1 Thessalonians 5

1 Thessalonians 5:1-28 . THE SUDDENNESS OF CHRIST'S COMING A MOTIVE FOR WATCHFULNESS; VARIOUS PRECEPTS: PRAYER FOR THEIR BEING FOUND BLAMELESS, BODY, SOUL, AND SPIRIT, AT CHRIST'S COMING: CONCLUSION.

1. times--the general and indefinite term for chronological periods.
seasons--the opportune times ( Daniel 7:12 , Acts 1:7 ). Time denotes quantity; season, quality. Seasons are parts of times.
ye have no need--those who watch do not need to be told when the hour will come, for they are always ready [BENGEL].
cometh--present: expressing its speedy and awful certainty.

2. as a thief in the night--The apostles in this image follow the parable of their Lord, expressing how the Lord's coming shall take men by surprise ( Matthew 24:43 , 2 Peter 3:10 ). "The night is wherever there is quiet unconcern" [BENGEL]. "At midnight" (perhaps figurative: to some parts of the earth it will be literal night), Matthew 25:6 . The thief not only gives no notice of his approach but takes all precaution to prevent the household knowing of it. So the Lord ( Revelation 16:15 ). Signs will precede the coming, to confirm the patient hope of the watchful believer; but the coming itself shall be sudden at last ( Matthew 24:32-36 Luke 21:25-32 Luke 21:35 ).

3. they--the men of the world. 1 Thessalonians 5:5 1 Thessalonians 5:6 , 4:13 , "others," all the rest of the world save Christians.
Peace--( Judges 18:7 Judges 18:9 Judges 18:27 Judges 18:28 , Jeremiah 6:14 , Ezekiel 13:10 ).
then--at the very moment when they least expect it. Compare the case of Belshazzar, Daniel 5:1-5 Daniel 5:6 Daniel 5:9 Daniel 5:26-28 ; Herod, Acts 12:21-23 .
sudden--"unawares" ( Luke 21:34 ).
as travail--"As the labor pang" comes in an instant on the woman when otherwise engaged ( Psalms 48:6 , Isaiah 13:8 ).
shall not escape--Greek, "shall not at all escape." Another awful feature of their ruin: there shall be then no possibility of shunning it however they desire it ( Amos 9:2 Amos 9:3 , Revelation 6:15 Revelation 6:16 ).

4. not in darkness--not in darkness of understanding (that is, spiritual ignorance) or of the moral nature (that is, a state of sin), Ephesians 4:18 .
that--Greek, "in order that"; with God results are all purposed.
that day--Greek, "THE day"; the day of the Lord ( Hebrews 10:25 , "the day"), in contrast to "darkness."
overtake--unexpectedly (compare John 12:35 ).
as a thief--The two oldest manuscripts read, "as (the daylight overtakes) thieves" ( Job 24:17 ). Old manuscripts and Vulgate read as English Version.