The Sudden Arrival of the Day of the Lord

¹ Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need of anything to be written to you,

² for you yourselves well know that the day of the Lord is coming in the same way as a thief in the night.

³ Whenever they say “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction will overtake them like the birth pains of ⌞a pregnant woman⌟¹, and they will not possibly escape.

1. Literally “one who has in the belly”

⁴ But you, brothers, are not in the darkness, so that the day should catch you like a thief,

⁵ for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

⁶ So then, we must not sleep like the rest, but must be on the alert and be self-controlled.

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

⁸ But because¹ we are of the day, we must be sober, by² putting on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet the hope of salvation,

1. Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“are”) which is understood as causal
2. Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“putting on”) which is understood as means

⁹ because God did not appoint us for wrath, but for the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

¹⁰ who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live at the same time with him.

¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build up ⌞each other⌟¹, just as indeed you are doing.

1. Literally “one the one,” i.e., “one the other”

Final Exhortations and Benediction

¹² Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and rule over you in the Lord and admonish you,

¹³ and to esteem them beyond all measure in love, because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, console the discouraged, help the sick, be patient toward all people.

¹⁵ See to it that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue good toward¹ one another and toward all people.

1. Some manuscripts have “both toward”

¹⁶ Rejoice always,

¹⁷ pray constantly,

¹⁸ give thanks in everything; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.

¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit.

²⁰ Do not despise prophecies,

²¹ but examine all things; hold fast to what is good.

²² Abstain from every form of evil.

²³ Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete, blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

²⁴ The one who calls you is faithful, who also will do this.

²⁵ Brothers, pray for us.¹

1. Some manuscripts have “pray for us also”

²⁶ Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

²⁷ I adjure you by the Lord, have this letter read aloud to all the brothers.

²⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.