PAUL'S FIRST LETTER TO THE THESSALONIANS

Reflections on the Greek Text

1 Thess. 5:1-28

INTRODUCTION

Having introduced the topic of the second coming in chapter 4, Paul now gives a more detailed explanation of the second coming. Although Paul does give knowledge, he doesn't give the knowledge for knowledge sake alone. Rather his purpose in discussing the second coming is to motivate them to Christ-like living.

VERSE BY VERSE ANALYSIS OF THE GREEK

Verse 2

The word for "will come" ("echetai" pron. EK-eh-tie)is actually in the present tense, not future, in the Greek. Why does Paul use the present tense about a future event? To impress upon us that this event although still future is as good as done. It's not a matter of "if" Jesus is going to return; it's just a matter of "when."

Verse 3

The same thing is happening with the verb "will come" (in this verse the word is "ephistati" pron. eh-PHIS-teh-tie). Although our English versions translate it as future ("will come"), in the Greek it is in the present tense ("is come"). In other words destruction upon the ungodly is completely certain. It's not a matter of "if" but a matter of "when."

By using the double negative "not not" ("ou me" pron. ooo-may) Paul emphasizes that those who are not Christians will never, no never escape. At that point it is too late.

Verse 4

Here in the Greek Paul draws a contrast between the way the day of the Lord affects unbelievers and the way it affects believers. It overtakes unbelievers like a thief in the night, like the suddenness of birthpangs upon a woman who is pregnant. By using "humeis" (trans. "you" and pron. hu-MICE) Paul says that we Christians are NOT going to be surprised by the return of the Lord. The day of Lord comes like a thief in the night upon UNbelievers, not upon believers. Why? I will let you determine that.

Verse 5

Again, Paul contrasts us Christians with non-Christians by using the personal pronoun you ("humeis" pron. hew-MICE). The day surprises non-Christians because they live in darkness. The light of the day of the Lord does not surprise us because we are already in the light. The light just gets brighter. It will not be a shock to us like it will be to non-Christians.

Verse 6

The word translated "be alert" ("gregoromen" pron. grey-gore-ROW-men) has rich meaning for Christians. It is the exact same verb that Jesus spoke to His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane when they kept falling asleep: "gregoreite" (pron. grey-gore-RIE-tay; the only difference is that the first one is 1 person plur "we be alert" and the second is 2 person plur "you be alert"). The way Jesus wanted His disciples to be alert was to pray; here Paul says we keep watch and stay alert is to live the Christ-like life.

Verse 8

Again uses the Greek personal pronoun "we" ("hemeis" pron. hay-MICE) to contrast Christians with non-Christians. THEY are in darkness and at night; they therefore will be surprised by the light. On the other hand, WE Christians are in the light and walk during the day; WE will not be surprised by the day of Jesus' return.

Verse 10

The word order in verse 10 shows us that Paul is emphasizing the verb "we may live." We won't just simply have a better life if we walk in the day and in the light. We will actually have LIFE! It IS a matter of life and death the way we respond to Jesus.

Verse 11

The 2 verbs "encourage" and "build up" are in the present tense stressing that we are to encourage one another and build upon one another CONTINUALLY. It falls in line with the command: "But encourage one another day after day as long as it is still called today!" (Heb. 3:13)

Verse 12

When we read that we are to appreciate "those who diligently labor among you and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction," it would be easy to think of three different groups of people: (1) those who diligently labor, (2) those who have charge, and (3) those who give instruction. In the Greek though ONE article "those" is attached to all 3 activities. In other words, Paul is not saying we should respect 3 different groups of people, but rather that this one group (the leaders) is doing all 3 of these functions.

Verse 13

The verb "live in peace" is in the present tense stressing that we are to live in peace with each other CONTINUALLY. Moreover, it is a command. It is not optional whether or not we live in peace.

Verse 15

The verb "seek" is literally the Greek word "dioko" (pron. dee-OH-koh). It has the idea of a person really pressing his case, really going after something. Both Jesus and Paul use it to describe people really trying to persecute Christians. In this case we are not going after people to harm them; rather we are going after them with the same intensity we would have if we persecuted them BUT THIS TIME for the purpose of helping them.

Verses 16-21

The verbs are in the present tense stressing that we are to rejoice, pray, give thanks, do not despise prophetic utterances, test the spirits, hold fast the good, abstain from evil CONTINUALLY! The Christian life is not like dynamite--one big bang! Rather it is like a dynamo constantly churning out spiritual power, the life of Christ!

Verses 23

By using the personal pronoun "Himself" ["autos" pron. ow-TOSS] with God, Paul is stressing that no one less than God will do. When it comes to preserving our souls, Paul will appeal to no one less than God. No saints, no angels. Just God and God alone. Why? Because our spiritual welfare is that important.