1TH 5:1-11

The Day of the Lord

1Now concerning the chronological times and the appointed seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you. [5:2] For you yourselves know accurately that the day of the Lord comes just as a thief in the night. [5:3] When they are saying 'Peace and safety,' then sudden destruction comes upon them like birth pains on a woman with child — and they will not escape. [5:4] But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, so that the day would overtake you like a thief. [5:5] For you are all sons of light and sons of day — we are not of night nor of darkness. [5:6] So then let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober. [5:7] For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk, are drunk at night. [5:8] But we, being of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. [5:9] For God did not appoint us to wrath but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, [5:10] who died on our behalf so that, whether we are alert or sleeping, we might live together with him. [5:11] Therefore build up one another, just as also you are doing.

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st-century Greco-Roman world, discussions of time often carried philosophical and eschatological weight. The distinction between (chronological time) and (opportune or critical moment) would have been familiar to Paul’s audience, shaped by both Jewish apocalyptic thought and Stoic ideas of divine timing. The 'Day of the Lord,' rooted in Jewish prophetic tradition (e.g., Amos 5:18-20), evoked imagery of divine judgment and cosmic upheaval. For Thessalonians living under Roman rule, the promise of 'peace and security' (Pax Romana) was a familiar imperial slogan, making Paul’s warning about sudden destruction particularly jarring. The metaphor of labor pains, common in Jewish apocalyptic literature (e.g., Isaiah 13:8), underscored the inevitability and urgency of this event. Paul’s contrast between 'sons of light' and 'sons of night' drew on dualistic language found in Jewish sectarian texts (e.g., Dead Sea Scrolls), emphasizing moral and spiritual readiness. The call to 'build up' one another reflected the communal ethos of early Christian groups, where mutual encouragement was vital in a hostile environment.

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How other translations render this

1TH 5:1

KJV: But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
BSB: Now about the times and seasons, brothers, we do not need to write to you.
Koinōnos: Now concerning the chronological times and the appointed seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you.

1TH 5:2

KJV: For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
BSB: For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
Koinōnos: For you yourselves know accurately that the day of the Lord comes just as a thief in the night.

1TH 5:3

KJV: 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.
BSB: While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
Koinōnos: When they are saying 'Peace and safety,' then sudden destruction comes upon them like birth pains on a woman with child — and they will not escape.

1TH 5:4

KJV: But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
BSB: But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief.
Koinōnos: But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, so that the day would overtake you like a thief.

1TH 5:5

KJV: Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
BSB: For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
Koinōnos: For you are all sons of light and sons of day — we are not of night nor of darkness.

1TH 5:6

KJV: Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
BSB: So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober.
Koinōnos: So then let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober.

1TH 5:7

KJV: For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
BSB: For those who sleep, sleep at night; and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.
Koinōnos: For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk, are drunk at night.

1TH 5:8

KJV: 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.
BSB: But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation.
Koinōnos: But we, being of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

1TH 5:9

KJV: For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
BSB: For God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Koinōnos: For God did not appoint us to wrath but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

1TH 5:10

KJV: Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
BSB: He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.
Koinōnos: who died on our behalf so that, whether we are alert or sleeping, we might live together with him.

1TH 5:11

KJV: Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
BSB: Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
Koinōnos: Therefore build up one another, just as also you are doing.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

1TH 5:1

times:The word translated 'times' refers to a general chronological duration, a span of time that can be measured, without emphasizing any particular quality or significance of that period.
seasons,:The word translated 'seasons' refers to a specific, opportune, or appointed time, a moment pregnant with significance or a critical juncture, rather than just a general period.

1TH 5:3

comes:The word translated 'comes' here is actually a strong term for ruin or destruction, often implying utter annihilation or death, not merely an arrival.

1TH 5:11

do build up:The phrase 'do build up' uses a word that literally means to construct a house or building, carrying the sense of establishing, strengthening, and providing a foundation for growth and stability.