John Calvin Commentary 1 Thessalonians 4:1

"Finally then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even as ye do walk, --that ye abound more and more." — 1 Thessalonians 4:1 (ASV)

Furthermore. This chapter contains various injunctions by which he trains the Thessalonians for a holy life, or confirms them in its practice. They had previously learned the rule and method of a pious life: he reminds them of this. As, he says, you have been taught.

Lest, however, he should seem to take away from them what he had previously attributed to them, he does not simply exhort them to walk in that manner, but to abound more and more. When, therefore, he urges them to make progress, he intimates that they are already on the way.

The sum is this: they should be especially careful to make progress in the doctrine they had received. Paul contrasts this with frivolous and vain pursuits, in which we see that many people in the world commonly busy themselves, so that profitable and holy meditation on the proper regulation of life scarcely finds even the lowest place.

Accordingly, Paul reminds them how they had been instructed and urges them to pursue this with all their strength.

Now, a law is enjoined upon us here: that, forgetting the things that are behind, we must always aim for further progress (Philippians 3:13), and pastors ought also to make this their endeavor.

Now, regarding his beseeching, when he could rightfully command, it is a sign of gentleness and modesty that pastors ought to imitate. They should do this so that they might, if possible, draw people by kindness rather than violently compel them.