1 Thessalonians 4:2

Ye know. Compare ch. 2:1, 2, 9, 11, where Paul stresses the Thessalonians’ personal knowledge of his previous ministry to them. He is making no new demands upon them.

Commandments. Gr. paraggeliai, “announcements,” or “charges,” hence, “commands,” and often used in classical literature of military orders. The reference here is to the instructions previously given by Paul in Thessalonica.

By the Lord Jesus. Or, “through the agency of the Lord Jesus.” The apostle is again reminding his readers that his teachings were given under divine authority. Now that he was about to speak of particular sins of which some in the church were guilty, he was most anxious that every member should recognize that he was enunciating Christ’s own principles (cf. v. 8). Such recognition would ensure a positive response to the standards of which he now reminds them.