John Calvin Commentary 1 Thessalonians 2:12

"to the end that ye should walk worthily of God, who calleth you into his own kingdom and glory." — 1 Thessalonians 2:12 (ASV)

Exhorted. He shows the earnestness with which he devoted himself to their welfare, for he relates that in preaching to them about piety towards God and the duties of the Christian life, he had not acted merely in a perfunctory manner, but states that he had used exhortations and adjurations.

It is a lively preaching of the gospel when people are not merely told what is right, but are pricked (Acts 2:37) by exhortations, and are called to the judgment seat of God, so that they may not fall asleep in their vices; for this is what is properly meant by adjuring.

But if pious people, whose readiness Paul so highly commends, absolutely needed to be stimulated by stirring exhortations, indeed, adjurations, what must be done with us, in whom the sluggishness of the flesh reigns more?

Meanwhile, as for the wicked, whose obstinacy is incurable, it is necessary to denounce against them the horrible vengeance of God—not so much from hope of success, as so that they may be rendered inexcusable.

Some render the participle παραμυθούμενοι as comforted. If we adopt this rendering, he means that he used consolations in dealing with the afflicted, who need to be sustained by the grace of God and refreshed by tasting heavenly blessings, so that they do not lose heart or become impatient. The other meaning, however—that he admonished—is more suitable to the context, for it is clear that the three verbs refer to the same thing.

That you might walk. He presents in a few words the sum and substance of his exhortations: that, in magnifying the mercy of God, he admonished them not to fail in their calling.

His commendation of the grace of God is contained in the expression, who has called us into his kingdom. For since our salvation is founded upon God’s gracious adoption, every blessing that Christ has brought us is comprehended in this one term.

It now remains that we answer God’s call—that is, that we show ourselves to be the kind of children to him that he is a Father to us. For whoever lives in a way unbecoming a child of God, deserves to be cut off from God’s household.