1 Thessalonians 5:1

1Th 5:1-28. The Suddenness of Christ's Coming a Motive for Watchfulness; Various Precepts: Prayer for Their Being Found Blameless, Body, Soul, and Spirit, at Christ's Coming: Conclusion. 1. times--the general and indefinite term for chronological periods. seasons--the opportune times (Da 7:12; Ac 1:7). Time denotes quantity; season, quality. Seasons are parts of times. ye have no need--those who watch do not need to be told when the hour will come, for they are always ready [Bengel]. cometh--present: expressing its speedy and awful certainty.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

1st Thessalonians Chapter 5

ANALYSIS OF CHAPTER

THIS chapter consists of two parts.

I. The continuation of the subject of the coming of the Lord, 1Thes 5:1-11; and,

II. Various practical exhortations.

In the first part, the apostle states

(1.)that it was well understood by the Thessalonians that the coming of the Lord would be sudden, and at an unexpected moment, 1Thes 5:1,2;

(2.) he refers to the effect of his coming on the wicked and the righteous, and says that it would be attended with the sudden and inevitable destruction of the former, 1Thes 5:3; but that the result of his coming would be far different on the righteous, 1Thes 5:4-11. The prospect of his coming was fitted to make them watchful and sober, 1Thes 5:6-8; and his advent would be attended with their certain salvation, 1Thes 5:9-11.

In the second part of the chapter, he exhorts them to show proper respect for their spiritual teachers and rulers, 1Thes 5:12,13; to endeavour to restrain the unruly, to support the feeble, and to evince towards all the spirit of patience and forbearance, 1Thes 5:14; to manifest a meek and benevolent manner of life, 1Thes 5:18; to rejoice always, 1Thes 5:16; to pray constantly, 1Thes 5:17; to render thanks to God in every situation, 1Thes 5:18; to cherish the influences of the Holy Ghost on their souls, 1Thes 5:19; to show respect for all the divine prophetic communications, 1Thes 5:20; to consider and examine carefully everything submitted to them for belief; to adhere steadfastly to all that was good and true, 1Thes 5:21; and to avoid the appearance of evil, 1Thes 5:22. The epistle closes with a fervent prayer that God would sanctify them entirely; with an earnest entreaty that they would pray for him; with a command that the epistle should be read to all the churches, and with the benediction, 1Thes 5:23-28.

Verse 1. But of the times and the seasons. Acts 1:7. The reference here is to the coming of the Lord Jesus, and to the events connected with his advent. See the close of 1Thes 4.

Ye have no need that I write unto you. That is, they had received all the information on the particular point to which he refers, which it was necessary they should have. He seems to refer to the suddenness of his coming. It is evident from this, as well as from other parts of this epistle, that this had been, from some cause, a prominent topic which he had dwelt on when he was with them. 1Thes 1:10.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Introduction

The apostle continues to speak of Christ's coming to judgment, and the uncertainty of the time in which it shall take place, and the careless state of sinners, 1Thes 5:1-3. Shows the Thessalonians that they are children of the light; that they should watch and pray, and put on the armor of God, being called to obtain salvation by Christ, who died for them; that whether dead or alive, when the day of judgment comes, they may live for ever with him; and that they should comfort and edify each other with these considerations, 1Thes 5:4-11. He exhorts them to remember those who labor among them, and are over them in the Lord; and to esteem such highly for their work's sake, 1Thes 5:12, 1Thes 5:13. He charges them to warn, comfort, and support those who stood in need of such assistance, and to be patient and beneficent towards all, 1Thes 5:14, 1Thes 5:15. He points out their high spiritual privileges; warns them against neglecting or misimproving the gifts of the Spirit, and the means of grace, 1Thes 5:16-20. They are also exhorted to prove all things; to abstain from all evil; and to expect to be sanctified, through spirit, soul, and body, by him who has promised this, and who is faithful to his promises, 1Thes 5:21-24. Recommends himself and brethren to their prayers; shows them how they are to greet each other; charges them to read this epistle to all the brethren; and concludes with the usual apostolical benediction, 1Thes 5:25-28. Verse 1 But of the times and the seasons - It is natural to suppose, after what he had said in the conclusion of the preceding chapter concerning the coming of Christ, the raising of the dead, and rendering those immortal who should then be found alive, without obliging them to pass through the empire of death, that the Thessalonians would feel an innocent curiosity to know, as the disciples did concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, when those things should take place, and what should be the signs of those times, and of the coming of the Son of man. And it is remarkable that the apostle answers, here, to these anticipated questions as our Lord did, in the above case, to the direct question of his disciples; and he seems to refer in these words, Of the times and the seasons ye have no need that I write unto you, for yourselves know that the day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night, to what our Lord said, Mat 24:44; Mat 25:13; and the apostle takes it for granted that they were acquainted with our Lord's prediction on the subject: For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. It is very likely therefore, that the apostle, like our Lord, couples these two grand events-the destruction of Jerusalem and the final judgment. And it appears most probable that it is of the former event chiefly that he speaks here, as it was certainly of the latter that he treated in the conclusion of the preceding chapter. In the notes on Act 1:6, Act 1:7, it has already been shown that the χρονους η καιρους, times or seasons, (the very same terms which are used here), refer to the destruction of the Jewish commonwealth; and we may fairly presume that they have the same meaning in this place.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

It is needless or useless to ask about the particular time of Christ's coming. Christ did not reveal this to the apostles. There are times and seasons for us to work in, and these are our duty and interest to know and observe; but as to the time when we must give up our account, we know it not, nor is it needful that we should. The coming of Christ will be a great surprise to men. Our Lord himself said so. As the hour of death is the same to each person that the judgment will be to mankind in general, so the same remarks answer for both. Christ's coming will be terrible to the ungodly. Their destruction will overtake them while they dream of happiness, and please themselves with vain amusements. There will be no means to escape the terror or the punishment of that day. This day will be a happy day to the righteous. They are not in darkness; they are the children of the light. It is the happy condition of all true Christians. But how many are speaking peace and safety to themselves, over whose heads utter destruction is hovering! Let us endeavour to awaken ourselves and each other, and guard against our spiritual enemies.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain