The Day of the Lord
(Zephaniah 1:7-18; 2 Peter 3:10-13)
1But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Christian Living
12And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 14Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 16Rejoice evermore. 17Pray without ceasing. 18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19Quench not the Spirit. 20Despise not prophesyings. 21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Final Blessings
23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
25Brethren, pray for us.
26Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. 27I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. {The first epistle unto the Thessalonians was written from Athens.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
The Day of the Lord
(Zephaniah 1:7–18; Malachi 4:1–6; 2 Peter 3:8–13)
1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that anything be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. 3 For when they are saying, “Peace and safety,” then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a pregnant woman; and they will in no way escape. 4 But you, brothers, aren’t in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief. 5 You are all children of light, and children of the day. We don’t belong to the night, nor to darkness, 6 so then let’s not sleep, as the rest do, but let’s watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep in the night, and those who are drunk are drunk in the night. 8 But let us, since we belong to the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and, for a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Therefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as you also do.
Christian Living
12 But we beg you, brothers, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you, 13 and to respect and honor them in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 We exhort you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient toward all. 15 See that no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that which is good, for one another, and for all. 16 Rejoice always. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you. 19 Don’t quench the Spirit. 20 Don’t despise prophesies. 21 Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
Final Blessings and Instructions
23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it.
25 Brothers, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the holy brothers.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
The Day of the Lord
(Zephaniah 1:7–18; Malachi 4:1–6; 2 Peter 3:8–13)
1 Now about the times and seasons, brothers, we do not need to write to you. 2 For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4 But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief. 5 For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night; and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation.
9 For God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. 11 Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
Christian Living
12 But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who preside over you in the Lord and give you instruction. 13 In love, hold them in highest regard because of their work. Live in peace with one another.
14 And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.
15 Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.
16 Rejoice at all times. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 Give thanks in every circumstance, 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 test all things. Hold fast to what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
Final Blessings and Instructions
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless a at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.
25 Brothers, pray for us as well.
26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. b
Footnotes:
23 a Or may your spirit, soul, and body be kept entirely blameless
28 b BYZ and TR include Amen.
The Day of the Lord
(Zephaniah 1:7-18; 2 Peter 3:10-13)
1And concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need of my writing to you, 2for yourselves have known thoroughly that the day of the Lord as a thief in the night doth so come, 3for when they may say, Peace and surety, then sudden destruction doth stand by them, as the travail doth her who is with child, and they shall not escape; 4and ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day may catch you as a thief; 5all ye are sons of light, and sons of day; we are not of night, nor of darkness, 6so, then, we may not sleep as also the others, but watch and be sober, 7for those sleeping, by night do sleep, and those making themselves drunk, by night are drunken, 8and we, being of the day -- let us be sober, putting on a breastplate of faith and love, and an helmet -- a hope of salvation, 9because God did not appoint us to anger, but to the acquiring of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10who did die for us, that whether we wake -- whether we sleep -- together with him we may live; 11wherefore, comfort ye one another, and build ye up, one the one, as also ye do.
Christian Living
12And we ask you, brethren, to know those labouring among you, and leading you in the Lord, and admonishing you, 13and to esteem them very abundantly in love, because of their work; be at peace among yourselves; 14and we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the infirm, be patient unto all; 15see no one evil for evil may render to any one, but always that which is good pursue ye, both to one another and to all; 16always rejoice ye; 17continually pray ye; 18in every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus in regard to you. 19The Spirit quench not; 20prophesyings despise not; 21all things prove; that which is good hold fast; 22from all appearance of evil abstain ye;
Final Blessings
23and the God of the peace Himself sanctify you wholly, and may your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved unblameably in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ; 24stedfast is He who is calling you, who also will do it.
25Brethren, pray for us;
26salute all the brethren in an holy kiss; 27I charge you by the Lord, that the letter be read to all the holy brethren;
28the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with you! Amen.
The Day of the Lord
¹ Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, ² for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. ⁵ You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. ⁶ So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober! ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. ¹¹ Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Instructions for Christian Living
¹² Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. ¹³ Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. ¹⁵ Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
Final Exhortations
¹⁶ Rejoice always! ¹⁷ Pray continually! ¹⁸ Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit! ²⁰ Do not treat prophecies with contempt ²¹ but test them all; hold on to what is good, ²² reject every kind of evil.
Final Blessing
²³ May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.
Final Instructions
²⁵ Brothers and sisters, pray for us. ²⁶ Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. ²⁷ I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters. ²⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Footnotes:
1.“The day of the Lord” (verse 2) refers to the time of Christ’s return and judgment. The phrase comes from Old Testament prophetic writings, indicating a time when God will intervene decisively in human history.
2.“Like a thief in the night” (verse 2) is an idiom suggesting the unexpected and sudden nature of the Lord’s return. In ancient times, thieves typically struck at night when people were least prepared.
3.“Children of the light” (verse 5) uses light as a symbol of truth and righteousness. Believers are called to live in the light, in contrast to the darkness of ignorance and sin, a common metaphor in Scripture.
4.“Breastplate of faith and love” (verse 8) draws from the imagery of a Roman soldier’s armor, emphasizing that faith and love are protective, guarding a believer’s heart. Similarly, “the hope of salvation as a helmet” protects the mind and assures confidence in Christ’s ultimate victory.
5.“Quench the Spirit” (verse 19) uses the Greek verb sbennymi, meaning to extinguish. Paul is urging believers not to suppress or hinder the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, which often involves boldness, spiritual gifts, and conviction.
6.“Reject every kind of evil” (verse 22) is a broad command that includes moral, spiritual, and relational evils. The Greek word eidos means “form” or “appearance,” so Paul is encouraging believers to avoid not only evil actions but even the appearance of them.
7.“Blameless at the coming of our Lord” (verse 23) refers to the ultimate goal of sanctification—being fully prepared to meet Christ when He returns. This holiness encompasses every part of a person: spirit, soul, and body, reflecting a complete transformation.
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