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警醒謹慎等候主再來

弟兄們,論到時候和日期,不用寫甚麼給你們了。 因為你們自己清楚知道,主的日子來到,就像夜間的賊來到一樣。 人正在說平安穩妥的時候,毀滅性的災禍就突然臨到他們,好像生產的痛苦臨到懷胎的婦人一樣,他們絕不能逃脫。 但是弟兄們,你們不在黑暗裡,以致那日子會臨到你們像賊來到一樣。 你們都是光明之子、白晝之子;我們不是屬於黑夜的,也不是屬於黑暗的。 所以,我們不要沉睡像別人一樣,總要警醒謹慎。 因為睡覺的人是在晚上睡,醉酒的人是在晚上醉; 但我們既然屬於白晝,就應當謹慎,披上信和愛的胸甲,戴上救恩的盼望作頭盔。 因為 神不是定意要我們受刑罰(“刑罰”原文作“忿怒”),而是要我們藉著我們的主耶穌基督得著救恩。 10 基督替我們死,使我們無論是醒著或睡著,都和他一同活著。 11 所以,你們應該彼此勸慰,互相造就,正如你們一向所行的。

訓勉和祝福

12 弟兄們,我們求你們要敬重那些在你們中間勞苦的人,就是在主裡面治理你們、勸戒你們的人。 13 又因為他們的工作,你們要用愛心格外尊重他們。你們應當彼此和睦。 14 弟兄們,我們勸你們,要警戒游手好閒的人,勉勵灰心喪志的人,扶助軟弱無力的人,也要容忍所有的人。 15 你們要注意,不管是誰都不要以惡報惡,卻要在彼此相處和對待眾人這方面,常常追求良善。

16 要常常喜樂, 17 不住禱告, 18 凡事謝恩;這就是 神在基督耶穌裡給你們的旨意。 19 不要熄滅聖靈的感動。 20 不要藐視先知的話語。 21 凡事都要察驗,好的要持守, 22 各樣的惡事要遠離。

23 願賜平安的 神親自使你們完全成聖,又願你們整個人:靈、魂和身體都得蒙保守,在我們的主耶穌基督再來的時候,無可指摘。 24 那呼召你們的是信實的,他必成就這事。

25 弟兄們,請為我們禱告。

26 要用聖潔的親吻問候眾弟兄。 27 我憑著主吩咐你們,要把這封信讀給眾弟兄聽。

28 願我們主耶穌基督的恩惠與你們同在。

Many people fear death; perhaps it’s the idea of the unknown that stirs the imagination. Death is the great enemy that stands before believers; but through Jesus’ own death and resurrection, the power of death is broken. Paul uses the gentle image of the faithful being asleep as a new perspective on the finality of death. One minute you close your eyes to this world; the next you are celebrating with Jesus and experiencing the resurrection of the body. Those sleeping will not even miss a moment; it will all happen in the blink of an eye.

Now, brothers and sisters, you don’t need further instruction from us or anyone else for that matter regarding how the seasons and times will play out. That’s because you know the truth well enough. The day of the Lord will race onto the scene and surprise us like a thief in the night. People will be going about their business chanting, “All is well! All is at peace!” and in the next moment, ruin and destruction will suddenly seize them as labor pains grip a woman about to give birth; for them there will be no escape. My brothers and sisters, it will be different for you. You do not dwell in the darkness, so that day will not surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light. You are sons and daughters of the day. We are not created of night, nor are we owned by darkness. So then let’s not give in to sleep or wander around in a stupor as some do, but let’s stay awake and in control. You see, sleepers sleep through the night, and drunkards drink the night away; but since we belong to the day, we should stay sober and in control, covered with a breastplate of faith and love and a helmet of the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us, His chosen, to face His wrath but to be the heirs of salvation through our Lord Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King, 10 who died for us. So regardless of whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. 11 So support one another. Keep building each other up as you have been doing.

12 Brothers and sisters, we ask you to show appreciation to those who are working hard among you and those who are your leaders as they guide and instruct you in the Lord—they are priceless. 13 When you think about them, let it be with great love in your heart because of all the work they have done. Let peace live and reign among you.

14 Brothers and sisters, we strongly advise you to scold the rebels who devote their lives to wreaking havoc, to encourage the downcast, to help the sick and weak, and to be patient with all of them. 15 Make sure no one returns evil for evil, but always pursue what is good as it affects one another in the church but also all people. 16 Celebrate always, 17 pray constantly, and 18 give thanks to God no matter what circumstances you find yourself in. (This is God’s will for all of you in Jesus the Anointed.) 19 Don’t suppress the Spirit. 20 Don’t downplay prophecies. 21 Take a close look at everything, test it, then cling to what is good. 22 Put away every form of evil.

23 So now, may the God of peace make you His own completely and set you apart from the rest. May your spirit, soul, and body be preserved, kept intact and wholly free from any sort of blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus the Anointed. 24 For the God who calls you is faithful, and He can be trusted to make it so.

25 Brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. 26 Greet one another warmly with a holy kiss. 27 Here is my charge to you before the Lord: have this letter read to all our brothers and sisters [in the faith].[a] 28 May the grace of our Lord Jesus, God’s Anointed, be with all of you.

Paul knows the healing power of touch. When members of a loving community embrace, the hardest days are easier and no one feels alone.

Footnotes

  1. 5:27 Some early manuscripts omit this portion.

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters,[a] you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, ‘There is peace and security’, then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! But you, beloved,[b] are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then, let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.

Final Exhortations, Greetings, and Benediction

12 But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters,[c] to respect those who labour among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; 13 esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, beloved,[d] to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. 15 See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise the words of prophets,[e] 21 but test everything; hold fast to what is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil.

23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound[f] and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

25 Beloved,[g] pray for us.

26 Greet all the brothers and sisters[h] with a holy kiss. 27 I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all of them.[i]

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.[j]

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 5:1 Gk brothers
  2. 1 Thessalonians 5:4 Gk brothers
  3. 1 Thessalonians 5:12 Gk brothers
  4. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 Gk brothers
  5. 1 Thessalonians 5:20 Gk despise prophecies
  6. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Or complete
  7. 1 Thessalonians 5:25 Gk Brothers
  8. 1 Thessalonians 5:26 Gk brothers
  9. 1 Thessalonians 5:27 Gk to all the brothers
  10. 1 Thessalonians 5:28 Other ancient authorities add Amen

The Day of the Lord

Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates(A) we do not need to write to you,(B) for you know very well that the day of the Lord(C) will come like a thief in the night.(D) While people are saying, “Peace and safety,”(E) destruction will come on them suddenly,(F) as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.(G)

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness(H) so that this day should surprise you like a thief.(I) You are all children of the light(J) and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep,(K) but let us be awake(L) and sober.(M) For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.(N) But since we belong to the day,(O) let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate,(P) and the hope of salvation(Q) as a helmet.(R) For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath(S) but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.(T) 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.(U) 11 Therefore encourage one another(V) and build each other up,(W) just as in fact you are doing.

Final Instructions

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard(X) among you, who care for you in the Lord(Y) and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.(Z) 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle(AA) and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak,(AB) be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong,(AC) but always strive to do what is good for each other(AD) and for everyone else.

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

19 Do not quench the Spirit.(AH) 20 Do not treat prophecies(AI) with contempt 21 but test them all;(AJ) hold on to what is good,(AK) 22 reject every kind of evil.

23 May God himself, the God of peace,(AL) sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul(AM) and body be kept blameless(AN) at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.(AO) 24 The one who calls(AP) you is faithful,(AQ) and he will do it.(AR)

25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us.(AS) 26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss.(AT) 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.(AU)

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.(AV)