout, an assertion of the inspiration of the apostle: the commandments which he gave to the Thessalonians were the commandments of the Lord Jesus.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain For ye know what commandments we gave you by…
1Th_4:2
For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus
Read full note →
The Lord Jesus and His commandments
I.
Jesus is Lord.
1. By Divine appointment He shall reign.
2. By creative acts He has a right to rule over things and beings whom He has made.
3. By redemptive work: Ye are not your own.
4. By the glad acknowledgment of His saints: Unto Him that loved us.
5. By the ultimate recognition of the universe: At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, etc.
II. As Lord Jesus has a right to command.
1. This right is uniformly asserted. Christ never prefers a request, makes a suggestion, or expresses a wish; it is always Come, Go, Do this, If I, your Lord and Master ye aught.
2. This right has been blasphemously usurped. They are impious usurpers who determine other means of salvation, or rules of moral conduct other than those He has laid down. One is your Master.
III. His commands have been plainly revealed. Ye know.
1. Directly by Himself. Love one another, etc.
2. Instrumentally by His accredited ambassadors. We gave you from the Lord Jesus. Their deliverances, however, are only applications of Christs principles to particular persons and places.
3. Permanently in the Bible.
(1) How clearly.
(2) How accessibly. Ignorance is without excuse.
IV. Obedience to His commandments is the criterion of discipleship. Commands are given--
1. Not to be thought about.
2. Not to be the subjects of promise in regard to the doing of them.
3. But to be obeyed. Ye are My disciples if ye do. This doing must be--
(1) Universal. Whatsoever I command you.
(2) Prompt. There is no time to lose.
(3) Cheerful. We are subjects of so good a King.
Conclusion:
1. Christ as Lord is approachable. He is the mighty God, but, He is the Man Christ Jesus. Sovereigns are difficult of access, are surrounded by the pomp of circumstance, excite embarrassment and nervousness when they do not terrify. But we may come boldly to the throne of grace.
2. His commandments are not grievous. They are reducible to a few plain principles which a child may learn by heart. If we grasp them we practically grasp all. And then they are simply the conditions upon which alone our well-being can be secured.
3. What He has bidden us do He has done Himself. It makes all the difference on a field of battle whether the commanding officer says Go or Come. Christ says, I must go … if any man will come after Me. I have left you not only commands but an example, an embodied command.
4. In loving loyalty to Christ there is great reward. Lo, I am with you, now; Well done, by and by. (J. W. Burn.)
The authority of Christ
Christ does not appeal to men as the heathen philosophers did. They ask opinions, court criticism, and even the wily and garrulous Socrates gives men an opportunity of differing from him; but Christ, with the authoritative tone and earnestness of the Son of God, says, This is absolute; believe it and be saved, or reject it and be damned. He says that He came from the Father, that He speaks the Word of the Father, and that He is returning to the Father. So there is nothing between Him and God; immediately behind Him, though invisible, lies infinitude, and He sets Himself up as the medium on which the voice of the infinite is broken into human sounds. (J. Parker, D. D.)
Gods commandments a protection and a delight
Reconciliation to God is like entering the gate of a beautiful avenue which conducts to a splendid mansion. But that avenue is long, and in some places it skirts the edge of dangerous cliffs; and therefore to save the traveller from falling over where he would be dashed to pieces, it is fenced all the way by a quick set edge. That hedge is the Commandments. They are planted there that we may do no harm; but like a fence of the fragrant briar, they regale the pilgrim who keeps the path, and they only hurt him when he tries to break through. Temperance, justice, truthfulness, purity of speech and behaviour, obedience to parents, mutual affection, Sabbath keeping, Divine worship--all these are righteous requirements; and in keeping of them there is great reward. Happy is he who only knows the precept in the perfume which it sheds, and who, never having kicked against the pricks, has never proved the sharpness of the thorns. (J. Hamilton, D. D.)
Gods commandments reasonable
There is mention made of one who willingly fetched water near two miles every day for a whole year to pour on a dead stick at the command of a superior, when no reason could be given for so doing. How ready then should every one be to do Christ service, whose commands are backed with reason, and whose precepts are attended with encouragements. (J. Spencer.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 2. What commandments. What commands had been given as…
2. What commandments. What commands had been given as coming from the Lord Jesus.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.
J. W. McGarvey 1914 · Public Domain For ye know what charge we gave you through…
For ye know what charge we gave you through the Lord Jesus . [The commandments were given by Paul through the inspiration of the Spirit sent of Jesus. Throughout this chapter Paul asserts his inspiration.]
J. W. McGarvey (with Philip Y. Pendleton), Commentaries on the New Testament (The Fourfold Gospel, 1914; Acts; and the epistles) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.