1 Tesalonika 5:2

5:2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord ¹  will come in the same way as a thief in the night. ² 

1 Tesalonika 5:4

5:4 But you, brothers and sisters, ³  are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would.

1 Tesalonika 5:23

Conclusion

5:23 Now may the God of peace himself make you completely holy and may your spirit and soul and body be kept entirely blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Tesalonika 5:7

5:7 For those who sleep, sleep at night and those who get drunk are drunk at night.

1 Tesalonika 2:19

2:19 For who is our hope or joy or crown to boast of ⁴  before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not of course you?

1 Tesalonika 3:13

3:13 so that your hearts are strengthened in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. ⁵ 

1 Tesalonika 4:15

4:15 For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, ⁶  that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep.

1 Tesalonika 5:1

The Day of the Lord

5:1 Now on the topic of times and seasons, ⁷  brothers and sisters, ⁸  you have no need for anything to be written to you.

1 Tesalonika 4:1

A Life Pleasing to God

4:1 Finally then, brothers and sisters, ⁹  we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us about how ¹⁰  you must live and please God (as you are in fact living) ¹¹  that you do so more and more.

[5:2]  ¹ sn The day of the Lord is the period of time in the future when the Lord will intervene in the events of this earth to consummate his redemption and his judgment (Isa 2:11-12; 13:6-13; Ezek 30:3; Joel 1:15; 2:32; 3:18; Amos 5:18-20; Obad 15-17; Zeph 1:7-18; 2:2-3; Zech 14:1, 13, 20-21; Mal 4:1, 5; 1 Cor 1:8; 5:5; 2 Cor 1:14; 2 Thess 2:2; 2 Pet 3:10). It includes both blessings and curses, though the latter is emphasized here.

[5:2]  ² sn Jesus used a thief coming at night as an illustration of the unexpected and hostile nature of the coming of God’s judgment in the future. This is repeated in various ways in v. 4; 2 Pet 3:10; Rev 3:3; 16:15.

[5:4]  ³ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.

[2:19]  ⁴ sn Crown to boast of (Grk “crown of boasting”). Paul uses boasting or exultation to describe the Christian’s delight in being commended for faithful service by the Lord at his return (1 Cor 9:15-16; 2 Cor 1:12-14; 10:13-18; Phil 2:16; and 1 Cor 3:14; 4:5).

[3:13]  ⁵ tc ‡ Important and early witnesses (א* A D* 81 629 lat) have ἀμήν (amhn, “amen”) at the end of this benediction, while the majority of mss, including several excellent witnesses (א² B D² F G Ψ 0278 1739 1881 Ï it sy sa), lack the particle. A decision is difficult, but in light of Paul’s habit of adding the ἀμήν to his notes of praise, even in the middle of his letters (cf. Rom 9:5; 11:36; 15:33; Gal 1:5), one might expect scribes to emulate this practice. Although a decision is difficult, it is probably best to follow the shorter reading. NA²⁷ has the particle in brackets, indicating some doubts as to its authenticity.

[4:15]  ⁶ sn The word of the Lord is a technical expression in OT literature, often referring to a divine prophetic utterance (e.g., Gen 15:1, Isa 1:10, Jonah 1:1). In the NT it occurs 15 times: 3 times as ῥῆμα τοῦ κυρίου (rJhma tou kuriou; Luke 22:61, Acts 11:16, 1 Pet 1:25) and 12 times as λόγος τοῦ κυρίου (logo" tou kuriou; here and in Acts 8:25; 13:44, 48, 49; 15:35, 36; 16:32; 19:10, 20; 1 Thess 1:8; 2 Thess 3:1). As in the OT, this phrase focuses on the prophetic nature and divine origin of what has been said.

[5:1]  ⁷ tn Grk “concerning the times and the seasons,” a reference to future periods of eschatological fulfillment (cf. Acts 1:7).

[5:1]  ⁸ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.

[4:1]  ⁹ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.

[4:1]  ¹⁰ sn As you received instruction from us about how (Grk “as you received from us how”). The Greek word translated received is used for accepting instructions passed on as fixed traditions from teacher to follower. Paul speaks in these terms about doctrinal traditions as well as ethical instruction that he passes on to his converts and expects them to keep (cf. 1 Cor 11:2, 23; 15:1-3; Gal 1:9; Phil 4:9; 2 Thess 2:15; 3:6).

[4:1]  ¹¹ tc This parenthetical clause is absent in several later witnesses (D² Ψ Ï), but it may have been expunged for sounding redundant. The longer text, in this instance, is solidly supported by א A B D* F G 0183^vid 0278 33 81 104 326 365 629 al co and should be unquestionably preferred.