Concerning times and seasons, Paul affirms they know accurately that the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night, with sudden destruction upon those saying 'peace and safety,' but believers as children of light and day need not be overtaken. He provides concluding exhortations: know and esteem leaders, be at peace, warn the unruly, comfort the fainthearted, support the weak, rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks, do not quench the Spirit or despise prophecies but test all things, abstain from evil, and the God of peace will sanctify them wholly.
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Read 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5 Summary
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Athens
View on MapAthens was the intellectual capital of the ancient world, famous for its philosophers and the Areopagus. Paul visited Athens during his second missionary journey and delivered his famous sermon on Mars Hill, addressing the Athenians' altar to the "unknown god" and proclaiming the true God who raised Jesus from the dead.
Questions this chapter raises
Prayers built on this chapter
Position in Book
ThanksgivingChapters 1
Paul's MinistryChapters 2-3
Holy LivingChapters 4:1-12
Sexual purity, brotherly love, quiet work.
Christ's ReturnChapters 4:13-5:28
Dead in Christ rise first, watchfulness, final instructions.
Bible Bites
Paul's first letter
1 Thessalonians is likely Paul's earliest surviving letter, written around AD 50-51, just months after founding the church there. Every chapter ends with a reference to Christ's return, showing it was a central concern for this young congregation.
1 Thessalonians