1 Thessalonians 4:2

New Testament Epistle (Pauline) ASV (1901)

What does 1 Thessalonians 4:2 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For ye know what charge we gave you through the Lord Jesus.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For ye know what charge we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 4:2 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Thessalonians 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2For ye know what charge we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For ye know what commandments we gave you, etc.] 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…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“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.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“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. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Eze 3:17; Mat 28:20; Co1 9:21; Th2 3:6, Th2 3:10 1 Thessalonians 4:3”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification