The Meaning of 1 Thessalonians 4:2 Explained

1 Thessalonians 4:2

KJV: For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

YLT: for ye have known what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus,

Darby: For ye know what charges we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

ASV: For ye know what charge we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  ye know  what  commandments  we gave  you  by  the Lord  Jesus. 

What does 1 Thessalonians 4:2 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 - Called To Sanctification
The first paragraph of this chapter exhorts to purity, the second to industry, the third to expectation of the Second Advent. But the three are closely combined, because those who wait for the Lord will instinctively wear white robes. The body is compared to a vessel, and we must keep it clean for the Master's use, walking day by day so as to please Him. Before Enoch was translated, he had the testimony borne him that he had pleased God, Hebrews 11:5. It is God's will that we should be holy-the whole object of our redemption has this for its purpose. Therefore we ought to be holy, and if we ought we can, and if we can we must; and if we must we will! If you cannot possess yourself of your own nature, be possessed by the Holy Spirit. God giveth His Holy Spirit for this purpose.
No one must come in between husband and wife to defraud either of the lawful love which each should receive from the other. The home has been rescued and exalted by Christ, and the Christian Church must still be its custodian, not only inculcating the ideal, but revealing the sufficient power for its defense. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Thessalonians 4

1  He exhorts them to go forward in all manner of godliness;
6  to live holily and justly;
9  to love one another;
11  and quietly to follow their own business;
13  and last of all, to sorrow moderately for the dead
17  followed by a brief description of the resurrection, and second coming of Christ to judgment

Greek Commentary for 1 Thessalonians 4:2

What charge [τινας παραγγελιας]
Plural, charges or precepts, command (Acts 16:24), prohibition (Acts 5:28), right living (1 Timothy 1:5). Military term in Xenophon and Polybius. [source]
Commandments [παραγγελίας]
Better, charges. Only four times in N.T. olxx. The verb παραγγέλλειν tocommand or charge is frequent, and is often used in Class of military orders. See Xen. Cyr. ii., 4,2; Hdt. iii., 25. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Thessalonians 4:2

1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak [α και λαλουμεν]
This onomatopoetic verb λαλεω — laleō (from λαλα — lȧla), to utter sounds. In the papyri the word calls more attention to the form of utterance while λεγω — legō refers more to the substance. But λαλεω — laleō in the N.T. as here is used of the highest and holiest speech. Undoubtedly Paul employs the word purposely for the utterance of the revelation which he has understood. That is to say, there is revelation (1 Corinthians 2:10), illumination (1 Corinthians 2:12), and inspiration (1 Corinthians 2:13). Paul claims therefore the help of the Holy Spirit for the reception of the revelation, for the understanding of it, for the expression of it. Paul claimed this authority for his preaching (1 Thessalonians 4:2) and for his epistles (2 Thessalonians 3:14). [source]
1 Thessalonians 2:2 Having been shamefully entreated [ὑβρισθέντες]
Comp. Luke href="/desk/?q=lu+18:32&sr=1">Luke 18:32; Acts 14:5. This may have been added because προπαθόντες alone might denote the experience of something good; but it is more probably intended as an expansion and illustration of that word. Paul's sensitiveness to personal indignity appears in the narrative in 1Thessalonians href="/desk/?q=1th+1:5&sr=1">1 Thessalonians 1:5, 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 2:1, 1 Thessalonians 2:5, 1 Thessalonians 2:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:11; 1 Thessalonians 3:3, 1 Thessalonians 3:4, 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 4:6, 1 Thessalonians 4:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:16; 2 Thessalonians 3:1, 2 Thessalonians 3:2. [source]
2 Thessalonians 3:6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ [εν ονοματι του κυριου Ιησου Χριστου]
Name (ονομα — onoma) here for authority of Jesus Christ with which compare through the Lord Jesus (δια του κυριου Ιησου — dia tou kuriou Iēsou) in 1 Thessalonians 4:2. For a full discussion of the phrase see the monograph of W. Heitmuller, Im Namen Jesu. Paul wishes his readers to realize the responsibility on them for their obedience to his command. That ye withdraw yourselves Present middle (direct) infinitive of στελλω — stellō old verb to place, arrange, make compact or shorten as sails, to move oneself from or to withdraw oneself from (with απο — apo and the ablative). In 2 Corinthians 8:20 the middle voice He calls him “brother” still. The adverb ατακτως — ataktōs is common in Plato and is here and 2 Thessalonians 3:11 alone in the N.T., though the adjective ατακτος — ataktos equally common in Plato we had in 1 Thessalonians 5:14 which see. Military term, out of ranks. And not after the tradition See note on 1 Thessalonians 2:15 for παραδοσιν — paradosin Which they received of us (ην παρελαβοσαν παρ ημων — hēn parelabosan par hēmōn). Westcott and Hort put this form of the verb (second aorist indicative third person plural of παραλαμβανω — paralambanō the οσαν — ̇osan form instead of ον — ̇on with slight support from the papyri, but in the lxx and the Boeotian dialect, Robertson, Grammar, pp. 335f.) in the margin with παρελαβετε — parelabete (ye received) in the text. There are five different readings of the verb here, the others being παρελαβον παρελαβε ελαβοσαν — parelabonparelabeelabosan f0). [source]
2 Thessalonians 3:6 Name [ονομα]
(ονομα — onoma) here for authority of Jesus Christ with which compare through the Lord Jesus (δια του κυριου Ιησου — dia tou kuriou Iēsou) in 1 Thessalonians 4:2. For a full discussion of the phrase see the monograph of W. Heitmuller, Im Namen Jesu. Paul wishes his readers to realize the responsibility on them for their obedience to his command. [source]
2 Timothy 2:2 Among many witnesses [δια πολλων μαρτυρων]
Plutarch has δια — dia in this sense and Field (Ot. Norv.) suggests that it is a legal phrase “supported by many witnesses.” Not mere spectators, but testifiers. See Paul‘s use of δια — dia 1 Thessalonians 4:2; 2 Corinthians 2:4; Romans 2:27; Romans 14:20. Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 gives many witnesses of the resurrection of Christ. Commit thou (παρατου — parathou). Second aorist middle imperative of παρατιτημι — paratithēmi (1 Timothy 1:18) to deposit, same metaphor as παρατηκη — parathēkē in 2 Timothy 1:12, 2 Timothy 1:14. “Deposit thou.” Faithful “Trustworthy,” “reliable,” as in 1 Timothy 1:12 of Paul himself. Able (ικανοι — hikanoi). Capable, qualified, as in 1 Corinthians 15:9; 2 Corinthians 2:16; 2 Corinthians 3:5. Others also Not necessarily “different,” but “others in addition.” This is the way to pass on the torch of the light of the knowledge of God in Christ. Paul taught Timothy who will teach others who will teach still others, an endless chain of teacher-training and gospel propaganda. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Thessalonians 4:2 mean?

You know for what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus
οἴδατε γὰρ τίνας παραγγελίας ἐδώκαμεν ὑμῖν διὰ τοῦ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ

οἴδατε  You  know 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: οἶδα  
Sense: to see.
παραγγελίας  instructions 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: παραγγελία  
Sense: announcement, a proclaiming or giving a message to.
ἐδώκαμεν  we  gave 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: διδῶ 
Sense: to give.
διὰ  through 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
Κυρίου  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
Ἰησοῦ  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.