1 Thessalonians 5:4-5

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 5:4

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness ,.... In a state of unregeneracy, which is a state of darkness, blindness, and ignorance, and which is the condition of all men by nature; they are born in darkness, and are brought up in it, and willingly, walk in it; they are covered with it, as the earth was covered with darkness in its first creation; and dwell in it, as the Egyptians did for some days, in thick darkness, darkness which might be felt; their understandings are darkened with respect to... read more

John Gill

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

Ye are all children of light ,.... Or enlightened persons, whose understandings were enlightened by the spirit of God, to see their lost state by nature, the exceeding sinfulness of sin, the insufficiency of their righteousness to justify them before God, the fulness, suitableness, and excellency of Christ's righteousness, the way of salvation by Christ, and that it is all of grace from first to last; to understand in some measure the Scriptures of truth, and the mysteries of the Gospel; to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 5:4

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness - Probably St. Paul refers to a notion that was very prevalent among the Jews, viz.: that God would judge the Gentiles in the night time, when utterly secure and careless; but he would judge the Jews in the day time, when employed in reading and performing the words of the law. The words in Midrash Tehillim, on Psalm 9:8 , are the following: When the holy blessed God shall judge the Gentiles, it shall be in the night season, in which they shall be... read more

Adam Clarke

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

Ye are all the children of light - Ye are children of God, and enjoy both his light and life. Ye are Christians - ye belong to him who has brought life and immortality to light by his Gospel. This dispensation, under which ye are, has illustrated all the preceding dispensations; in its light all is become luminous; and ye, who walked formerly in heathen ignorance, or in the darkness of Jewish prejudices, are now light in the Lord, because ye have believed in him who is the light to lighten... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 5:4

Verse 4 4But ye, brethren. He now admonishes them as to what is the duty of believers, that they look forward in hope to that day, though it be remote. And this is what is intended in the metaphor of day and light. The coming of Christ will take by surprise those that are carelessly giving way to indulgence, because, being enveloped in darkness, they see nothing, for no darkness is more dense than ignorance of God. We, on the other hand, on whom Christ has shone by the faith of his gospel,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-5

There is a natural curiosity to know "the times and the seasons" connected with an event so transcendently important to the human race. "But of the times and the seasons ye have no need that I write unto you." I. GOD HAS TIMES AND SEASONS IN HIS OWN POWER . It is solemnly true that "to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the sun" ( Ecclesiastes 3:1 ). God has " determined the times before appointed" ( Acts 17:26 ). His Son came " in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

I. THE TIME OF ITS COMING . 1. There was no real need to write to them about this. St. Paul had spoken of it; it had been a principal subject of his teaching. They knew all that could be known, all that they needed to know for their souls' health. But there was a restless curiosity, an eager longing "to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power." Such knowledge was not for the apostles; it is not for the Church. "Of that day and that hour... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

I. HOW THE DAY OF THE LORD IS SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED IN ITS COMING . "But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." By the same method which is followed in 1 Thessalonians 4:9 , the apostle seeks to impress on the Thessalonians a certain point relating to the times and. the seasons which make up the period of the Lord's... read more

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