The Coming of the Lord (continued)
5:1But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you. 5:2For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 5:3When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape. 5:4But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief: 5:5for ye are all sons of light, and sons of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness; 5:6so then let us not sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober. 5:7For they that sleep sleep in the night: and they that are drunken are drunken in the night. 5:8But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. 5:9For God appointed us not into wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,5:10who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 5:11Wherefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as also ye do.
Final Exhortations, Greetings and Benediction
5:12But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 5:13and to esteem them exceeding highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves. 5:14And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all. 5:15See that none render unto any one evil for evil; but always follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all. 5:16Rejoice always; 5:17pray without ceasing; 5:18in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward. 5:19Quench not the Spirit; 5:20despise not prophesyings; 5:21prove all things; hold fast that which is good; 5:22abstain from every form of evil.
5:23And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 5:24Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it.
5:25Brethren, pray for us.
5:26Salute all the brethren with a holy kiss. 5:27I adjure you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the brethren.
Notes:
- may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire - Two greek words, "sarx" and "soma" are translated as "body." The greek word used here is "soma", not "sarx" (flesh). Compare with "works of the flesh" in Gal. 5:19. The body is not evil and it is not an illusion. Further, Paul declares that the body should be inseparable with the spirit (pneuma) and soul (psyche).
