The Day of the Lord
1About the times and the seasons:a •Brothers, you do not need anything to be written to you. 2For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lordb will come just like a thiefc in the night. 3When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destructiond comes on them, like labor pains come on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4But you, brothers, are not in the dark, for this day to overtake you like a thief.e 5For you are all sons of light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness.f 6So then, we must not sleep, like the rest, but we must stay awake and be serious. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, we must be seriousg and put the armorh of faith and love on our chests, and put on a helmeti of the hope of salvation. 9For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lordj Jesus Christ,k 10who died for us,l so that whether we are awake or •asleep,m we will live together with Him.n 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.
Exhortations and Blessings
12Now we ask you, brothers, to give recognitiono to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you, 13and to regard them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peacep among yourselves. 14And we exhort you, brothers:q warn those who are irresponsible,r comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patients with everyone. 15See to it that no one repays evil for evilt to anyone,u but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.v
16Rejoicew always!
17Pray constantly.
18Give thanks in everything,
for this is God’s willx for you in Christ Jesus.
19Don’t stifle the Spirit.
20Don’t despise prophecies,
21but test all things.y
Hold on to what is good.
22Stay awayz from every kind of evil.
23Now may the God of peaceaa Himself •sanctify you completely. And may your spirit,ab soul, and body be kept sound and blameless for the comingac of our Lordad Jesus Christ.ae 24He who callsaf youag is faithful, who also will do it. 25Brothers, pray for us also. 26Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27I charge you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brothers.ah 28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Footnotes:
a. 5:1 Dn 2:21; Ac 1:7
b. 5:2 Jl 2:1; Mt 25:13; Ac 2:20; Php 1:6
c. 5:2 Jn 10:1
d. 5:3 2Th 1:9
e. 5:4 Jb 24:13-17
f. 5:5 Col 1:13
g. 5:8 1Pt 5:8
h. 5:8 Eph 6:14; Rv 9:9,17
i. 5:8 1Sm 17:5,38; Ps 60:7; 108:8; Is 59:17; Eph 6:17
j. 5:9 Rv 11:8
k. 5:9 Ac 15:26
l. 5:10 Jn 11:51; Rm 14:9; 1Co 8:11; Gl 1:4
m. 5:10 1Th 5:6
n. 5:10 Lk 20:38; Php 1:23
o. 5:12 1Co 16:18; Php 2:29
p. 5:13 Mk 9:50
q. 5:14 2Th 3:15
r. 5:14 Or who are disorderly, or who are undisciplined
s. 5:14 Mt 18:26,29; Lk 18:7; 1Co 13:4; Heb 6:15; Jms 5:7-8; 2Pt 3:9
t. 5:15 Mt 5:44; Rm 12:17; 1Pt 3:9
u. 5:15 Lk 7:47
v. 5:15 Rm 12:9; Gl 6:10; 1Th 5:21
w. 5:16 2Co 6:10; Php 1:18
x. 5:18 Eph 6:6; 1Th 4:3; 1Pt 2:15; 4:2; 1Jn 2:17
y. 5:21 Eph 5:17
z. 5:22 1Tm 4:3
aa. 5:23 Rm 15:33
ab. 5:23 Ps 51:12
ac. 5:23 1Th 1:10
ad. 5:23 Rv 11:8
ae. 5:23 1Jn 2:28
af. 5:24 Col 3:15
ag. 5:24 1Pt 1:15
ah. 5:27 Col 4:16
