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1 Thessalonians 5

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Preparation for the Day of the Lord 1–11

1
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. ​
3
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. ​
4
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. ​
5
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7
For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. ​
9
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, ​
10
Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Community Responsibilities and Relationships 12–15

12
And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; ​
13
And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
14
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. ​
15
See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. ​

Practical Christian Duties 16–22

16
Rejoice evermore. ​
17
Pray without ceasing. ​
18
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. ​
19
Quench not the Spirit. ​
20
Despise not prophesyings. ​
21
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. ​
22
Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Final Prayer and Closing 23–28

23
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ​
24
Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. ​
25
Brethren, pray for us.
26
Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
27
I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. ​
28
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain

Study Notes for 1 Thessalonians 5

Verse 2

as a thief in the night — The figure is Christ's own: 'if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched' (Luke 12:39). Peter repeats it of 'the day of the Lord' (2 Pet 3:10), and Christ says, 'Behold, I come as a thief' (Rev 16:15). 'Perfectly' is akribos, exactly.

Verse 3

Peace and safety — 'Safety' is asphaleia, security. The cry is followed at once by 'sudden destruction' (olethros, ruin), which comes like labour pains on a woman with child, and 'they shall not escape'. Christ likens his coming to the days of Noah (Matt 24:37).

Verse 4

not in darkness — Darkness is the state of those outside Christ; believers have been delivered 'from the power of darkness' (Col 1:13). 'Overtake' is katalambano, to seize. The day seizes like a thief only those who are in the dark, which Paul says the brethren are not.

Verse 8

breastplate of faith and love — 'Be sober' is nepho, the verb of v.6. The armour echoes Isa 59:17, 'he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head'; Eph 6:11 enlarges it as 'the whole armour of God'. The helmet (perikephalaia) here is 'the hope of salvation'.

Verse 9

not appointed us to wrath — 'Appointed' is tithemi, to set or place. 'Wrath' (orge) is the 'wrath to come' from which Jesus delivers (1 Thess 1:10). 'To obtain' is peripoiesis, acquiring as a possession; the salvation comes 'by our Lord Jesus Christ', who 'died for us' (v.10).

Verse 12

are over you in the Lord — Proistemi, to stand before, to preside. Three activities mark these men: they 'labour' (kopiao, toil to weariness), they preside, and they 'admonish' (noutheteo, to put in mind, warn gently). Elders who 'rule well' are 'worthy of double honour' (1 Tim 5:17).

Verse 14

warn them that are unruly — Ataktos is out of rank, disorderly; Paul later tells them to withdraw from a brother 'that walketh disorderly' (2 Thess 3:6). The 'feebleminded' (oligopsychos) are the faint-hearted, to be cheered; the 'weak' (asthenes) are held to (antechomai). Each need has its own remedy.

Verse 15

render evil for evil — Paul gives the same rule at Rom 12:17, 'Recompense to no man evil for evil', and Peter at 1 Pet 3:9. 'Follow' is dioko, to pursue: good is something to be chased, 'both among yourselves, and to all men'.

Verse 16

Rejoice evermore — Two Greek words, chairo and pantote (always). Paul repeats it, 'Rejoice in the Lord alway' (Phil 4:4), and describes himself as 'sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing' (2 Cor 6:10), so the joy is not tied to circumstances.

Verse 17

Pray without ceasing — Adialeiptos, uninterruptedly, without omission. Christ taught 'that men ought always to pray, and not to faint' (Luke 18:1); Paul urges 'Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit' (Eph 6:18).

Verse 18

In every thing give thanks — Eucharisteo, to be grateful. The preposition is 'in', thanks given within every circumstance; Paul asks it 'always for all things' (Eph 5:20) and joins it to requests (Phil 4:6). 'The will of God in Christ Jesus' is that will made known in Christ.

Verse 19

Quench not the Spirit — Sbennumi, to extinguish, a fire word: the Spirit is likened to a flame, as Paul tells Timothy to 'stir up the gift of God' (2 Tim 1:6). A related warning is 'grieve not the holy Spirit of God' (Eph 4:30). Verses 20–21 show how it may be quenched.

Verse 20

Despise not prophesyings — Exoutheneo, to treat as nothing; propheteia is speaking for God. Such speech 'speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort' (1 Cor 14:3). Verse 21 adds that it is to be tested, not rejected.

Verse 21

Prove all things — Dokimazo, to test, as metal is assayed. It is the duty John gives: 'try the spirits whether they are of God' (1 John 4:1). The Bereans, 'more noble than those in Thessalonica', 'searched the scriptures daily' (Acts 17:11). 'Hold fast' is katecho.

Verse 23

spirit and soul and body — 'Wholly' (holoteles) is complete to the end; 'whole' (holokleros) is complete in every part. The prayer is that the whole person be kept 'blameless unto the coming' (parousia) of Christ. Soul and spirit are named apart in Heb 4:12.

Verse 24

Faithful is he that calleth you — The ground of the prayer in v.23 is God's faithfulness, not Paul's asking. The same assurance stands at 1 Cor 1:9, 'God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son', and 2 Thess 3:3, 'the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you'.

Verse 27

I charge you by the Lord — Horkizo, to put on oath, to adjure; it is stronger than a request. The letter is to go to 'all the holy brethren', not to the leaders alone. Paul gives a like order at Col 4:16: 'when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans'.