1 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 5
Like a Thief in the Night
1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need for anything to be written to you, 2 for you yourselves know precisely that the day of the Lord comes in just this way — like a thief in the night. 3 When they are saying, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction comes upon them, like the birth pang on the woman who has one in the womb, and they will certainly not escape.
4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that the day should overtake you like a thief; 5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of 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 are drunk at night. 8 But we, being of day, let us be sober, having put on a breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of rescue; 9 because God did not set us for wrath but for the gaining of rescue through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we stay awake or sleep we may live together with him. 11 So urge one another, and build up one the other, just as you are also doing.
Know Those Who Labor Among You
12 Now we ask you, brothers, to know those who labor among you and stand in front of you in the Lord and warn you, 13 and to consider them beyond all measure in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers: warn the disorderly, console the fainthearted, hold on to the weak, be patient toward all. 15 See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good toward one another and toward all.
The God of Peace Himself
23 Now may the God of peace himself make you holy, complete through and through; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept whole, blameless, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is the one who calls you, who will also do it.
25 Brothers, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I put you under oath by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brothers. 28 The favor of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.