BOOK 52 OF 66 · PAULINE EPISTLES · KING JAMES BIBLE

1 Thessalonians 5

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1 Thessalonians 5 Overview

Paul continues with the day of the Lord, warning that sudden destruction overtakes those saying peace and safety, while believers are children of light who should watch and be sober. God has not appointed them to wrath but to obtain salvation through Christ. The chapter ends with practical exhortations about leaders, patience, prayer, thanksgiving, testing, holiness, and God’s faithfulness.

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Before you read 1 Thessalonians 5

Coming from

Paul urges believers to abound in holy living, especially sexual purity, brotherly love, quiet work, and honorable conduct. He then comforts those grieving dead believers: the dead in Christ will rise first, living believers will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air, and all will ever be with the Lord.

In this chapter

Leads into

The canonical sequence continues into 2 Thessalonians.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The chapter distinguishes believers as children of light from those overtaken in darkness. Watchfulness is appropriate to identity, not a work that earns escape from wrath.

‘Quench not the Spirit’ and ‘despise not prophesyings’ are balanced by ‘prove all things.’

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

The day of the Lord exposes false security

Peace-and-safety language does not stop judgment.

Believers are not appointed to wrath

Their destiny rests through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Church life requires patience and discernment

Believers must support the weak, warn the unruly, and test claims.

God is faithful to sanctify

Paul’s closing prayer rests on the One who calls and will do it.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Matthew 24:42–44

Jesus also commands watchfulness concerning His coming.

2 Peter 3:10

Peter likewise says the day of the Lord comes as a thief.

Philippians 1:6

God’s faithfulness to complete His work parallels this closing assurance.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not make watchfulness the condition for eternal life

Paul already identifies his readers as children of light.

Do not accept every prophecy claim uncritically

Paul says prove all things.

Do not interpret ‘pray without ceasing’ as literal nonstop speech

It describes persistent prayerfulness.

Read 1 Thessalonians 5 watching for…

The thief and labor-pain imagery.

Darkness versus light.

Not appointed to wrath.

The cluster of short commands.

The final prayer and God’s faithfulness.

Chapter outline4 sections

1-11The day of the Lord comes as a thief, so children of light are told to watch, be sober, and encourage one another 12-15Believers are to esteem church leaders, live at peace, care for the weak, and pursue good 16-22Paul gives brief commands to rejoice, pray, give thanks, test all things, and abstain from evil 23-28Paul prays for their complete sanctification and closes with requests, greetings, and 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.]>>

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1 Thessalonians 5:18

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