The Bridegroom's Voice and the Preservation of the Whole Person
In this way, the voice of the bridegroom did not cease to speak to her thus; for while knocking on the door, he was aware and said: 'The voice of my sister is knocking at the door' (1 Thess 5:9). That it is not among those being judged, but among those being saved (1 Thess 5:10).
Because of this he says: Christ died on our behalf, so that whether we are watching, that is to say we live, or whether we are sleeping, that is to say whether we die—for in this way to sleep is not as above he took it—at the same time with him let us live. For those having acquired the said weapons will live together and reign with Christ (1 Thess 5:10).
Then the spirit is quenched (1 Thess 5:19), when the rule is unworthy of the faith. Do not despise prophecies (1 Thess 5:20). Test all things (1 Thess 5:21). Do not, he says, sit in wait for the secrets of the spirit, nor accept every proclamation unexamined (1 Thess 5:21).
Nowhere has he placed the three upon the unfaithful, spirit, soul, body (1 Thess 5:23), but only upon the believing ones, of whom soul and body are of nature, but the spirit is of the blessing, that is, the gift of the believing ones. And he did not say 'blamelessly' should it be kept, so that you might not think that he prays on behalf of the gifts, but blamelessly, that is, our living blamelessly and preserving ourselves through piety.
Greek
ταύτῃ τοι καὶ οὐ διέλαθεν αὐτὴν οὕτω καθεύδουσαν ἡ φωνὴ τοῦ νυμφίου· καὶ γὰρ τὴν θύραν κρούοντος ἤσθετο καὶ εἶπεν· φωνὴ ἀδελφιδοῦ μου κρούει ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν. 1 Thess 5,9 Ὅτι οὐκ ἐν τοῖς κατακρινομένοις, ἀλλ' ἐν τοῖς σωζομένοις. 1 Thess 5,10 ∆ιὰ τοῦτό φησιν· ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἀπέθανεν ὁ Χριστός, ἵνα εἴτε γρηγορῶμεν, τοῦτ' ἔστι ζῶμεν, εἴτε καθεύδωμεν, τοῦτ' ἔστιν εἴτε ἀποθάνωμεν–ἄλλως γὰρ ὧδε τὸ καθεύδειν καὶ οὐχ ὡς ἄνω ἐξέλαβεν–ἅμα σὺν αὐτῷ ζήσωμεν. οἱ γὰρ τὰ εἰρημένα ὅπλα κτησάμενοι συζήσουσι καὶ συμβασιλεύσουσι Χριστῷ. 1 Thess 5,19®21 Τότε σβέννυται τὸ πνεῦμα, ὅταν ἡ πολιτεία ἀναξία ᾖ τῆς πίστεως. Προφητείας μὴ ἐξουθενεῖτε. πάντα δοκιμάζετε. μήτε, φησίν, ἐνεδρεύητε τοῦ πνεύματος τὰς ἀποκρύψεις, μήτε πᾶσαν ἀπαγγελίαν ἀδοκιμάστως παραδέχεσθε. 1 Thess 5,23 Οὐδαμοῦ ἐπ' ἀπίστου τὰ τρία τέθεικε, πνεῦμα ψυχὴ σῶμα, ἀλλ' ἐπὶ μόνων τῶν πιστευόντων, ὧν ψυχὴ μὲν καὶ σῶμα τῆς φύσεως, τὸ δὲ πνεῦμα τῆς εὐεργεσίας, τοῦτ' ἔστι τὸ χάρισμα τῶν πιστευόντων. καὶ οὐκ εἶπεν «ἄμεμπτα» τηρηθείη, ἵνα μὴ νομίσῃς ὅτι ὑπὲρ τῶν χαρισμάτων εὔχεται, ἀλλ' ἀμέμπτως, τοῦτ' ἔστιν ἡμῶν ἀμέμπτως διαγόντων καὶ διατηρούντων διὰ τῆς εὐσεβείας.
About this text
A comforting commentary on faith, love, and hope for early Christians facing persecution and loss.
Catalogue & scope
Khazarzar scan
Witnesses
- Copy-text PG 65 (Khazarzar) (Greek)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.