1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 | |
13. But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. | 13. Nolo autem vos ignorare, fratres, de iis qui obdormierunt, ut ne contristemini, sicut et caeteri qui spem non habent. |
14. For if we believe that Jesus died, and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. | 14. Nam si credimus, quod Iesus mortuus est, et resurrexit, ita et Deus eos, qui dormierunt per Christum, adducet cum eo. |
13.
He does not, however, forbid us altogether to mourn, but requires moderation in our mourning, for he says,
We are now in possession of Paul's meaning--that he lifts up the minds of believers to a consideration of the resurrection, lest they should indulge excessive grief on occasion of the death of their relatives, for it were unseemly that there should be no difference between them and unbelievers, who put no end or measure to their grief for this reason, that in death they recognize nothing but destruction. 3 Those that abuse this testimony, so as to establish among Christians Stoical indifference, that is, an iron hardness, 4 will find nothing of this nature in Paul's words. As to their objecting that we must not indulge grief on occasion of the death of our relatives, lest we should resist God, this would apply in all adversities; but it is one thing to bridle our grief, that it may be made subject to God, and quite another thing to harden one's self so as to be like stones, by casting away human feelings. Let, therefore, the grief of the pious be mixed with consolation, which may train them to patience. The hope of a blessed resurrection, which is the mother of patience, will effect this.
14.
To
1 "Entre dormir, et estre du tout reduit a neant;"--"Between sleeping, and being altogether reduced to nothing."
2 See Calvin on the Corinthians, vol. 2. pp. 21, 22.
3 "Ruine et destruction;"--"Ruin and destruction."
4 "Pour introduire et establir entre les Chrestiens ceste façon tant estrange, que les Stoiciens requeroyent en l'homme, ascauoir qu'il ne fust esmeu de douleur quelconque, mais qu'il fust comme de fer et stupide sans rien sentir;"--"For introducing and establishing among Christians that strange manner of acting, which the Stoics required on the part of an individual--that he should not be moved by any grief, but should be as it were of iron, and stupid, so as to be devoid of feeling."
5 "Mais seulement de corriger ou reprimer;"--"But merely to correct or repress."