Fathers

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What the Fathers say

1 Thessalonians 4:6

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"That no man transgress, and wrong his brother in the matter." He has well said, "that no man transgress." To each man God has assigned a wife, he has set bounds to nature, that intercourse with one only: therefore intercourse with another is transgression, and the taking of more than belongs to one, and robbery; or rather it is more cruel than any robbery; for we grieve not so much, when our riches are carried off, as when marriage is invaded. Dost thou call him brother, and wrongest him, and that in things which are unlawful? …

Homily on 1 Thessalonians 5 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Above the apostle speaks of fornication in general, but now he speaks of adultery, which he rightly calls covetousness and transgression. For God gave each man a wife and set limits to nature, meaning cohabitation with this one wife. Therefore covetousness applies to this matter, that is, to unlawful cohabitation; and specifically against a brother. Do not think, he says, that I say this only with regard to brothers; no, one must not have the wives of other people either, whether unmarried women or the wives of others. …

Commentary on 1 Thessalonians ↗

Cyprian

In the first Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians: "That a man do not deceive his brother in a matter, because God is the avenger for all these."

Treatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

Then when Paul says, that no man transgress, he forbids greed, and insists that no man transgress, that is, no one should exert violence by taking another's property through brute strength. "Is it not the rich who oppress you?" (Jas. 2:6). And wrong his brother through fraud. "Like a basket full of birds, their houses are full of treachery" (Jer. 5:27). When Paul says: because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, the reason for the warning is mentioned. …

Commentary on 1 Thessalonians ↗