Commentary on Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Thessalonians Timothy Titus and Philemon John Calvin (continued)
CHAPTER 1
this point I have treated more fully in commenting on the first chapter of First Corinthians. 803
9. Everlasting destruction from the face. He shews, by apposition, what is the nature of the punishment of which he had made mention --- destruction without end, and an undying death. The perpetuity of the death is proved from the circumstance, that it has the glory of Christ as its opposite. Now, this is eternal, and has no end. Accordingly, the influence of that death will never cease. From this also the dreadful severity of the punishment may be inferred, inasmuch as it will be great in proportion to the glory and majesty of Christ.
10 When he shall come to be sanctified. As he has hitherto discoursed as to the punishment of the wicked, he now returns to the pious, and says that Christ will come, that he may be glorified in them; that is, that he may irradiate them with his glory, and that they may be partakers of it. ``Christ will not have this glory for himself individually; but it will be common to all the saints.'' This is the crowning and choice consolation of the pious, that when the Son of God will be manifested in the glory of his kingdom, he will gather them into the same fellowship with himself. 804 There is, however, an implied contrast between the present condition in which believers labor and groan, and that final restoration. For they are now exposed to the reproaches of the world, and are looked upon as vile and worthless; but then they will be precious, and full of dignity, when Christ will pour forth his glory upon them. The end of this is, that the pious may as it were, with closed eyes, pursue the brief journey of this earthly life, having their minds always intent upon the future manifestation of Christ's kingdom. For to what purpose does he make mention of His coming in power, but in order that they may in hope leap forward to that blessed resurrection which is as yet hid?
It is also to be observed, that after having made use of the term saints, he adds, by way of explanation --- those that believe, by which he intimates that there is no holiness in men without faith, but that all are profane. In the close he again repeats the terms --- in that day, for that expression is connected with this sentence. Now, he repeats it with this view, that he may repress the desires of believers, lest they should hasten forward beyond due bounds.
Because credit was given What he had said in a general way as to saints, he now applies to the Thessalonians, that they may not doubt that they are of that number.
says he, ``my preaching has obtained credit among you, Christ has already enrolled you in the number of his own people, whom he will make partakers of his glory.''
He calls his doctrine a testimony, because the Apostles are Christ's witnesses. (Acts 1:8.) Let us learn, therefore, that the promises of God are ratified in us, when they gain credit with us.
803See Calvin on the Corinthians, vol. 1, pp. 84-86. 804"Il les recueillera en plene conionction, et les fera ses consors;" — "He will gather them in full union, and will make them his partners."