by John Calvin
BooksForTheAges
AGES Software • Albany, OR USA Version 1.0 © 1998
THE AUTHOR’S DEDICATORY EPISTLE.
TO
MATURINUS CORDERIUS,
A MAN OF EMINENT PIETY AND LEARNING, PRINCIPAL OF THE COLLEGE OF LAUSANNE.
IT is befitting that you should come in for a share in my labors, inasmuch as, under your auspices, having entered on a course of study, I made proficiency at least so far as to be prepared to profit in some degree the Church of God. When my father sent me, while yet a boy, to Paris, after I had simply tasted the first elements of the Latin tongue; Providence so ordered it that I had, for a short time, the privilege of having you as my instructor, 1 that I might be taught by you the true method of learning, in such a way that I might be prepared afterwards to make somewhat better proficiency. For, after presiding over the first class with the highest renown, on observing that pupils who had been ambitiously trained up by the other masters, produced nothing but mere show, nothing of solidity, so that they required to be formed by you anew, tired of this annoyance, you that year descended to the fourth class. This, indeed, was what you had in view, but to me it was a singular kindness on the part of God that I happened to have an auspicious commencement of such a course of training. And although I was permitted to have the use of it only for a short time, from the circumstance that we were soon afterwards advanced higher by an injudicious man, who regulated our studies according to his own pleasure, or rather his caprice, yet I derived so much assistance afterwards from your training, that it is with good reason that I acknowledge myself indebted to you for such progress as has since been made. And this I was desirous to testify to posterity, that, if any advantage shall accrue to them from my writings, they shall know that it has in some degree originated with you.
GENEVA, 17th February 1550.
ARGUMENT
ON
THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS.
THE greater part of this Epistle consists of exhortations. PAUL had instructed the THESSALONIANS in the right faith. On hearing, however, that persecutions were raging there, 2 he had sent Timothy with the view of animating them for the conflict, that they might not give way through fear, as human infirmity is apt to do. Having been afterwards informed by TIMOTHY respecting their entire condition, he employs various arguments to confirm them in steadfastness of faith, as well as in patience, should they be called to endure anything for the testimony of the gospel. These things he treats of in the first three Chapters.
In the beginning of the Fourth Chapter, he exhorts them, in general terms, to holiness of life, afterwards he recommends mutual benevolence, and all offices that flow from it. Towards the end, however, he touches upon the question of the resurrection, and explains in what way we shall all be raised up from death. From this it is manifest, that there were some wicked or light—minded persons, who endeavored to unsettle their faith by unseasonably bringing forward many frivolous things. 3 Hence with the view of cutting off all pretext for foolish and needless disputations, he instructs them in few words as to the views which they should entertain.
In the Fifth Chapter he prohibits them, even more strictly, from inquiring as to times; but admonishes them to be ever on the watch, lest they should be taken unawares by Christ’s sudden and unexpected approach. From this he proceeds to employ various exhortations, and then concludes the Epistle.
COMMENTARY ON
THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE THESSALONIANS.
See p. 16. ↩
“Ayant ouy qu’il y estoit suruenu des persecutions, et qu’elles continuoyent;”—“Having heard that there were some persecutions that had broken out there, and that they were still continuing.” ↩
“En mettant en auant sur ce propos beaucoup de choses frivoles et curieuses;”—“By bringing forward upon this subject many frivolous and curious things.” ↩
