I Thessalonians 5 Commentary
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
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.
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
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.
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
Rejoice evermore.
Pray without ceasing.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Quench not the Spirit.
Despise not prophesyings.
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Abstain from all appearance of evil.
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.
Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
Brethren, pray for us.
Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. The first epistle unto the Thessalonians was written from Athens.
The Day of the Lord and Our Response (5:1-11)
I Thessalonians 5 continues the theme from the end of chapter 4, focusing on the sudden and dramatic nature of the Lord's return. Paul addresses the Thessalonians' desire to know the "times and seasons" (5:1), essentially a timeline for Jesus' return. While such curiosity is natural, Paul emphasizes readiness over rigid schedules. He uses powerful analogies to illustrate this point.
The "day of the Lord" is a future period encompassing judgment and blessing, stretching from the rapture through the millennial kingdom (see Isaiah 13:9-11; Joel 2:28-32; Zephaniah 1:14-18; 3:14-15). Paul declares that this day will come "like a thief in the night" (5:2). A thief doesn't announce their arrival; they come unexpectedly. This unexpectedness will bring "sudden destruction" (5:3) upon those unprepared, like labor pains that come upon a pregnant woman. Doctors can estimate, but the baby ultimately decides the moment of arrival, and when that moment comes, everything changes. The day of the Lord will be a time when God directly intervenes in world affairs, both for judgment during the tribulation and for blessings during Messiah's millennial reign.
However, for believers, the Lord's return should not be a surprise. "You are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief" (5:4). We are "children of light and children of the day" (5:5), not belonging to the night. Therefore, we ought to live with joyful assurance, knowing we are headed for glory, not the wrath of the tribulation (5:9). Our knowledge of the future should give us confidence in the present.
This understanding calls for a specific response: "let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober" (5:6). This "sleep" refers to spiritual slumber, and being "sober" means spiritual alertness. To achieve this, we need faith, love, and hope. We must put on "the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation" (5:8). These are our spiritual armor, protecting us in this world and giving us confidence in our deliverance, since "God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ" (5:9).
The chapter emphasizes the importance of mutual encouragement: "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing" (5:11). These theological truths are not just for personal enrichment but for our collective growth. We stand or fall together as the body of Christ.
Practical Instructions for Christian Living (5:12-22)
Paul transitions to practical instructions for living a righteous life while awaiting final salvation. He begins by addressing the importance of respecting church leaders: "We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves" (5:12-13). Church leaders are placed in positions of authority and trust and deserve high regard for their dedicated ministry.
He then provides a series of exhortations aimed at fostering a healthy and supportive community: "And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all" (5:14). It takes great wisdom to shepherd God's people well. Part of that wisdom lies in being aware of the different seasons in which people live. We must be patient with those who are sinning and with those who are suffering, with those who want to change and with those who do not. Patience aims for every target. We must demonstrate compassion without compromise.
Furthermore, "See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone" (5:15). Instead of seeking revenge, Christians should consistently do good to all.
Paul then delivers a series of short, powerful commands: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (5:16-18). These commands may seem simple, but living them out requires a deep reliance on the Holy Spirit and a constant awareness of God's presence. The only way we can constantly give thanks and rejoice is by knowing that God is working something out in our lives.
He continues, "Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil" (5:19-22). Believers are not to stifle the Spirit's leading or dismiss prophetic utterances, but rather to carefully discern and embrace what aligns with God's Word while rejecting anything that deviates from it. We should stay away from every kind of evil.
Prayer for Sanctification and Final Greetings (5:23-28)
Paul concludes with a prayer for the Thessalonians' complete sanctification: "Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (5:23). He expresses confidence in God's faithfulness: "He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it" (5:24). God has never started a project he did not finish. And if he has started on you, you can be sure that he will sanctify you completely as you allow him to transform you from the inside out (spirit, soul, and body) (5:23).
He requests prayer from the Thessalonians: "Brothers, pray for us" (5:25), and instructs them to greet all the brothers with a holy kiss: "Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss" (5:26). He commands that the letter be read to everyone: "I put you under oath before the Lord that this letter be read to all the brothers" (5:27).
Paul concludes the letter with a final benediction: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you" (5:28). He began the letter with mention of grace (1:1) and ends it the same way. From first to last, and every step along the way, the Christian life is lived by grace.
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
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.
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
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.
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
Rejoice evermore.
Pray without ceasing.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Quench not the Spirit.
Despise not prophesyings.
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Abstain from all appearance of evil.
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.
Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
Brethren, pray for us.
Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. The first epistle unto the Thessalonians was written from Athens.
The Day of the Lord and Our Response (5:1-11)
I Thessalonians 5 continues the theme from the end of chapter 4, focusing on the sudden and dramatic nature of the Lord's return. Paul addresses the Thessalonians' desire to know the "times and seasons" (5:1), essentially a timeline for Jesus' return. While such curiosity is natural, Paul emphasizes readiness over rigid schedules. He uses powerful analogies to illustrate this point.
The "day of the Lord" is a future period encompassing judgment and blessing, stretching from the rapture through the millennial kingdom (see Isaiah 13:9-11; Joel 2:28-32; Zephaniah 1:14-18; 3:14-15). Paul declares that this day will come "like a thief in the night" (5:2). A thief doesn't announce their arrival; they come unexpectedly. This unexpectedness will bring "sudden destruction" (5:3) upon those unprepared, like labor pains that come upon a pregnant woman. Doctors can estimate, but the baby ultimately decides the moment of arrival, and when that moment comes, everything changes. The day of the Lord will be a time when God directly intervenes in world affairs, both for judgment during the tribulation and for blessings during Messiah's millennial reign.
However, for believers, the Lord's return should not be a surprise. "You are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief" (5:4). We are "children of light and children of the day" (5:5), not belonging to the night. Therefore, we ought to live with joyful assurance, knowing we are headed for glory, not the wrath of the tribulation (5:9). Our knowledge of the future should give us confidence in the present.
This understanding calls for a specific response: "let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober" (5:6). This "sleep" refers to spiritual slumber, and being "sober" means spiritual alertness. To achieve this, we need faith, love, and hope. We must put on "the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation" (5:8). These are our spiritual armor, protecting us in this world and giving us confidence in our deliverance, since "God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ" (5:9).
The chapter emphasizes the importance of mutual encouragement: "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing" (5:11). These theological truths are not just for personal enrichment but for our collective growth. We stand or fall together as the body of Christ.
Practical Instructions for Christian Living (5:12-22)
Paul transitions to practical instructions for living a righteous life while awaiting final salvation. He begins by addressing the importance of respecting church leaders: "We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves" (5:12-13). Church leaders are placed in positions of authority and trust and deserve high regard for their dedicated ministry.
He then provides a series of exhortations aimed at fostering a healthy and supportive community: "And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all" (5:14). It takes great wisdom to shepherd God's people well. Part of that wisdom lies in being aware of the different seasons in which people live. We must be patient with those who are sinning and with those who are suffering, with those who want to change and with those who do not. Patience aims for every target. We must demonstrate compassion without compromise.
Furthermore, "See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone" (5:15). Instead of seeking revenge, Christians should consistently do good to all.
Paul then delivers a series of short, powerful commands: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (5:16-18). These commands may seem simple, but living them out requires a deep reliance on the Holy Spirit and a constant awareness of God's presence. The only way we can constantly give thanks and rejoice is by knowing that God is working something out in our lives.
He continues, "Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil" (5:19-22). Believers are not to stifle the Spirit's leading or dismiss prophetic utterances, but rather to carefully discern and embrace what aligns with God's Word while rejecting anything that deviates from it. We should stay away from every kind of evil.
Prayer for Sanctification and Final Greetings (5:23-28)
Paul concludes with a prayer for the Thessalonians' complete sanctification: "Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (5:23). He expresses confidence in God's faithfulness: "He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it" (5:24). God has never started a project he did not finish. And if he has started on you, you can be sure that he will sanctify you completely as you allow him to transform you from the inside out (spirit, soul, and body) (5:23).
He requests prayer from the Thessalonians: "Brothers, pray for us" (5:25), and instructs them to greet all the brothers with a holy kiss: "Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss" (5:26). He commands that the letter be read to everyone: "I put you under oath before the Lord that this letter be read to all the brothers" (5:27).
Paul concludes the letter with a final benediction: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you" (5:28). He began the letter with mention of grace (1:1) and ends it the same way. From first to last, and every step along the way, the Christian life is lived by grace.