The big picture
1 Thessalonians 5 opens in verse 1 with “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 14 with “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded…”, and closes in verse 28 with “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” Repeated or prominent terms include brethren, Lord, Christ, Jesus, night. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Thessalonians · King James Version · 281 Thessalonians 5:1-7
1–7: Of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write…
1 Thessalonians 5:1–7 opens with “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.” and reaches “For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A church respecting leaders, helping the weak, testing teaching, praying, rejoicing, and holding fast to what is good, with particular weight carried by night, sleep, brethren.
Context that brings the passage to life
“But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.” The line’s distinctive content terms include brethren, need, seasons. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-7
King James Version1But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
1 Thessalonians 5:8-14
8–14: Let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of…
1 Thessalonians 5:8–14 opens with “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for…” and reaches “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A church respecting leaders, helping the weak, testing teaching, praying, rejoicing, and holding fast to what is good, with particular weight carried by brethren, comfort, Lord.
Context that brings the passage to life
“But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
1 Thessalonians 5:8-14
King James Version8But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
12And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
13And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
14Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
1 Thessalonians 5:15-21
15–21: See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that…
1 Thessalonians 5:15–21 opens with “See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among…” and reaches “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A church respecting leaders, helping the weak, testing teaching, praying, rejoicing, and holding fast to what is good, with particular weight carried by evil, good, both.
1 Thessalonians 5:15-21
King James Version15See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
16Rejoice evermore.
17Pray without ceasing.
18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19Quench not the Spirit.
20Despise not prophesyings.
21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
1 Thessalonians 5:22-28
22–28: Abstain from all appearance of evil.
1 Thessalonians 5:22–28 opens with “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” and reaches “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A church respecting leaders, helping the weak, testing teaching, praying, rejoicing, and holding fast to what is good, with particular weight carried by brethren, Lord, Christ.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” Naming Abstain keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Thessalonians 5:22-28
King James Version22Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
25Brethren, pray for us.
26Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
27I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Thessalonians 5:1 begins with “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.”
Where the chapter turns
1 Thessalonians 5:14 forms a natural hinge: “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”
The final note
1 Thessalonians 5:28 leaves the reader with “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words brethren, Lord, Christ, Jesus, night, sleep help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What does the repeated ending make readers feel?
Death becomes the chapter's persistent refrain, even as generation follows generation.
What two interruptions offer hope?
Enoch's walk with God and Lamech's hope attached to Noah.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- hath
- has
- wherefore
- for that reason
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.