1 Tesalonika 5:1

The Day of the Lord

5:1 Now on the topic of times and seasons, ¹  brothers and sisters, ²  you have no need for anything to be written to you.

1 Tesalonika 2:19

2:19 For who is our hope or joy or crown to boast of ³  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. ⁴ 

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 4:15

4:15 For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, ⁵  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 3:3

3:3 so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.

1 Tesalonika 2:17

Forced Absence from Thessalonica

2:17 But when we were separated from you, brothers and sisters, ⁶  for a short time (in presence, not in affection) ⁷  we became all the more fervent in our great desire ⁸  to see you in person. ⁹ 

1 Tesalonika 5:3

5:3 Now when ¹⁰  they are saying, “There is peace and security,” ¹¹  then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains ¹²  on a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape.

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

[5:1]  ² tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.

[2:19]  ³ 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]  ⁴ 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]  ⁵ 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.

[2:17]  ⁶ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.

[2:17]  ⁷ tn Grk “in face, not in heart.”

[2:17]  ⁸ tn Grk “with great desire.”

[2:17]  ⁹ tn Grk “to see your face.”

[5:3]  ¹⁰ tc ‡ δέ (de, “now”) is found in א² B D 0226 6 1505 1739 1881 al, but lacking in א* A F G 33 it. γάρ (gar, “for”) is the reading of the Byzantine text and a few other witnesses (Ψ 0278 Ï). Although normally the shorter reading is to be preferred, the external evidence is superior for δέ (being found in the somewhat better Alexandrian and Western witnesses). What, then, is to explain the γάρ? Scribes were prone to replace δέ with γάρ, especially in sentences suggesting a causal or explanatory idea, thus making the point more explicit. Internally, the omission of δέ looks unintentional, a case of homoioarcton (otandelegwsin). Although a decision is difficult, in this instance δέ has the best credentials for authenticity.

[5:3]  ¹¹ tn Grk “peace and security,” with “there is” understood in the Greek construction.

[5:3]  ¹² tn Grk a singular “birth pain.”