Commentary on Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Thessalonians Timothy Titus and Philemon John Calvin (continued)
John Calvin
Christ, for those that are by faith ingrafted into Christ, have death in common with him, that they may be partakers with him of life. It is asked, however, whether unbelievers will not also rise again, for Paul does not affirm that there will be a resurrection, except in the case of Christ's members. I answer, that Paul does not here touch upon anything but what suited his present design. For he did not design to terrify the wicked, but to correct 749 the immoderate grief of the pious, and to cure it, as he does, by the medicine of consolation.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 15. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
15. Hoc enim vobis dicimus in sermone Domini, quod nos, qui vivemus et superstites erimus in adventum Domini, non praeveniemus eos, qui dormierunt.
16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
16. Quoniam ipse Dominus cum clamore, cum voce Archangeli et tuba Dei descendet e cœlo: ac mortui, qui in Christo sunt, resurgent primum.
17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
17. Deinde nos qui vivemus, ac residui erimus, simul cum ipsis rapiemur in nubibus, in occursum Domini in aera: et sic semper cum Domino erimus.
18. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 18. Itaque consolamini vos mutuo in sermonibus istis. 15 For this we say unto you. He now briefly explains the manner in which believers will be raised up from death. Now, as he speaks of a thing that is very great, and is incredible to the human mind, and also promises what is above the power and choice of men, he premises that he does not bring forward anything that is his own, or that proceeds from men, but that the Lord is the Author of it. It is probable, however, that the word of the Lord means what was taken from his discourses. 750 For though Paul had learned by revelation all the secrets of the heavenly kingdom, it was, nevertheless, more fitted to establish in the minds of believers the belief of a resurrection, when he related those things that had been uttered by Christ's own mouth. ``We are not the first witnesses of the resurrection, but instead of this the Master himself declared it.'' 751
We who live. This has been said by him with this view --- that they might not think that those only would be partakers of the resurrection who would be alive
749"Mais seulement de corriger ou reprimer;" — "But merely to correct or repress." 750"Prins des sermons de Christ;" — "Taken from the sermons of Christ." 751"L'a affermee et testifiee assureement par ses propos;" — "Has affirmed and testified it with certainty in his discourses."