1 Thessalonians 5:12–28

Verse 14. Rebuke, or correct the unquiet. [1] By the Greek, it signifies the disorderly, or those that keep no order. Witham.

Verse 16. Always rejoice. It is usual for Saint Paul to recommend joy to the faithful. Cheerfulness is indeed the characteristic of true virtue, which by no means consists in, nor encourages, sourness or moroseness, as some mistaken people imagine. God loves a cheerful giver. Sorrow, which is of this world, killeth. A.

Verse 19. Do not oppose either the interior gifts of the holy Spirit, which are his graces, nor his exterior gifts of prophecy, and so forth Take the regular precautions of prudence, that you be not deceived by those who pretend to be inspired; but when satisfied that the inspiration comes from heaven, do not despise it. Be like good bankers, take the good coin, and reject the counterfeit. S. Cyril Alex.

Verse 21. Prove all things. That is, examine prophecies whether they be true, and the doctrine which you hear from new preachers, and refrain yourselves not only from evil, but from every thing that hath the appearance of evil, and which may disedify and scandalize others. Witham.—Hold that which is good. This we can best learn from the doctrine of the apostles, and the spirit of the Catholic Church. Men can deceive and be deceived, but the Spirit of God, speaking to us by his Church, can neither deceive us nor be deceived.

Verse 23. Spirit, and soul. The former marks the understanding, the latter the will: hence these two terms give the two principal faculties of the soul. V.

2 THESSALONIANS

THE SECOND

EPISTLE OF S. PAUL, THE APOSTLE,

TO THE THESSALONIANS