1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Chapter 5
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Rejoice always,
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pray without ceasing
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and give thanks to God at all times. This is God’s will for you as Christians.
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Do not quench the Spirit,
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do not despise the prophets’ warnings.
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Test everything thoroughly and cling to what is good.
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Stay away from evil, no matter where it is.
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May the God of peace make you holy and bring you to perfection. May you be completely blameless in spirit, soul, and body until the coming of Christ Jesus, our Lord;
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he who called you is faithful and will accomplish it.
Commentaries
Final Advice and Greetings.
It is typical of Paul to give some advice before ending his letters (cf. Phil 4:8f), and, as always, his favorite advice is about internal harmony in communities. What is interesting about this epistolary ending is that this harmony and community peace are the responsibility of “those who work among you, govern you, and advise you in the name of the Lord” (12). The small community already has its local leaders, whom the Apostle urges to behave like good shepherds. He could not end without reminding them again of the gift of the Spirit that is present throughout the letter: joy, which should characterize their Christian life. He suggests that they maintain the rhythm of their prayer and their assemblies of thanksgiving, probably referring to the community’s Eucharistic celebrations.