1 Thessalonians 5:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.

NIV: Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you,

NASB: Now as to the periods and times, brothers and sisters, you have no need of anything to be written to you.

CSB: About the times and the seasons: Brothers and sisters, you do not need anything to be written to you.

NLT: Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you.

KJV: But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

NKJV: But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.

Earlier, Paul commended the Christians at Thessalonica for their faithfulness and spiritual strength (1 Thessalonians 3:5–7). Every generation seems curious about the future and has numerous questions about the Lord's return. The Thessalonians had similar questions, but when Paul was in Thessalonica on his second missionary journey he had spent considerable time speaking to the brothers there about the day of the Lord. They knew quite a bit about the end times, but they needed to apply what they knew to their circumstances. Likely, they thought they had already entered the day of the Lord because of the suffering they were experiencing at the hands of their persecutors.

"Times" in this verse is the Greek word, chronōn, from the same root which give us the English word "chronology." It refers mainly to a period of time, and occurs 53 times in the New Testament. The word "seasons" is from the Greek kairōn, and is found 86 times in the New Testament. It is translated "time" 33 times and "season" 16 times. The same two words are found in Acts 1:7 where Jesus answered the disciples' question, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6). He said, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed in his own authority." No one needs to know everything about the Lord's return. We have enough information about it in Scripture to anticipate it and to order our lives properly in light of it.

First Thessalonians 5:1–11 informs believers about the day of the Lord. This phrase refers both to the moment of the rapture as well as the seven-year tribulation period that follows the rapture. The passage assures us that believers will not experience the tribulation. The day of the Lord will commence unexpectedly, like the arrival of a thief at night. It is described as a time of darkness with dreadful consequences. Unbelievers, identified as those who belong to the night, will be overtaken by destruction. But believers are, symbolically, of the day not the night. They are not the objects of God's wrath, but are destined to receive a full rescue from the day of God's wrath. In view of their exemption from the day of the Lord, believers ought to encourage and edify one another.

First Thessalonians chapter 5 reiterates that the rapture will occur quickly, catching the unbelieving world unprepared. In contrast, Paul presents faithful Christians as those who are aware and ready for this event. This passage uses the contrast of day versus night to highlight those differences. Paul also completes his letter by offering various practical instructions. These include the need to be peaceful, hardworking, and forgiving. He also commends constant prayer and an attitude of joyfulness, before closing his letter with a command for this letter to be read aloud.

The end of chapter 4 discussed the nature of the rapture: a sudden, physical ''taking away'' of believers from the earth. Here, Paul continues to refer to this event's sudden and dramatic nature. A key analogy used in this passage is that of daytime versus darkness, and the concept of being awake and alert. As with many of Paul's letters, practical instructions make up the bulk of his closing statements. In particular, Paul adds a command that this letter be read aloud among all of the people of the Thessalonian church.

The apostle Paul's second missionary journey included a visit to the prominent Greek city of Thessalonica. This stood alongside a major land route and boasted a busy seaport. A number of individuals believed Paul's message (Acts 17:1–4), but an angry mob forced Paul to leave the city after his brief stay. Later, while in Athens, Paul received a glowing report: the believers at Thessalonica were growing spiritually and serving God fervently. However, they had questions about the Lord's return, including what happens to a believer who dies before that day. And, as all churches do, they had some areas in which they were falling short. In Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians, written about AD 51, he addresses these developments. Paul expresses gratitude for the Thessalonian believers' spiritual progress, and frequently makes references to Christ's impending return.