The mark of the subject. — ayiaff^bg V/IAUV, your sanctiftcation) The word, your [i.e. present sanctification, as contrasted with the past], recalls to the memory of the Thessalonians their former profane condition. Sanctification especially includes chastity. — d'Trb TTJS nopveias, from fornication) Exalted Christians as they were, yet they required to be admonished respecting this sin ; for the Gentiles had no scruples as to carnal lewdness.
4. E/'<3aa/, should know) o/'6a, I know, not only denotes know ledge, but power of mind [mental self-control so as to], Phil. iv. 12 : comp. [husbands, dwell with your wives] according to know ledge, 1 Pet. iii. 7. Both are certainly required for matrimonial chastity. — a-/^og, vessel) his body, 1 Sam. xxi. 5 ; 1 Cor. vi. 18. — xTaaQai, to possess, is illustrated from Luke xxi. 19. — %«,} r//>^, and in honour) The contrary is ar//x/a? disgrace, Rom. i. 26, 24 [cr«$?j ar//A/a£, affections of dishonour, i.e. vile; arif^d^sffdai tfw///ar«, to dishonour their bodies].
5. My ev <7rddei e<7ri8v/Aia$, not in the lust of concupiscence) As concupiscence gains the mastery, it at length waxes strong, so as to become a wretched passion and disease, 2 Sam. xiii. 4. — ra eQn), the Gentiles) These are also denoted at ver. 12, 13, by different periphrases [" them that are without," ver. 11 : 6 others,' 01 Xo/cro/, ver. 13]. — ra /^ £/<5oVa, wlw know not) Igno rance is the origin of unchastity, Rom. i. 24. [Look at the serenity of heaven, and thou wilt conceive a loathing of impurity.
-v. g.]
6. To ,uri v-TTspfiamiv xaj wXsovexreTv) The article TO makes an emphatic addition [Epitasis], which falls upon the verb uc
siv. Eustathius explains lirtpffiva.! as, TO na$ vKepfioX dsovTog, to miss the mark as to wliat is in the highest degree neces sary. Therefore Paul does not seem to be speaking here of avarice, which however is joined to sins of impurity in Eph. v. 5 and Col. iii. 5 (whence also the article makes an Epitasis or emphatic addition), and which, as being a capital transgression, is called idolatry ; but of the deceptions and arts of adulterers, Heb. xiii. 4 ; for the Asyndeton [no copula between g/6lva/, ver. 4, and TO /^ vKsppaivsiv, ver. 6] indicates that the same subject is continued ; and he is speaking of a i matter'' of such a kind, as that the blame attached to it is greater than that attached to theft, Prov. vi. 30 : and in ver. 7 he returns to the mention of