主来的日子

弟兄姊妹,这件事会在什么日期、什么时候发生,不必我写信告诉你们, 因为你们已经清楚知道,将来有一天,主会突然来到,像贼在夜里忽然出现一样。 当人们正在说一切平安稳妥的时候,灾祸会像产痛临到孕妇一样突然临到他们,令他们无法逃脱。

然而,弟兄姊妹,你们不是活在黑暗里,因此那日子不会像贼一样突然临到你们。 你们都是光明之子,白昼之子。我们既不属于黑夜,也不属于黑暗。 所以不要像其他人一样沉睡,要警醒戒备, 因为睡觉的人是在夜里睡,醉酒的人是在夜里醉。 我们既属于白昼,就应当保持清醒,要把信心和爱心当作护心镜遮胸,把得救的盼望当作头盔戴上。 因为上帝不是预定我们受惩罚,而是预定我们靠着主耶稣基督得救。 10 主替我们死,使我们无论是醒是睡[a],都可以与祂同活。 11 所以,你们要彼此鼓励、互相造就,正如你们一向所做的。

劝勉与问候

12 弟兄姊妹,我劝你们要敬重那些在你们当中辛勤工作、在主里领导和劝诫你们的人。 13 因为他们的工作,你们要怀着爱心格外敬重他们。你们要彼此和睦相处。 14 此外,我劝你们要告诫懒惰的人,鼓励灰心的人,扶持软弱的人,耐心对待所有的人。 15 你们要小心,谁都不可冤冤相报,总要彼此善待,也要善待众人。

16 要常常喜乐, 17 不断地祷告, 18 凡事谢恩,因为这是上帝在基督耶稣里给你们的旨意。

19 不要抑制圣灵的感动, 20 不要轻视先知的信息。 21 凡事都要小心察验,持守良善的事, 22 杜绝所有的恶事。

23 愿赐平安的上帝使你们完全圣洁!愿祂保守你们的灵、魂、体,使你们在主耶稣基督再来的时候无可指责! 24 呼召你们的主是信实可靠的,祂必为你们成就这事。

25 弟兄姊妹,请为我们祷告。 26 要以圣洁的吻问候众弟兄姊妹。 27 最后,我奉主的名吩咐你们把这封信读给所有弟兄姊妹听。

28 愿我们主耶稣基督的恩典与你们同在!

Footnotes

  1. 5:10 是醒是睡”或译“是生是死”。

My brothers, you do not need anyone to write to you about the day or the year when these things will happen.

You your-selves surely know that the day of the Lord will come just like a person who comes to steal in the night.

When people are saying, `Everything is quiet and safe,' they will be destroyed. It will all happen very quickly. And there will be no way out. It will be like the pain that a woman has when a child is born.

But you, my brothers, are not in the dark. That day should not surprise you like a person who comes to steal.

You all belong to the light. You belong to the day. We do not belong to the night or to the dark.

So then, we must not go to sleep like other people. No, we must keep watching and not get drunk.

Because we belong to the day, we must not get drunk. But we must be ready like people dressed for war. We must keep believing in God. We must be loving towards each other. Faith and love will be like strong clothes to cover our bodies. The hope of being saved will protect us like a hat or helmet covers our head.

God did not choose us so that he might be angry with us. But he chose us so that we might be saved through our Lord Jesus Christ.

He died for us so that, if we are alive or dead, we will live with him.

10 So comfort and strengthen one another, just as you are doing. you to respect those who are working among you. They are your leaders in the Lord's work, and they tell you what you should do.

11 ) My brothers, we beg you, tell this to people who do not do what they should do. Talk to those who fear, and say something that will make them strong. Help those who are weak. Be patient with all people.

12 Do not let anyone do a wrong thing to a person if that person did a wrong thing to him. Always do good to one another. Be good to each other and to all men.

13 Always be happy.

14 Talk to God at all times.

15 Thank God for everything. This is what God wants you to do through Christ Jesus.

16 Do not stop the Spirit when he wants to do something.

17 Do not despise people who speak words from God.

18 But test everything that is said. Keep what is good.

19 Have nothing to do with any kind of wrong thing.

20 May God himself, who gives peace, make you pure and clean. You are set apart and belong only to him. And may your spirit and soul and body all together be kept free from fault until our Lord Jesus Christ comes.

21 ) It is God who calls you, and he can be trusted. He will surely do what he has said.

22 My brothers, ask God to help us.

23 Greet all the brothers with a kiss that is holy.

24 I give you this order from the Lord. Read this letter to all the Christian brothers.

25 May our Lord Jesus Christ bless you. May it be so.