1 Thessalonians 5

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 5 of 5

1 But about the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need for it to be written.

2 For you yourselves know accurately that the day of the Lord, as a thief in the night, so it comes.

3 For when they say, Peace and safety! Then sudden destruction comes upon them, like the birth-pain to the one having babe in womb, and they shall not escape, not one.

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Chapter Summary

1 He proceeds in the former description of Christ’s coming to judgment, 16 and gives diverse precepts, 23 and so concludes the epistle.

Key Greek Words

παρουσία coming, arrival G3952
νήφω be sober, alert G3525
ἁγιάζω sanctify wholly G37
δοκιμάζω test, prove G1381
σωτηρία salvation G4991
παρακαλέω encourage, exhort G3870

People & Context

Paul

Author who exhorts the assembly, charges them by the Lord, and asks for prayer [5:25-27].

Jesus Christ

The Lord Jesus Christ through whom God appoints believers to salvation and at whose coming they are kept blameless [5:9,23].

God the Father

The God of peace who has not appointed believers to wrath but sanctifies them wholly [5:9,23].

Timeline

The Day of the Lord as a Thief

The Thessalonians already know that the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night. When people say 'Peace and safety,' sudden destruction comes upon them inescapably.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-3
Sons of Light and Day

Believers are not in darkness for that Day to overtake them as a thief. They are sons of light and sons of day, called to be awake and sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet of salvation.

1 Thessalonians 5:4-8
Appointed to Salvation, Not Wrath

God has not appointed believers to wrath but to obtaining salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, who died so that whether awake or sleeping, believers may live together with Him.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11

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