John Calvin Commentary 1 Thessalonians 2:16

"forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always: but the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost." — 1 Thessalonians 2:16 (ASV)

Who hinder us from speaking to the Gentiles. It is not without good reason that, as has been observed, he enters so much into detail in exposing the malice of the Jews. For as they furiously opposed the Gospel everywhere, a great stumbling block arose from this, especially as they exclaimed that the gospel was profaned by Paul when he published it among the Gentiles.

By this slander they made divisions in the Churches, they took away from the Gentiles the hope of salvation, and they obstructed the progress of the gospel. Paul, accordingly, charges them with this crime—that they regard the salvation of the Gentiles with envy, but adds that this is the case, so that their sins may be filled up, in order to take away from them all reputation for piety. This is just as in saying previously that they pleased not God (1 Thessalonians 2:15), he meant that they were unworthy to be considered among the worshippers of God.

The manner of expression, however, must be observed, implying that those who persevere in an evil course fill up by this means the measure of their judgment, until it becomes a heap. This is the reason why the punishment of the wicked is often delayed—because their impieties, so to speak, are not yet ripe. By this we are warned that we must carefully take care lest, if we add sin to sin from time to time, as usually happens, the heap at last reaches as high as heaven.

For wrath has come. He means that they are in an utterly hopeless state, since they are vessels of the Lord’s wrath. “The just vengeance of God presses upon them and pursues them, and will not leave them until they perish—as is the case with all the reprobate, who rush headlong to death, to which they are destined.”

The Apostle, however, makes this declaration regarding the entire body of the people, so as not to deprive the elect of hope. For as the greater proportion resisted Christ, he speaks, it is true, of the whole nation generally, but we must keep in view the exception which he himself makes in Romans 11:5—that the Lord will always have some seed remaining. We must always keep in view Paul’s design: that believers must carefully avoid the company of those whom the just vengeance of God pursues, until they perish in their blind obstinacy.

Wrath, without any additional term, means the judgment of God, as in Romans 4:15—the law worketh wrath; also in Romans 12:19—neither give place unto wrath.