1 Thessalonians 5:24

Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(24) Faithful is he.—A reason for hoping confidently that they will be blamelessly preserved. God would forfeit His character for keeping His promise, if He “called,” and did not enable men to obey the call. Of course He can only “do it” in case they continue willing to have it done. On the present tense, see Note on 1Thessalonians 2:12.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

5:23-28 The apostle prays that they might be sanctified more perfectly, for the best are sanctified but in part while in this world; therefore we should pray for, and press toward, complete holiness. And as we must fall, if God did not carry on his good work in the soul, we should pray to God to perfect his work, till we are presented faultless before the throne of his glory. We should pray for one another; and brethren should thus express brotherly love. This epistle was to be read to all the brethren. Not only are the common people allowed to read the Scriptures, but it is their duty, and what they should be persuaded to do. The word of God should not be kept in an unknown tongue, but transplanted, that as all men are concerned to know the Scriptures, so they all may be able to read them. The Scriptures should be read in all public congregations, for the benefit of the unlearned especially. We need no more to make us happy, than to know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is an ever-flowing and an over-flowing fountain of grace to supply all our wants.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Faithful is he that calleth you - That is, your sanctification after all depends on him, and as he has begun a work of grace in your hearts, you may depend on his faithfulness to complete it; see the 1 Thessalonians 4:3 note; Philippians 1:6 note; 1 Corinthians 1:9 note.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

24. Faithful—to His covenant promises (Joh 10:27-29; 1Co 1:9; 10:23; Php 1:6).

he that calleth you—God, the caller of His people, will cause His calling not to fall short of its designed end.

do it—preserve and present you blameless at the coming of Christ (1Th 5:23; Ro 8:30; 1Pe 5:10). You must not look at the foes before and behind, on the right hand and on the left, but to God's faithfulness to His promises, God's zeal for His honor, and God's love for those whom He calls.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

We had in the former verse the apostle’s prayer, here his faith; and he speaks it by way of consolation to them, that what he had prayed for God would effect. What need he then have prayed? Because God’s decrees and promises, though immutable and infallible, yet are to be accomplished in a way of prayer. Prayer is our duty, and God’s decrees and promises are no dispensation from our duty: besides, duties are more known to us than God’s decrees; and God decree the means as well as the end. But what is it he saith God will do? It is not here expressed, and the word it is not in the original, but only God will do, God will effect. He had prayed God would sanctify them wholly, and preserve them blameless, &c.; and this he would do or effect. And he grounds his confidence partly upon God’s calling them. For the apostle knew that God’s gifts and calling are without repentance; and whom he called, them he justified, and glorified, Romans 8:30 11:29. And this the apostle saw in these Thessalonians, by that efficacy of the gospel upon their hearts, that they were effectually called and chosen, as 1 Thessalonians 1:4; whence he concluded they should be at last wholly sanctified and finally preserved, which is a strong argument against final apostacy from a state of grace; though many that are outwardly called are never sanctified, much less wholly. But of this call the apostle speaks not here, at least not only. And partly also upon God’s faithfulness, who had called them. He doth not say, God is able to do it, though that is true, but he is

faithful, and will do it. Those that are effectually called are brought into God’s covenant, where perfection and perseverance are promised, and God’s faithfulness obligeth him to make good his covenant. It is an act of grace and mercy to call men; but when called, God’s faithfulness is engaged to preserve them, and perfect the work begun: as, 1 Corinthians 1:8, the apostle tells the Corinthians, God will confirm them, to the end they might be blameless in the day of Christ; and his argument is, for God is faithful, by whom ye were called, & c., 1 Thessalonians 5:9.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Faithful is he that calleth you,.... Into the fellowship of his Son, and to his kingdom and glory, and who continues to do so, not only externally by his word, but internally by his Spirit and grace.

Who also will do it. Two things the apostle mentions as the ground of confidence that the above petition, would be heard and answered; that is, that God would wholly sanctify them, and preserve the whole of them blameless to the coming of Christ; and they are the faithfulness of God, and the effectual calling of his saints. God is faithful to his word, his covenant and promises; he has promised to sanctify and cleanse his people from all their sins, and to preserve them safe to his kingdom and glory; agreeably the Arabic version renders this last clause, "and will execute his promise": and the effectual calling is a sure pledge of glorification; whom God calls he justifies and glorifies; as sure as he gives grace, he will give glory; and whom he calls to his eternal glory, he will make perfect, stablish, strengthen, and settle. The Complutensian edition reads, "who also will make your hope firm"; that is, with respect to the above things.

Geneva Study Bible

{14} {k} Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will {l} do it.

(14) The good will and power of God is a sure strengthening and encouragement against all difficulties, of which we have a sure witness in our calling.

(k) Always one, and ever like himself, who indeed performs whatever he promises. And an effectual calling is nothing else but a right declaring and true setting forth of God's will: and therefore the salvation of the elect, is safe and sure.

(l) Who will also make you perfect.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

1 Thessalonians 5:24. Paul knows that he does not implore God in vain. For God is faithful; He keeps what He promises; if He has called the Thessalonians to a participation in His kingdom, He will preserve them pure and faultless even to its commencement.

πιστός] comp. 2 Thessalonians 3:3; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Corinthians 10:13. Τὸ πιστὸς ἀντὶ τοῦ ἀληθής, Theodoret.

ὁ καλῶν ὑμᾶς] not equivalent to ὁ καλέσας ὑμᾶς (Koppe and others), but the present participle used as a substantive, and therefore without regard to time: your Caller. See Winer, p. 316 [E. T. 444].

ὃς καὶ ποιήσει] who also will perform it, sc. τὸ ἀμέμπτως ὑμᾶς τηρηθῆναι.

Expositor's Greek Testament

1 Thessalonians 5:24. The call implies that God will faithfully carry out the process of ἁγιάζεσθαι and τηρεῖσθαι (cf. Php 1:6), which is the divine side of the human endeavour outlined in the preceding verse.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

24. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it] who will also to it (R. V.). The Apostle often appeals to the faithfulness of God, as of One pledged to carry out what He promises in the Gospel; see 1 Corinthians 1:9; 2 Timothy 2:13, &c. The Thessalonians were conscious that God was calling them (ch. 1 Thessalonians 2:12, see note) to a life of consecration to Himself, a consecration that claimed every power of their nature. This call was itself a proof of the possibility of their entire sanctification, which probably appeared to some of them a thing out of the question.

will do (the object is unexpressed),—as well as call. God will carry out His own purpose. His “calling” declared His intention toward the Thessalonians, which the Apostle declares He “will execute.” In the like emphatic sense “do” is frequently used of God in the O.T.: “Hath He said, and shall He not do?” (Numbers 23:19; comp. Psalm 22:31, Isaiah 44:23; &c.). God is the great Doer in the work of man’s salvation, in deed true to His word; “no word from God shall be powerless” (Luke 1:37; comp. Php 2:13).

Bengel's Gnomen

1 Thessalonians 5:24. [34] Ὁ καλῶν ὑμᾶς) He, who has called you, so that He will not even now change His [purpose of grace in] calling you. This verse exhibits much of a triumphant spirit.—ποιήσει, will do it) will preserve you, 1 Thessalonians 5:23. So that His calling of you may attain its designed end, Php 1:6; 1 Peter 5:10; Romans 8:30.

[34] πιστὸς, faithful) In this short clause the whole summary of consolation is included. If you will enjoy your calling, rejoice in the faithfulness of Him who will do it.—V. g.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 24. - Faithful is he that calleth you. Paul knows that he does not beseech God in vain. He who calls you to the Christian faith is faithful to fulfill his promises. God's calling is the commencement of a series which terminates in glorification (Romans 8:30). A similar appeal to the faithfulness of God is elsewhere made by the apostle (1 Corinthians 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:3). Who also will do it; namely, will preserve you blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Vincent's Word Studies

Faithful (πιστὸς)

Comp. 2 Timothy 2:13, and see on 1 John 1:9; see on Revelation 1:5; see on Revelation 3:14.

That calleth (ὁ καλῶν)

equals the caller. The emphasis is on the person rather than on the act. Comp. Romans 9:11; Galatians 1:6, Galatians 1:15; Galatians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 1 Peter 5:10; James 1:5.