Chapter 4
V1 This is a continuation of the thought processes in the last verses of chapter 3. We must bear in mind that this originally was a continuous epistle devoid of chapter and verse breakups, which were only inserted by Archbishop Stephen Langton in 1227. Paul encouraged the ecclesia to conduct themselves exactly as he did. ‘Paralambano’ translated ‘received of us’ is Greek for ‘to join to one’s self’ or ‘not to withhold obedience’. This essentially means that whatever means of upholding the gospel that Paul professed and lived, they were to do. We know very well without any room for contention that Paul followed Torah, having lived so as narrated throughout the book of Acts cf Acts 25:7-8. Paul would have to be a liar if he ever taught the abolition of Torah, and Yeshua certainly would not have commissioned a deranged, schizophrenic liar to spread His gospel in the known world.
Furthermore, Elohim throughout the Bible stresses the upholding of Torah as a means of walking in a manner that pleases Him. Paul, instead of denouncing Torah, was to the contrary preaching to the ecclesia to abound more and more in it!
V2 He then in the next few verses, summarizes Torah in the paraggelia/proclaimed message, commandments given him by Yeshua Himself, to preach to the Gentiles. The law of Messiah for both Jew and Gentile does not contravene the Torah cf 1 Cor 9:21
V3-4 Sins worthy of death in the Torah include spiritual and physical fornication. Worship of idols, witchcraft and divination are spiritual fornication. Physical fornication included adultery, homosexuality, bestiality to name a few cf Rom 12;1-2; Eph 5:3-5; Gal 5:19. ‘Hagiasmos’ is Greek for sanctification, purification, consecration. There is only one set of rules in all scripture that defines the maintenance of this state required of us who were bought with a price. It is not an option if one is to remain in covenant relationship with Elohim cf Gen 17:12-13; 1 Cor 6:20. No amount of works can justify us. Only faith in the blood of Yeshua which bought us may justify us. Sanctification then occurs by works led by the Holy Spirit dwelling in the justified soul.
V5-6 ‘Pathos epithumia’ translated ‘lust of concupiscence’ is vile passions of the flesh wherein lies the law of sin cf Rom 7:22-25. Every religion under the sun outside of true first century-type Christianity practised by the apostles and early converts, is bedevilled by various forms of vile passions, no matter how benign they may appear to be in man’s eyes. Easter, Christmas, Lent, veneration of saints amongst others are all vile in Yehovah’s economy. Defrauding one’s neighbour is a grievous sin which will not escape Elohim’s retribution Mk 10:19. Both spiritual and physical adultery deny one of sanctification, and lead to eternal damnation.
V7 ‘Akatharsia’ again is the Greek word used for uncleanness relating to Torah-defined impurity, as utilized in the Septuagint Bible exclusively. Paul, as is characteristic of his epistles, repeats and reinforces his message ad nauseum to dispel any ambiguity. Holiness again is stressed, only being found in walking in Yehovah’s laws. If Yehovah by His Son has allowed Gentiles to enter the commonwealth of Israel (Eph 2:12-13) by justification through faith, He expects no uncleanness. Cleanliness and uncleanness are solely codified in Torah.
V8 ‘Atheteo’ translated ‘despiseth’ is Greek for ‘reject or disregard’. To put this in context, disregarding Yehovah’s commandments is not disregarding man, but Elohim Himself. The world has its own laws, many of which disregard Yehovah’s laws. We live in a world where opposition to idolatry, homosexuality, transgender reassignment, abortion, sexual perversion, fornication, witchcraft and satanism (accepted as religions in Western societies) is deemed worthy of a fine or jailtime. The churches of today accept most of these anti-Torah, anti-Messiah laws, yet still foolishly believe they are in the body of the Messiah. It should terrify the believer to disregard the Torah, as this equates to disregarding his unchanging Creator, who by grace and mercy provided a means for Gentiles to be partakers of His immutable covenants.
V9-10 Paul repeats his message expressed in 3:12-13, but emphasizing the need for this love to not reach a ceiling point but to increase from strength to strength cf 1 Jn 3:23; 1 Pet 4:8.
V11-12 ‘Philotimeomai hesuchazo’ translated ‘study to be quiet’, is better rendered ‘strive to mind your own business’. It is very sound advice given if one is to remain in a state of holiness and spiritual cleanliness. No matter what manner of business we conduct as believers, we must not be busybodies, talebearers, slanderers, nor backstabbers, as this fosters a spirit of envy, malice, hate amongst others, trapping us in the clutches of lusts of the flesh, and ultimately following the law of sin cf Eccl 4:6; 1 Pet 3:4; 1 Tim 5:13; Eph 4:28.
Additionally, we must not ride on other people’s backs to make a living, but do an honest day’s work. This especially applies to preachers, who should not demand money off of their congregants, at the expense of the gospel message. Any free lunch is always entangled in defrauding one’s neighbour, which as explicitly stated in v6 attracts Elohim’s wrath. Setting a good example, not only keeps one in good stead with Elohim, but even increases the chances of winning the souls of unbelievers for Yeshua cf 1 Pet 2:12.
V13-14 Having preached the gospel of the life, death and resurrection of Yeshua to a once idolatrous congregation, this would have left many questions unanswered for the burgeoning assembly, of which Paul had to answer. Even amongst the Jews especially the Sadducees, the concept of life after death and resurrection of the body was considered ludicrous cf Mk 12:18. ‘Them which are asleep’ is a metaphor for the deceased and the Greek word is ‘koimaio’ from which the word ‘cemetery’ from the Greek ‘koimeterion’ is derived. Sorrow and despair for the deceased is a natural emotion to experience cf Jn 11:35. However, Paul comforted his readers of the epistle by revealing the true reality of the afterlife.
Hope in the return of Yeshua to raise us from the dead into everlasting life, a theme pervading this epistle, eases the grief of believers as compared to that of hopelessness found in non-believers, and some denominations of modern-day Christendom. It is stressed that only those who die IN Yeshua, i.e. those who are IN His body, the congregation of Israel, shall return with Him at His second advent. The wicked dead shall only be resurrected for their judgement unto damnation at the great white throne judgement cf Rev 20:4-6,11-15.
V15-18 This concept was not conjured up by Paul, but was directly told to him by Yeshua, the Master Himself. Greater detail is found in 1 Cor 15:51-53. We are told the dead shall rise at the last trump, after the shout of the archangel. This archangel most likely would be Michael, who is the archangel watching over Israel which is the body of Messiah cf Dan 12:1; Isa 41:8; Gal 3:29. Compare v16 with Ps 89:15. The Hebrew word translated as ‘joyful sound’ is teruwah, which means an alarm, a signal, a shout, or a blast. Blessed shall those be who understand Torah and walk in its light, to be able to discern this alarm in its right season, as prescribed in the Feasts of Yehovah in Lev chapter 23. I refer you dear reader to the commentary on 1 Cor 15;52 for a detailed exegesis on the timing of the last trump, which shall be between the 6th and 7th seal when the rapture shall occur cf Rev 7:13-17. The Greek word ‘harpazo’ translated ‘caught up’ in v17 means to be ‘snatched away’ or ‘carried off by force’.