1 Thessalonians 5
5
1Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters,#5:1 Greek brothers; also in 5:4, 12, 14, 25, 26, 27. we don’t really need to write you. 2For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. 3When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.
4But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.#5:4 Some manuscripts read comes upon you as if you were thieves. 5For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. 6So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. 7Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. 8But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.
9For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. 10Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. 11So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
Paul’s Final Advice
12Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. 13Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.
14Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
15See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.
16Always be joyful. 17Never stop praying. 18Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
19Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. 20Do not scoff at prophecies, 21but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. 22Stay away from every kind of evil.
Paul’s Final Greetings
23Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 24God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.
25Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us.
26Greet all the brothers and sisters with a sacred kiss.
27I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters.
28May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
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1 Thessalonians 5
5
The Day of the Lord
1Now concerning #Dan. 2:21; Acts 1:7the times and the seasons, brothers,#5:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 4, 12, 14, 25, 26, 27 #ch. 4:9you have no need to have anything written to you. 2For you yourselves are fully aware that #[2 Thess. 2:2]; See Matt. 24:43; Luke 17:24the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then #Luke 21:34; [Ps. 35:8; Luke 17:26-30; 2 Thess. 1:9] sudden destruction will come upon them #See Isa. 13:8as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4But you #1 John 2:8are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5For you are all #See Luke 16:8children#5:5 Or sons; twice in this verse of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6So then #[Mark 13:36]; See Rom. 13:11-13let us not sleep, as others do, but let us #See Matt. 24:42keep awake and #See 1 Pet. 1:13be sober. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, #[Acts 2:15; 2 Pet. 2:13]are drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, #Isa. 59:17; Eph. 6:14, 17having put on the breastplate of #[Eph. 6:23]faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9For God has not destined us for #See ch. 1:10wrath, but #2 Thess. 2:13, 14; [Heb. 10:39]to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10#Rom. 14:9; [2 Tim. 2:11]who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Final Instructions and Benediction
12We ask you, brothers, #1 Cor. 16:18; Phil. 2:29to respect those who labor among you and #1 Cor. 16:16; Heb. 13:17are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. #See Mark 9:50Be at peace among yourselves. 14And we urge you, brothers, admonish #2 Thess. 3:6, 7, 11the idle,#5:14 Or disorderly, or undisciplined #Isa. 35:4; [Heb. 12:12] encourage the fainthearted, #Acts 20:35; See Rom. 15:1help the weak, #See 1 Cor. 13:4be patient with them all. 15See that #1 Pet. 3:9; See Rom. 12:17no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always #[Rom. 12:9]; See Gal. 6:10seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16#Phil. 4:4Rejoice always, 17#See Luke 18:1pray without ceasing, 18#See Eph. 5:20give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19#[1 Cor. 14:30; Eph. 4:30; 1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6]Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do not despise #See 1 Cor. 11:4prophecies, 21but #1 John 4:1; [Job 34:4]; See Eph. 5:10test everything; hold fast what is good. 22Abstain from every form of evil.
23Now may #See Rom. 15:33the God of peace himself #Ex. 31:13; John 17:17sanctify you completely, and may your #2 Pet. 3:14; Jude 1whole #Luke 1:46, 47; Heb. 4:12; [1 Cor. 14:14] spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at #See ch. 2:19the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24#See 1 Cor. 1:9He who calls you is faithful; #[Phil. 1:6]he will surely do it.
25 #2 Thess. 3:1; Heb. 13:18 Brothers, pray for us.
26 #See Rom. 16:16 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
27I put you under oath before the Lord to have #Col. 4:16this letter read to all the brothers.
28 #See Rom. 16:20 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
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