Bullet Point Bible - 1 Thessalonians 5

The Day of the Lord's Return

¹ Now on the topic of times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you.² For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come in the same way as a thief in the night.³ Now when they are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape.⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would.⁵ For you all are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness.⁶ So then we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober.⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night and those who get drunk are drunk at night.⁸ But since we are of the day, we must stay sober by putting on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet our hope for salvation .⁹ For God did not destine us for wrath but for gaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.¹⁰ He died for us so that whether we are alert or asleep we will come to life together with him.¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, just as you are in fact doing.

Paul indicates the Thessalonians were already instructed about the basic certainty of the Lord's return, though not the specific timing ("times and seasons") (1 Thess 5:1).
The "day of the Lord" is a significant Old Testament theme, often signifying divine judgment and intervention (cf. Joel 2, Amos 5).
The analogy of a "thief in the night" emphasizes the suddenness and unexpectedness of Christ's return for the unprepared world (1 Thess 5:2).
A false sense of "peace and security" will characterize the world system just before the sudden onset of judgment (1 Thess 5:3).
The inevitability and inescapability of this judgment are compared to "labor pains on a pregnant woman" (1 Thess 5:3).
Believers ("sons of the light and sons of the day") are contrasted with the world ("darkness"), implying a different spiritual state and preparedness (1 Thess 5:4-5).
Because believers belong to the light, the Day of the Lord should not catch them by surprise like a thief (1 Thess 5:4).
The required response for believers is spiritual alertness ("stay alert") and moral self-control ("sober"), contrasting with spiritual apathy ("sleep") and worldly indulgence ("drunk") (1 Thess 5:6-7).
Paul employs military imagery: believers should wear the spiritual armor of faith, love (as a breastplate), and the hope of salvation (as a helmet) (1 Thess 5:8; cf. Eph 6:13-17).
God's ultimate purpose for believers is not eschatological wrath but the attainment of salvation through Jesus Christ (1 Thess 5:9).
Christ's death ensures that believers, whether living ("alert") or deceased ("asleep") at his return, will share eternal life with him (1 Thess 5:10), reinforcing the teaching in 1 Thess 4:13-18.
This shared hope is the basis for mutual encouragement and edification within the Christian community (1 Thess 5:11).

Instructions for Christian Living

¹² Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who labor among you and preside over you in the Lord and admonish you,¹³ and to esteem them most highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the undisciplined, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient toward all.¹⁵ See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.¹⁶ Always rejoice,¹⁷ constantly pray,¹⁸ in everything give thanks. For this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.¹⁹ Do not extinguish the Spirit.²⁰ Do not treat prophecies with contempt.²¹ But examine all things; hold fast to what is good.²² Stay away from every form of evil.

Paul calls for respect and high esteem ("acknowledge," "esteem them most highly in love") for church leaders (1 Thess 5:12-13).
Leadership roles involved diligent work ("labor"), presiding or managing ("preside over you"), and providing corrective guidance ("admonish you") (1 Thess 5:12).
Internal harmony ("Be at peace among yourselves") is a crucial goal for the church community (1 Thess 5:13).
Specific instructions are given for dealing with different groups within the church: correcting the idle or disorderly ("undisciplined"), encouraging the fearful ("discouraged"), supporting the vulnerable ("weak"), and exercising patience universally (1 Thess 5:14).
A key ethical command is non-retaliation ("See that no one pays back evil for evil"), reflecting Jesus' teachings (cf. Matt 5:38-42) (1 Thess 5:15).
Believers are called to proactively seek the well-being ("pursue what is good") both of fellow Christians and outsiders (1 Thess 5:15).
Three foundational attitudes mark the Christian life: continuous joy ("Always rejoice"), persistent prayer ("constantly pray"), and universal gratitude ("in everything give thanks") (1 Thess 5:16-18).
These attitudes constitute God's revealed will for believers as they live "in Christ Jesus" (1 Thess 5:18).
Believers must avoid hindering the Holy Spirit's work ("Do not extinguish the Spirit"), possibly referring to suppressing spiritual gifts or conviction (1 Thess 5:19).
Prophetic messages should not be dismissed lightly ("Do not treat prophecies with contempt"), indicating the presence of this gift in Thessalonica (1 Thess 5:20).
Discernment is essential: believers must test or evaluate all things (likely including prophecies), retaining what aligns with truth and goodness ("examine all things; hold fast to what is good") (1 Thess 5:21).
A comprehensive call to holiness involves abstaining from every manifestation or appearance ("form") of evil (1 Thess 5:22).

Final Blessing and Closing Remarks

²³ Now may the God of peace himself make you completely holy and may your spirit and soul and body be kept entirely blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.²⁴ He who calls you is trustworthy, and he will in fact do this.²⁵ Brothers and sisters, pray for us too.²⁶ Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss.²⁷ I call on you solemnly in the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.²⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Paul concludes with a prayer-wish (benediction) for the Thessalonians' complete sanctification (1 Thess 5:23).
The source of this sanctification is "the God of peace himself," highlighting God's role in bringing wholeness and holiness (1 Thess 5:23).
The prayer encompasses the whole person ("spirit and soul and body"), aiming for comprehensive blamelessness until Christ's return (1 Thess 5:23). This emphasizes holistic integrity rather than a technical division of human nature.
Assurance for this future state rests not on human effort alone, but on God's faithfulness ("He who calls you is trustworthy") and His commitment to complete His work (1 Thess 5:24).
Paul requests prayer for himself and his missionary team, demonstrating mutual dependence within the body of Christ (1 Thess 5:25).
The instruction to greet one another with a "holy kiss" signifies familial affection, unity, and fellowship within the church (1 Thess 5:26). It was a common cultural expression adapted for Christian community.
Paul gives a solemn charge ("I call on you solemnly in the Lord") for the public reading of the entire letter to the whole church, underscoring its authority and importance for all believers (1 Thess 5:27).
The letter closes with a standard Pauline benediction, invoking the undeserved favor ("grace") of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the recipients (1 Thess 5:28).

The Bullet Point Bible

1 Thessalonians 5