John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath , etc.] To destruction and ruin, the effect of wrath; though there are some that are vessels of wrath, fitted for destruction, of old ordained to condemnation, and who are reserved for the day of evil; but there are others who are equally children of wrath, as deserving of the wrath of God in themselves as others, who are not appointed to it; which is an instance of wonderful and distinguishing grace to them: but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ ; salvation is alone by Christ, he alone has wrought it out; it is in him, and in no other; he was appointed to this work, was called and sent, and came to do it, and has done it; and God's elect, who were chosen in him, are appointed in the counsel and purpose of God, to obtain, possess, and enjoy this salvation; and which, as this appointment may be known, as it was by these Thessalonians; the Gospel having come to them, not in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as it is an encouragement to faith and hope, so it excites to sobriety and watchfulness, and the discharge of every duty. The doctrine of predestination does not lead to despair, but encourages the hope of salvation; and it is no licentious doctrine, for election to salvation by Christ is through sanctification of the Spirit, and unto holiness; and good works are the fruits of it, and are what God has foreordained his people should walk in.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 6-11 - Most of mankind do not consider the things of another world at all because they are asleep; or they do not consider them aright, becaus they sleep and dream. Our moderation as to all earthly things should be known to all men. Shall Christians, who have the light of the blesse gospel shining in their faces, be careless about their souls, an unmindful of another world? We need the spiritual armour, or the thre Christian graces, faith, love, and hope. Faith; if we believe that the eye of God is always upon us, that there is another world to prepar for, we shall see reason to watch and be sober. True and fervent love to God, and the things of God, will keep us watchful and sober. If we have hope of salvation, let us take heed of any thing that would shak our trust in the Lord. We have ground on which to build unshaken hope when we consider, that salvation is by our Lord Jesus Christ, who die for us, to atone for our sins and to ransom our souls. We should joi in prayer and praise one with another. We should set a good example on before another, and this is the best means to answer the end of society. Thus we shall learn how to live to Him, with whom we hope to live for ever.
Greek Textus Receptus
οτι 3754 CONJ ουκ 3756 PRT-N εθετο 5087 5639 V-2AMI-3S ημας 2248 P-1AP ο 3588 T-NSM θεος 2316 N-NSM εις 1519 PREP οργην 3709 N-ASF αλλ 235 CONJ εις 1519 PREP περιποιησιν 4047 N-ASF σωτηριας 4991 N-GSF δια 1223 PREP του 3588 T-GSM κυριου 2962 N-GSM ημων 2257 P-1GP ιησου 2424 N-GSM χριστου 5547 N-GSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
9. For (oti). Special emphasis is laid on the hope of salvation. The exhortation to put it on is enforced by the fact that God's appointment is to salvation and not to wrath.To obtain (eiv peripoihsin). More literally, unto the obtaining. See on Eph. i. 14. In three out of five instances in N.T. the word clearly means acquiring or obtaining. In Eph. i. 14 and 1 Pet. ii. 9, it is sometimes rendered possession (so Rev.). But in Ephesians the meaning is redemption or acquisition, or redemption which will give possession; and in 1st Peter a people for acquisition. The meaning here is that we might obtain. Comp. LXX, Mal. iii. 17.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
5:9 {But unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ} (alla eis peripoiesin swterias dia tou kuriou hemwn iesou cristou). The difficult word here is peripoiesin which may be passive, God's possession as in #1Pe 2:9, or active, obtaining, as in #2Th 2:14. The latter is probably the idea here. We are to keep awake so as to fulfil God's purpose (eqeto, appointed, second aorist middle indicative of tiqemi) in calling us. That is our hope of final victory (salvation in this sense).
