1 Thessalonians 5:1

Text (1 Thessalonians 5:1)

1But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you.

Translation and Paraphrase

1.

But concerning the (general) times (when the Lord may return) and the (particular) seasons (when that would be most likely to occur), brethren, you have no need that (aught) should be written to you (giving you further information on the subject).

Notes (1 Thessalonians 5:1)

1.

When we think about the Lord's second coming, we all long to know WHEN it may be. We are like the disciples who asked Jesus, Master, when shall these things be? Luke 21:7. We have an expectancy of the Lord's coming. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20. This expectancy naturally raises the question, When?

2.

In the outlines we have entitled the section 1 Thessalonians 5:1-12 as Times and Seasons of the Lord's Coming. The section is closely connected with the preceding section, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Both are listed under the heading, The Lord's Coming, in the outline.

3.

There are three points of resemblance between sections 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 :

(1)

Both sections tell how people will fare on the day of the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 tells how the dead in Christ will fare on that day, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 tells how the living will fare on that day.

(2)

Both sections raise a problem, and both give an answer to the problem.

(a)

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 raises the problem, What will happen to the dead in Christ when the Lord comes? Answer: They will be resurrected before the living are caught up.

(b)

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 raises the problem, Exactly when is the Lord coming? Answer: No one can know, but since Christians are always watching, his coming will not take us by surprise.

(3)

Both sections close with an exhortation to comfort one another. 1 Thessalonians 4:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:11

4.

The expression, times and seasons, is also found in Acts 1:7 and Daniel 2:21. Times refer to time in general. Seasons refer to limited portions of time, with the added notion of suitableness. Note the paraphrase for this distinction.

5.

Many people have set the date for the end of the world and the Lord's coming, and all have been wrong. Any such efforts are bound to be in vain.

Jesus said, It is not for you to know the time or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. Acts 1:7. While Jesus was on earth he said, But of that day and hour knoweth no man, nor the angels of heaven, but my Father only. Matthew 24:36. We think that Christ NOW has been given authority over and knowledge of the future (for this is suggested by Revelation chapter 5), but it still remains true that NO MAN on earth knows when Christ is coming. In such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh. Matthew 24:44.

6.

God changes the times and seasons. Daniel 2:21. God had a time set to destroy Nineveh, but He changed His mind when Nineveh repented. Jonah 3:4; Jonah 3:10. Perhaps God has changed His time schedule on the return of Christ, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9.

7.

The Thessalonians knew that the coming of the Lord would be unpredictable and unexpected. Paul had told them that. Therefore it was unnecessary for him to go into a discussion of the times and seasons. Probably God had not revealed anything on this subject to Paul anyway.

8.

Some interpreters make a distinction between the day of the Lord, discussed in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, and the taking up of the saints (the rapture) discussed in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17. They maintain that the Day of the Lord discussed here is several years after the taking up of the saints, and follows a great tribulation.

This interpretation always reminds us of the bed of Procrustes. Procrustes (in mythology) placed his guests on a bed, and stretched short men and chopped off tall men to fit it. There is not the slightest suggestion in the text that this paragraph (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11) is talking about a different event from that discussed in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. If one did not have a certain theory about what will happen when Christ returns, he would never from this Scripture itself (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11) get the idea that two different events were being described. We should not force the Scriptures to fit our theories, but make our theories to fit the Scriptures.

(For our reasons for questioning the idea of two returns of Christ, a secret rapture, followed by a tribulation, see notes on 1 Thessalonians 4:16, and the Special Studies on pages 238-260, particularly studies II and IV.)