1 Thessalonians 5 Studies

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each chapter is divided into a number of studies and each study or passage has a simple four-Part, verse-by-verse approach, to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: 1 Thess 5:1-5

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 labour 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.

A. Find Out:

1. How will the day of the Lord come? v.2
2. What will people be saying, but what will come? v.3
3. Why should the coming of this day not surprise us? v.4
4. What are we? v.5

B. Think:

1. What do the apostles say about the nature of God’s coming?
2. Yet what do they say about us and that, to reassure us?
3. What is the confidence they are seeking to bring us?

C. Comment:

     The apostles have just been reassuring the church over the matter of those who have already died and the second coming of Jesus. This return of Jesus is also referred to as “the day of the Lord” (v.2). They now move on to bring reassurance to us in respect of this day, reassurance for those of us who will be alive when it comes. We have seen previously that when it happens everyone will know about it ( 4:16 & Mt 24:30,31), but prior to that there will be confidence and ease in mankind that is unfounded.

     The second coming of Jesus will come as a surprise to most. People will think the world is just carrying on as usual and will feel at peace and will feel secure – as far as God’s wrath is concerned – after all, He hasn’t done anything so far in my life, so why should I worry, will be the prevailing mentality. The analogy given is of a thief coming in the night. Such a thief gives no warning, he just turns up! So it will be with Jesus, he will just turn up to bring the judgement of God. Without warning? On no, you’ve had the warning, you’ve just read about it!

     But actually for those who are living in relationship with God, who have His Holy Spirit within them, they will catch the sense of His heart and His activity and they will sense that it is about to happen and so they can ensure that they are ready. The warning will only come through relationship, because you are “in the light”.

D. Application:

1. Be alert to the times. Read Matthew 24.
2. Ensure that your life is always ready to meet Jesus.

Passage: 1 Thess 5:6-11

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.

A. Find Out:

1. How do they say we are to be? v.6
2. What happens at night? v.7
3. But how are we to be? v.8a
4. What are we to put on? v.8b
5. What is and is not our inheritance from God? v.9
6. For whom did Jesus die? v.10
7. So what are we to do? v.11

B. Think:

1. What do you think the apostles meant by ‘the night’?
2. What do you think they meant by ‘the day’?
3. What significance is that for us?

C. Comment:

     In verse 4 the apostles had said we were not in darkness. In verse 5 they said we are sons of the light, sons of the day. So in these verses now they say the same thing. What is the significance of this?

     If you are in darkness you cannot see. In the dark you cannot be seen and so if people are going to do wrong, they often do it at night. We are called sons of the light or sons of the day. In the light you can see where you are going (you have purpose) and what is happening (understanding what is going on) and your behaviour is better.

    So, their instructions are to Christians who are supposed to be clear as to their calling and understanding the times. As people of the light be in control of yourselves and let faith and love act as a protection over our hearts to keep us steady, and hope (that is an assured expectancy) be a guard over our minds to keep us looking in the right direction – the fulfilling of our salvation as we expect to meet Jesus. This WILL happen whether we are already dead when he returns, or whether we are alive then. This understanding, they imply, should act as a stimulus to us to help us on in our walk, but more than that, we are to encourage one another with these things. These truths are the things that should keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

D. Application:

1. Let your heart be filled with faith and love and be moved by them.
2. Let your mind be held firm by that assured expectancy for our future.

Passage: 1 Thess 5:12-18

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.

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

A. Find Out:

1. Who are we to respect? v.12
2. How are we to consider them? v.13a
3. What are we to do in the fellowship? v.13b
4. What 4 groups are spoken about? v.14
5. What two sided instruction is then given? v.15
6. What 3 positive instructions then follow? v.16-18

B. Think:

1. How would you summarise the instructions about leaders? v.12,13
2. How would you summarise the ‘relational instructions’? v.13-15
3. How would you summarise the ‘spiritual instructions’? v.16-18

C. Comment:

      To conclude this letter the apostles pour out a string of short, snappy instructions that come in three groups.

      First there are the instructions about attitudes towards leaders: respect them and esteem them. In other words, recognise their value in the kingdom and honour them for what they do. Do we?

     Second, there are the relational instructions, about interacting with other people. There are general ones: live at peace with one another (v.13), avoid revenge and be kind to one another (v.15). Then there are instructions in respect of specific people: lazy people – warn them not to be lazy! Timid people – encourage them, they need building up. Weak people – help them in their inadequacy to be strong. Everyone (who do not move as fast as you would like) – be patient with them and don’t get stressed over their slowness.

      Finally, there are the spiritual instructions, instructions about your spiritual outlook and the way you then live. Be joyful always. Why? Because that’s what God wants for you. Pray at every turn. Give thanks in all circumstances (‘in’ not ‘for’) How can we d these things? By having a strong sense of walking with God, allowing Him to lead and guard us. When we do that, we’ll have His joy, we’ll be sharing with Him, and we’ll be thanking Him for His presence and goodness.

D. Application:

1. I’m required to have a specific attitude towards leaders and others.
2. I’m called to walk with God in joy and thankfulness. Do I?

Passage: 1 Thess 5:19-28

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.

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.

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.

A. Find Out:

1. What are the next two ‘spiritual instructions’? v.19,20
2. What three follow on? v.21,22
3. What do they want for the church? v.23
4. What assurance do they have? v.24
5. What do they request for themselves? v.25
6. With what desire do they conclude? v.28

B. Think:

1. How would you summarise verses 19 to 22?
2. How would you put v.23 in your own words?

C. Comment:

     These closing instructions from verse 12 onwards come like machine gun bullets from the apostles, one after another, with such rapidity that it is almost impossible to take them in. Why not use each instruction as a basis of a separate meditation some time?

      In the verses before us here, we start with an absolutely vital command: don’t put out the Spirit’s fire. The Holy Spirit had come in the preaching and brought conviction and salvation and the fruit of changed lives. Such happens in revival, and history shows us that it is us, the church, that so often slows Him down and quenches His work.

    Don’t treat prophecies with contempt? How many churches deny the Lord the possibility of speaking to His people today? Test everything? Wise counsel, check out the origin of what is coming. Hold on to the good? Goodness is such a rare commodity; we need to hold onto it when God gives it to us. Avoid evil? Yes, stay away from anything of the enemy.

    Then comes their general desire that encompasses all these things: for the church to go on being sanctified. To be sanctified means to be changed to be different, to be godly, to be righteous. It started at conversion, and it must continue on. This is God’s work; this is what he desires to do in us. Salvation isn’t merely about initial forgiveness through the Cross, as vital as that is; it is also about us being changed into Jesus’ likeness. That is God’s ongoing objective in us.

D. Application:

1. Are we allowing the Holy Spirit free reign in our churches?
2. Are we allowing God to continually change us?