主的日子

弟兄们,关于这些时候和日期,你们不需要我写什么给你们了。 因为你们自己明确地知道,主的日子[a]来临,就像夜里的贼来临那样。 当人们正说“和平”、“安全”的时候,毁灭那时就突然临到他们,就像孕妇的临产阵痛那样,他们绝不能逃脱。 不过弟兄们,你们不是在黑暗里,以致那日子像贼一样抓住你们。 因为你们都是光明的儿女,白昼的儿女。我们不属于黑夜,也不属于黑暗。 由此可见,我们不要像其他人那样睡着了,而要警醒、谨慎。 因为睡觉的人是在夜里睡,醉酒的人是在夜里醉。 但我们既然属于白昼,就让我们谨慎,以信与爱做为护胸甲穿上,以救恩的盼望做为头盔戴上。 因为神不是预定我们到震怒里面,而是预定我们藉着我们的主耶稣基督获得救恩。 10 基督替我们死,为要使我们无论是醒着还是睡着,都与他一同活着。 11 因此,你们要彼此鼓励,互相造就,就像你们现在所做的那样。

劝勉与祝福

12 弟兄们,我们请求你们:要敬重那些在你们中间劳苦做工、在主里带领[b]你们、劝诫你们的人, 13 因着他们的工作,要在爱中格外地看重他们。你们要彼此和睦。 14 弟兄们,我们劝你们:要劝诫懒散的人[c],安慰胆怯的人,扶助软弱的人,对所有的人都要恒久忍耐。 15 你们要注意,谁都不要以恶报恶;相反,无论是彼此之间,还是对待众人,总要追求美善。

16 要常常欢喜,
17 不住地祷告,
18 凡事感谢;
因为这是神在基督耶稣里对你们的旨意。
19 不要消灭圣灵[d]的感动[e]
20 不要轻视做先知传道[f]
21 却要凡事分辨,
要持守美善,
22 连一切恶的样式都要远避。

23 愿赐平安的神亲自使你们完全分别为圣。愿你们的灵、魂、体,在我们的主耶稣基督来临的时候,全然得蒙保守、无可指责。 24 召唤你们的那一位是信实的,他将成就这事。 25 弟兄们,请为我们祷告。 26 你们要用圣洁的亲吻礼问候所有的弟兄。 27 我藉着主吩咐你们,要把这封信读给所有[g]的弟兄听。 28 愿我们主耶稣基督的恩典与你们同在![h]

Footnotes

  1. 帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:2 日子——指“基督再来的日子”。
  2. 帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:12 带领——或译作“管理”。
  3. 帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:14 懒散的人——或译作“不守规矩的人”。
  4. 帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:19 不要消灭圣灵——或译作“不要使圣灵止息”。
  5. 帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:19 的感动——辅助词语。
  6. 帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:20 做先知传道——原文直译“说预言”。
  7. 帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:27 有古抄本附“圣洁”。
  8. 帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:28 有古抄本附“阿们。”

Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters,[a] we don’t really need to write you. For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.

But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.[b] For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. 10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. 11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

Paul’s Final Advice

12 Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. 13 Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.

14 Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

15 See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.

16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

19 Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. 20 Do not scoff at prophecies, 21 but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. 22 Stay away from every kind of evil.

Paul’s Final Greetings

23 Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 24 God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.

25 Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us.

26 Greet all the brothers and sisters with a sacred kiss.

27 I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters.

28 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Footnotes

  1. 5:1 Greek brothers; also in 5:4, 12, 14, 25, 26, 27.
  2. 5:4 Some manuscripts read comes upon you as if you were thieves.

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)