The Word Am I

The First Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians

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- Chapter 5 -

(Zephaniah 1:7–18; Malachi 4:1–6; 2 Peter 3:8–13)
1
But concerning dates and times, brothers, you do not need us to write to you.(a)
2
For you yourselves thoroughly understand that the day of the Lord shall arrive much like a thief in the night.
3
For when they will say, “Peace and security!” then destruction will suddenly overwhelm them, like the labor pains of a woman with child, and they will not escape.(b)
4
But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that you would be overtaken by that day as by a thief.(c)
5
For all of you are sons of light and sons of daytime; we are not of nighttime, nor of darkness.
6
Therefore, let us not sleep, as the rest do. Instead, we should be vigilant and sober.
7
For those who sleep, sleep in the night; and those who are inebriated, are inebriated in the night.
8
But we, who are of the daylight, should be sober, being clothed with the breastplate of faith and of charity and having, as a helmet, the hope of salvation.
9
For God has not appointed us for wrath, but for the acquisition of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10
who died for us, so that, whether we watch, or whether we sleep, we may live in union with him.
11
Because of this, console one another and build up one another, just as you are doing.

Christian Living

12
And we ask you, brothers, to recognize those who labor among you, and who preside over you in the Lord, and who admonish you,
13
so that you may consider them with an abundance of charity, for the sake of their work. Be at peace with them.
14
And we ask you, brothers: correct the disruptive, console the weak-minded, support the sick, be patient with everyone.(d)
15
See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone. Instead, always pursue whatever is good, with one another and with all.
16
Rejoice always.
17
Pray without ceasing.
18
Give thanks in everything. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for all of you.
19
Do not choose to extinguish the Spirit.
20
Do not spurn prophecies.
21
But test all things. Hold on to whatever is good.
22
Abstain from every kind of evil.

Final Blessings and Instructions

23
And may the God of peace himself sanctify you through all things, so that your whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved without blame unto the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24
He who has called you is faithful. He shall act even now.
25
Brothers, pray for us.
26
Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
27
I bind you, through the Lord, that this epistle is to be read to all the holy brothers.
28
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Footnotes

(a)5:1 The word ‘momentis’ means movement, but often refers to time because the (apparent) movement of the sun, moon, and stars is used to track time. The word can also refer to important dates or events which change, alter, or ‘move’ the course of human events.(Conte)
(b)5:3 Those who will proclaim ‘peace and security’ are not the faithful, but those outside of the faith. In other words, when sinful secular society proclaims that they finally have peace and security, because all true religion (which ever accused them of their sins) seems to them to have been defeated, then the sufferings of the second part of the tribulation will overwhelm them. (Something similar, but lesser, happens during the first part of the tribulation (not long from now); when the Warning occurs, many false prophets and foolish persons will claim that the time of peace has begun, but instead the first part of the tribulation will occur.(Conte)
(c)5:4 Notice that the day of the Lord does not overtake believers like a thief in the night; therefore, the faithful can know, to some extent, the future times and dates.(Conte)
(d)5:14 The unquiet:That is, such as are irregular and disorderly.(Challoner)
(Zephaniah 1:7–18; Malachi 4:1–6; 2 Peter 3:8–13)
1
But concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that anything be written to you.
2
For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night.
3
For when they are saying, “Peace and safety,” then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a pregnant woman. Then they will in no way escape.
4
But you, brothers, aren’t in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief.
5
You are all children of light and children of the day. We don’t belong to the night, nor to darkness,
6
so then let’s not sleep, as the rest do, but let’s watch and be sober.
7
For those who sleep, sleep in the night; and those who are drunk are drunk in the night.
8
But since we belong to the day, let’s be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
9
For God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10
who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11
Therefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as you also do.

Christian Living

12
But we beg you, brothers, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
13
and to respect and honor them in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
14
We exhort you, brothers: Admonish the disorderly; encourage the faint-hearted; support the weak; be patient toward all.
15
See that no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that which is good for one another and for all.
16
Always rejoice.
17
Pray without ceasing.
18
In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.
19
Don’t quench the Spirit.
20
Don’t despise prophecies.
21
Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.
22
Abstain from every form of evil.

Final Blessings and Instructions

23
May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24
He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it.
25
Brothers, pray for us.
26
Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
27
I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the holy brothers.
28
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
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