1 Thessalonians 5:27 - Printer Friendly

ESV: I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

NIV: I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.

NASB: I put you under oath by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.

CSB: I charge you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brothers and sisters.

NLT: I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters.

KJV: I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.

NKJV: I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.

Paul commands the Thessalonians to read his letter aloud to the entire church. The Greek word used here is anagnōsthēnai, meaning "to read," "to distinguish," or "to make known." Paul's inspired letter to the believers at Thessalonica was so important that he puts the Thessalonians under an oath to orally present it to the entire church. He didn't want anyone to be ignorant of its message about the rapture and what is involved in leading a solid Christian life.

Today, as well, there is no substitute for personal exposure to God's Word. In His high priestly prayer Jesus asked the Father to sanctify believers—to make them holy—in the truth. He added: "your word is truth" (John 17:17). Paul understood that God's Word is able to mature us and equip us for effective living and service (2 Timothy 3:16–17), so he admonished Timothy to "preach the word" (2 Timothy 4:2). When the Lord commissioned Joshua to lead Israel into the Promised Land, He commanded: "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success" (Joshua 1:8).

First Thessalonians 5:23–28 concludes Paul's initial letter to the Thessalonians. He pronounces a benediction of peace and prays that God will make the Thessalonians completely holy. He prays that this holiness would extend to their spirit, soul, and body and that they would be preserved free of every legitimate accusation at the rapture. He expresses confidence that God would make this happen. Paul's final instructions include a request for the Thessalonians to pray for him, a command to greet one another cordially, and a command to read aloud this very letter to the entire church. Finally, he invokes God's grace to be with his readers.

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.