1 Thessalonians 5
The full text of 1 Thessalonians 5 in the Trinity Bible Version — clear modern English, translated from the original Greek. Free to read.
1 Now about times and dates, brothers and sisters, you do not need anything written to you.
2 For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
3 While people are saying, "Peace and safety," sudden destruction will come on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, that this day should surprise you like a thief.
5 For you are all children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
6 So then, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay awake and be sober.
7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.
8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as you are doing.
12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and admonish you.
13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.
14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
15 Make sure that no one pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do good to one another and to everyone.
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing,
18 give thanks in everything; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt,
21 but test everything; hold on to what is good.
22 Stay away from every kind of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace himself make you holy through and through, and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss.
27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Translation notes (8)
- 1 Thessalonians 5:4a While a few early manuscripts read 'like thieves' (implying the day would overtake you as it overtakes thieves), most manuscripts read 'like a thief.' We follow the reading 'like a thief.'
- 1 Thessalonians 5:5a The phrase 'children of light' translates the Semitic idiom 'sons of light' (huioi photos), which describes people who belong to and are characterized by light.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:10a In this verse, 'awake or asleep' shifts from the moral sense used in verse 6 to mean 'alive or dead'—indicating that whether we are alive to see his coming or have already died, we will live with him.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12a The Greek word 'proistamenous,' translated as 'care for you,' can mean to lead, manage, or care for; the intended nuance here is protective leadership.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:14a The Greek phrase 'tous ataktous,' translated as 'idle and disruptive,' is a military term for those who are out of rank, meaning undisciplined or unruly. In this context, it refers to those who are refusing to work.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18a The Greek phrase 'en panti,' translated as 'in everything,' means in every circumstance, not necessarily 'for everything.'
- 1 Thessalonians 5:22a The Greek phrase 'apo pantos eidous ponerou' could also be translated as 'every appearance of evil,' because 'eidous' means 'form' or 'kind.' However, the sense 'every kind of evil' is more likely here.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:27a The Greek word 'enorkizo,' translated as 'I charge you,' is a strong word meaning to put someone under oath. Paul solemnly appeals to them by the Lord.
About this translation
The Trinity Bible Version (TBV) is Trinity Bible's own modern English translation, worked directly from the original Greek and honest to the earliest manuscripts. It was completed in 2026 — the most modern English Bible translation — and is exclusive to Trinity Bible. Every chapter, including all of 1 Thessalonians, is free to read here on the web.
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