1 Thessalonians 5 Commentary



    1: But of the times and the seasons[1] brethren you have no need that I write to you 2: For yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night 3: For when they shall say Peace and Safety*[2] then sudden destruction comes upon them as travail upon a woman with child and they shall not escape[3] 4: But you brethren are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief 5: You are all the children of light and the children of the day We are not of the night nor of darkness[4] 6: Therefore let us not sleep as do others but let us watch and be sober 7: For they that sleep sleep in the night and they that be drunken are drunken in the night 8: 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 deliverance  9: For God has not appointed us to wrath but to obtain deliverance by our Lord Jesus Christ[5] 10: Who died for us that whether we wake or sleep 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 we should live together with him 11: Wherefore comfort yourselves together and edify one another even as also you do 12: And we beseech you brethren to know them who labor among you and care for you[6] in the Lord and encourage you[7] 13: And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake And be at peace among yourselves 14: Now we exhort you brethren warn them that are unruly comfort the faint-hearted support the weak be patient toward all 15: See that none render evil for evil to any but ever follow that which is good both among yourselves and to all 16: Rejoice evermore 17: Pray without ceasing 18: In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you 19: Quench not the Spirit 20: Despise not prophesyings[8] 21: Test all things[9] hold fast that which is good 22: Abstain from all appearance of evil[10] 23: Now the God of peace sanctify you wholly and your whole spirit and soul and body preserved blameless[11] unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 24: Faithful is he that calls you who also will do it 25: Brethren pray for us 26: Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss 27: I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren 28: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you Amen


[1] The times and the seasons of God’s plan of redemption [of our souls, bodies, and the earth], are “set” times. They have already been appointed and are not influenced by what happens or does not happen on earth, but rather, the pre-determined “set” times and seasons of God’s plan are the cause of what happens or does not happen on earth Acts 1:7, Ezekiel 12:27, Daniel 2:21, 8:19 (17-19). 

[2] *Point of interest: 2017 was the international year of Peace and Security (Safety) for the United Nations.

[3] In Luke 17:26-28, Jesus commanded the Jews to pray that they would “escape” the terrible things coming to the inhabitants of the earth. In 1 Thessalonians 5:3, Paul comforted believers by writing to them that only unbelievers would not “escape” the coming wrath of God. This is exactly in line with what Jesus said, and many scholars agree that both Jesus and Paul were speaking of the last days Great Tribulation, also known as the Time of Jacob’s Trouble.

[4] Again, Paul references the teaching of Jesus [John the Baptist and Joel]. Paul wrote that believers are not children of the “night.” Jesus said, “Night is coming when no one can work.” In speaking of the “night,” both Paul and Jesus were speaking of the same thing, the Day of Darkness written of by the prophet Joel [Paul also used the word “dark”]. Paul was referencing the terrible “night” of the Great Tribulation. Both Joel and Jesus warned people to be “very afraid” of the horrendous things coming to the inhabitants of the earth. This is contrary to the usual admonitions to God’s people to “fear nothing.” The reason for these frightful admonitions is because no one has to go through the Great Tribulation. Jesus commanded people to pray that they would be found worthy to escape the coming horrors. John asked the Pharisees and Sadducee's who warned them to flee from the “wrath to come.” Paul promised believers that they were not appointed to “wrath.” Jesus promised that believers [prior to the resurrection/rapture] that they would be “kept from” the hour of trial that would come upon all the world to test them that dwell upon the earth. All, Joel, John the Baptist, Jesus, and Paul were speaking of the terrible [last days] time of Jacob’s Trouble, the Great Tribulation Jeremiah 30:7, Joel 2:1-whole chapter, Matthew 3:7, 24:21-22, 1 Thessalonians 5, Revelation 3:10.  

[5] The Christians at Thessalonica were afraid they had missed the resurrection. Someone had been writing [or telling them] that they were currently in the fearful Time of Jacob’s Trouble, spoken of by the prophets Jeremiah and Joel. Paul assured them that indeed that was not the case, that they were not appointed to wrath but rather to deliverance (resurrection and harpazo). Paul had also written of this to the believers at Corinth 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52.

[6] Throughout the New Testament, the Greek word “proistemi,” is often translated as “rule” or “over,” when it also means to “care for” or “maintain,” depending upon context. In this case, context demands the word be translated as “care for.” Jesus said so. In Mark 10:42-44, we read, “But Jesus called them to him and said to them You know that they who are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them and their great ones exercise authority upon them But so shall it not be among you but whoever will be great among you shall be your diakonos (servant) And whoever of you will be the chiefest shall be slave of all.”

[7] The Greek word, noutheteo (G3560), does not always mean “warn” or “admonish.” It is used in Colossians 3:16, where the context shows, it should have been translated as “encourage.”  

[8] It is unfortunate that that the phrase, “Quench not the Spirit Despise not prophesyings,” [προφητεία prophēteía, prof-ay-ti'-ah; from G4396 ("prophecy"); prediction (scriptural or other):—prophecy, prophesying.] is divided by verse numbers.,They should have been one single verse, as Paul is not giving instruction regarding two separate things. He is admonishing believers not to quench the unction of the Holy Spirit by despising prophesyings. He is not referring to simple straight-forward preaching in this case, but rather to the verbal gifts of the Holy Spirit called prophecy, the word of wisdom, and the word of knowledge. These gifts are spontaneous. They manifest at the pleasure of the Holy Spirit, and when obeyed, often interrupt the planned flow of things in Christian meetings. Paul understood the natural tendency to resent interruptions to carefully planned presentations during church services, and reminded Christians that God can and does interrupt human plans [with his own words] during these gatherings. And when that happens, Christians are instructed to welcome the words of God [spoken through the inspired speaker who may or may not be the scheduled speaker]. And the one who is prompted by the Holy Spirit, is instructed not to quench the words of God by refusing to speak them. 

[9] The Bible is a book of faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God. But even faith is testable. Hebrews 11:1, says faith is the substance (faith has a substance) of things hoped for (if we have hope we have faith) it is the evidence (evidence is proof) of things not [yet] seen. The Bible is the only holy book that [in more than one passage—both Old and New Testaments] commands its readers to test it.  

[10] It does matter what people think. Christians are ambassadors for Christ, and [whenever possible] should take care not to allow wrong impressions to be inferred by observers. Our behavior and choices should accurately reflect Jesus and the choices he would make given the same situations. The sayings, “What would Jesus do?” and “You are the only Bible someone may ever read,” should much more than the clichés they have become. 

[11] One of the ways audawm See Special Features is made in the image of God, is that each individual (believer or unbeliever) is a triune being composed of spirit, soul, and body, yet these three [completely separate and individual] components compose only one person. It is at the Resurrection of the Just, that the bodies of believers will be reunited with their souls and spirits—preserved whole forever. There is a Resurrection of the Damned, where at the final judgement (the Great White Throne Judgement) the bodies, souls, and spirits of the condemned will not be preserved whole.

No comments: