New Testament
1 Thessalonians 5
Overview
Paul turns from the fact of the Lord's coming (chapter 4) to its timing, and his answer is that no timing can be calculated: "the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night" (5:2), arriving suddenly upon the complacent who say "peace and security" (5:3). But believers are "children of light and children of the day" (5:5), not of darkness, so the Day will not surprise them like a thief. Therefore they are to stay awake and sober, putting on "the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation" (5:8), confident that "God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ" (5:9), who died so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with Him. The chapter then closes the whole letter with a rapid burst of community instructions: respect and esteem your leaders, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all, never repay evil for evil, rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances (5:16-18), do not quench the Spirit or despise prophecies but test everything and hold fast the good. It ends with a benediction that the God of peace would sanctify them completely and keep them blameless at Christ's coming, and a confident promise: "he who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it" (5:24).
1But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3For 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.
4But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8But 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.
9For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
12And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
13And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
14Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men .
15See that none render evil for evil unto any man ; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men .
16Rejoice evermore.
17Pray without ceasing.
18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19Quench not the Spirit.
20Despise not prophesyings.
21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23And 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.
24Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it .
25Brethren, pray for us.
26Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
27I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.