Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Thessalonians 5:16

"Rejoice always;" — 1 Thessalonians 5:16 (ASV)

Rejoice evermore.—The remaining commands are more simply spiritual, and hardly form part of the same paragraph as 1 Thessalonians 5:12–15, which related to discipline; though from 1 Thessalonians 5:19 and following, we see that Paul was still addressing the Church in its corporate capacity, not only the individual members. The Christian who remains in sadness and depression really breaks a commandment: in some way or other, he mistrusts God—His power, providence, forgiveness. The command is especially good for a persecuted Church like that of Thessalonica (Matthew 5:10–12).