1 Thessalonians 5
1 Thessalonians 5 is part of “The Day of the Lord and Readiness” (5:1–11) in the outline of 1 Thessalonians.
1 Thessalonians 5 summary
The apostle, having spoken in the end of the foregoing chapter concerning the resurrection, and the second coming of Christ, proceeds to speak concerning the uselessness of enquiring after the particular time of Christ's coming, which would be sudden and terrible to the wicked, but comfortable to the saints (Th1 5:1-5). He then exhorts them to the duties of watchfulness, sobriety, and the exercise of faith, love, and hope, as being suitable to their state (Th1 5:6-10). In the next words he exhorts them to several duties they owed to others, or to one another (Th1 5:11-15), afterwards to several other Christian duties of great importance (Th1…
Read the full introduction
The apostle, having spoken in the end of the foregoing chapter concerning the resurrection, and the second coming of Christ, proceeds to speak concerning the uselessness of enquiring after the particular time of Christ's coming, which would be sudden and terrible to the wicked, but comfortable to the saints (Th1 5:1-5). He then exhorts them to the duties of watchfulness, sobriety, and the exercise of faith, love, and hope, as being suitable to their state (Th1 5:6-10). In the next words he exhorts them to several duties they owed to others, or to one another (Th1 5:11-15), afterwards to several other Christian duties of great importance (Th1 5:16-22), and then concludes this epistle (Th1 5:23-28).
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Key verses in 1 Thessalonians 5
1 Thessalonians 5 (GNV)
Geneva Bible 1599 (public domain)
The Day of the Lord
1Bvt of the times and seasons, brethren, yee haue no neede that I write vnto you. 2For ye your selues knowe perfectly, that the day of the Lord shall come, euen as a thiefe in the night. 3For when they shall say, Peace, and safetie, then shall come vpon them sudden destruction, as the trauaile vpon a woman with childe, and they shall not escape, 4But ye, brethren, are not in darkenes, that that day shall come on you, as it were a thiefe. 5Yee are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, neither of darkenesse. 6Therefore let vs not sleepe as do other, but let vs watch and be sober. 7For they that sleepe, sleepe in the night, and they that be drunken, are drunken in the night. 8But let vs which are of the day, be sober, putting on the brest plate of faith and loue, and of the hope of saluation for an helmet. 9For God hath not appointed vs vnto wrath, but to obtaine saluation by the meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ, 10Which died for vs, that whether we wake or sleepe, we should liue together with him. 11Wherefore exhort one another, and edifie one another, euen as ye doe.
Final Instructions and Exhortations
12Nowe we beseeche you, brethren, that ye acknowledge them, which labour among you, and are ouer you in the Lord, and admonish you, 13That yee haue them in singular loue for their workes sake. Bee at peace among your selues. 14We desire you, brethren, admonish them that are out of order: comfort ye feeble minded: beare with the weake: be pacient toward all men. 15See that none recompense euil for euil vnto any man: but euer follow that which is good, both toward your selues, and toward all men. 16Reioyce euermore. 17Pray continually. 18In all thinges giue thankes: for this is the will of God in Christ Iesus toward you. 19Quench not the Spirit. 20Despise not prophecying. 21Try all things, and keepe that which is good. 22Absteine from all appearance of euill.
Benediction and Farewell
23Nowe the very God of peace sanctifie you throughout: and I pray God that your whole spirite and soule and body, may be kept blamelesse vnto the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ. 24Faithfull is hee which calleth you, which will also doe it. 25Brethren, pray for vs. 26Greete all the brethren with an holy kisse. 27I charge you in the Lord, that this Epistle be read vnto all the brethren the Saintes. 28The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with you, Amen. ‘The first Epistle vnto the Thessalonians written from Athens.’