1 Thessalonians 5:1-3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-5

In these words observe, I. The apostle tells the Thessalonians it was needless or useless to enquire about the particular time of Christ's coming: Of the times and seasons you need not that I write unto you, 1 Thess. 5:1. The thing is certain that Christ will come, and there is a certain time appointed for his coming; but there was no need that the apostle should write about this, and therefore he had no revelation given him; nor should they or we enquire into this secret, which the Father has... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

5:1-11 You have no need, brothers, that anything should be written to you about the times and seasons; for you yourselves well know that, as a thief in the night, so the day of the Lord comes. When they are saying, "All is well; all is safe," then sudden destruction comes upon them, just as the labour pains come on a woman who is with child, and very certainly they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in the dark. You are not in a situation in which the day, like a thief, can surprise... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 5:1

But of the times and the seasons, brethren ,.... Of the coming of Christ, his "appointed time" and "his day", as the Ethiopic version renders it; of the resurrection of the dead in Christ first, and of the rapture of all the saints in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, things treated of in the preceding chapter: and which might excite a curiosity to know the times and seasons of them; as in what year they would come to pass; in what season of the year, whether winter or summer; in what... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 5:2

For yourselves know perfectly ,.... With great exactness and accuracy, with great clearness and perspicuity, as a certain truth, which was made plain and evident to them, and about which there could be no question; and which perfect knowledge they had, either from the words of Christ, Matthew 24:42 , or from the ministration of the apostle and his fellow labourers, when among them: that the day of the Lord ; of the Lord Jesus, when he will show himself to be King of kings, and Lord of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 5:3

For when they shall say ,.... Or men shall say, that is, wicked and ungodly men, persons in a state of unregeneracy: peace and safety ; when they shall sing a requiem, to themselves, promise themselves much ease and peace for years to come, and imagine their persons and property to be very secure from enemies and oppressors, and shall flatter themselves with much and long temporal happiness: then sudden destruction cometh upon them ; as on the men of the old world in the times of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 5:1

But of the times and the seasons - It is natural to suppose, after what he had said in the conclusion of the preceding chapter concerning the coming of Christ, the raising of the dead, and rendering those immortal who should then be found alive, without obliging them to pass through the empire of death, that the Thessalonians would feel an innocent curiosity to know, as the disciples did concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, when those things should take place, and what should be the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 5:3

For when they shall say, Peace and safety - This points out, very particularly, the state of the Jewish people when the Romans came against them; and so fully persuaded were they that God would not deliver the city and temple to their enemies, that they refused every overture that was made to them. Sudden destruction - In the storming of their city and the burning of their temple, and the massacre of several hundreds of thousands of themselves; the rest being sold for slaves, and the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 5:1

Verse 1 1But as to times. He now, in the third place, calls them back from a curious and unprofitable inquiry as to times, but in the mean time admonishes them to be constantly in a state of preparation for receiving Christ. (589) He speaks, however, by way of anticipation, saying, that they have no need that he should write as to those things which the curious desire to know. For it is an evidence of excessive incredulity not to believe what the Lord foretells, unless he marks out the day by... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 5:2

Verse 2 2Ye know perfectly. He places exact knowledge in contrast with an anxious desire of investigation. But what is it that he says the Thessalonians know accurately? (591) It is, that the day of Christ will come suddenly and unexpectedly, so as to take unbelievers by surprise, as a thief does those that are asleep. This, however, is opposed to evident tokens, which might portend afar off his coming to the world. Hence it were foolish to wish to determine the time precisely from presages or... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 5:3

Verse 3 3For when they shall say. Here we have an explanation of the similitude, the day of the Lord will be like a thief in the night. Why so? because it will come suddenly to unbelievers, when not looked for, so that it will take them by surprise, as though they were asleep. But whence comes that sleep? Assuredly from deep contempt of God. The prophets frequently reprove the wicked on account of this supine negligence, and assuredly they await in a spirit of carelessness not merely that last... read more

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