1 Thessalonians 5: Children of the Day
Since the day of the Lord comes like a thief, the believers are to stay awake and sober and live a watchful, loving, thankful life until Christ returns.
1 Thessalonians 5 (WEB)
1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that anything be written to you.
2 For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night.
3 For when they are saying, “Peace and safety,” then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a pregnant woman; and they will in no way escape.
4 But you, brothers, aren’t in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief.
5 You are all children of light, and children of the day. We don’t belong to the night, nor to darkness,
6 so then let’s not sleep, as the rest do, but let’s watch and be sober.
7 For those who sleep, sleep in the night, and those who are drunk are drunk in the night.
8 But let us, since we belong to the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and, for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Therefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as you also do.
12 But we beg you, brothers, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you,
13 and to respect and honor them in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
14 We exhort you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, encourage the faint-hearted, support the weak, be patient toward all.
15 See that no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that which is good, for one another, and for all.
16 Rejoice always.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.
19 Don’t quench the Spirit.
20 Don’t despise prophesies.
21 Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.
22 Abstain from every form of evil.
23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it.
25 Brothers, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
27 I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the holy brothers.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
1 Thessalonians 5 (KJV)
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
25 Brethren, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. The first epistle unto the Thessalonians was written from Athens.
1 Thessalonians 5 (ASV)
1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief:
5 for ye are all sons of light, and sons of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness;
6 so then let us not sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that are drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God appointed us not unto wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Wherefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as also ye do.
12 But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
13 and to esteem them exceeding highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
14 And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all.
15 See that none render unto any one evil for evil; but always follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all.
16 Rejoice always;
17 pray without ceasing;
18 in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward.
19 Quench not the Spirit;
20 despise not prophesyings;
21 prove all things; hold fast that which is good;
22 abstain from every form of evil.
23 And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it.
25 Brethren, pray for us.
26 Salute all the brethren with a holy kiss.
27 I adjure you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the brethren.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Summary
Concerning the times and seasons, Paul says they need nothing written, for they know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” sudden destruction will fall like birth pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But the Thessalonians are not in darkness; they are all children of light and children of the day, belonging neither to the night nor to darkness. So they must not sleep like the rest but stay awake and sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint them to wrath but to obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for them so that, whether awake or asleep, they may live together with him. Therefore they are to exhort and build one another up. Paul urges them to know, respect, and honor in love those who labor among them and to be at peace, to admonish the disorderly, encourage the faint-hearted, support the weak, and be patient toward all, never returning evil for evil but always pursuing good. He calls them to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in everything, not quench the Spirit or despise prophecies, but test everything and hold to the good while abstaining from every form of evil. He prays that the God of peace will sanctify them completely and preserve them blameless at the coming of the Lord Jesus, and assures them that the faithful God who calls them will do it. He closes asking for prayer, greeting the believers, and commanding that the letter be read to all, with the grace of the Lord Jesus.
Key Figures
- Paul — The apostle who urges the church to watchful, sober readiness for the day of the Lord and gives final exhortations to a joyful, prayerful, peaceable community life.
- The Thessalonian church — Children of light and of the day, called to stay awake, encourage one another, honor their leaders, and live blamelessly until Christ's coming.
- Church leaders — Those who labor among the believers, are over them in the Lord, and admonish them, to be known, respected, and honored in love for their work's sake.
- The God of peace and the Lord Jesus — The faithful God who sanctifies and preserves his people blameless, and the Lord Jesus who died for us so we may live with him at his coming.
Key Verse
1 Thessalonians 5:9 (WEB)
For God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Lessons Learned
- The day of the Lord will come suddenly, so believers live alert and sober, not complacent.
- As children of light we belong to the day and are not destined for wrath but for salvation.
- Christian community is built by encouraging, honoring, and patiently bearing with one another.
- A life pleasing to God rejoices always, prays continually, and gives thanks in everything.
- The faithful God who calls us is the one who sanctifies and keeps us blameless to the end.
- Live alert for the Lord's return. Since “the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2, WEB), believers “watch and be sober” as children of the day (1 Thessalonians 5:6).
- We are destined for salvation, not wrath. “God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9, WEB). Our future is secured in Christ, who died for us.
- Build one another up. Paul says, “exhort one another, and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, WEB), honoring leaders and patiently supporting the weak (1 Thessalonians 5:12-14).
- Rejoice, pray, and give thanks. “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, WEB) is God's will for us, sustaining a watchful, joyful life.
- God will keep what he began. “He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24, WEB). The God of peace himself sanctifies and preserves us blameless for Christ's coming.
- Why does Paul compare the day of the Lord to “a thief in the night” (5:2), and how should that shape our living?
- What does it mean to be “children of light” and “children of the day” (5:5), and how is that different from belonging to the night?
- How do the instructions in verses 11-15 build a healthy, caring church community?
- Why might Paul place “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in everything” (5:16-18) together as God's will?
- Paul ends assuring them that “he who calls you is faithful, who will also do it” (5:24). How does God's faithfulness encourage you to keep pursuing holiness?
- The thief image stresses suddenness and the danger of false security—people crying “peace and safety” are caught off guard (5:2-3). For believers it is not terror but a call to stay awake and sober (5:6). Readiness is ongoing faithfulness, not anxious date-setting.
- Children of light belong to the day, to truth and holiness, while the night represents darkness, ignorance, and judgment (5:4-7). Believers live differently because they already belong to Christ. Encourage the group to consider how this identity shapes daily choices.
- Paul calls them to encourage one another, honor their leaders, admonish the disorderly, comfort the faint-hearted, support the weak, be patient, and refuse to repay evil for evil (5:11-15). A loving community shares responsibility for one another's growth and peace.
- Joy, prayer, and thanksgiving are linked because each flows from trusting God in all circumstances, and together they sustain a watchful, hopeful life (5:16-18). They are not feelings to manufacture but a posture toward the God who holds our future.
- This is a personal-application question. Holiness rests not on our willpower alone but on the faithful God who sanctifies and preserves us (5:23-24). As leader, encourage members that their pursuit of holiness is upheld by God's promise to complete the work he began.