Bible / 1 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 5
World English Bible, Catholic edition, in plain modern English. About the translations
Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision, the traditional Catholic English Bible. About the translations
1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that anything be written to you.
2 For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night.
3 For when they are saying, “Peace and safety,” then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a pregnant woman. Then they will in no way escape. Fathers
4 But you, brothers, aren’t in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief.
5 You are all children of light and children of the day. We don’t belong to the night, nor to darkness, CCC
6 so then let’s not sleep, as the rest do, but let’s watch and be sober. CCC
7 For those who sleep, sleep in the night; and those who are drunk are drunk in the night.
8 But since we belong to the day, let’s be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. CCC
9 For God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Therefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as you also do.
12 But we beg you, brothers, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, CCC
13 and to respect and honor them in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves. CCC
14 We exhort you, brothers: Admonish the disorderly; encourage the faint-hearted; support the weak; be patient toward all.
15 See that no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that which is good for one another and for all.
16 Always rejoice.
17 Pray without ceasing. CCC
18 In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you. CCC
19 Don’t quench the Spirit. CCC
20 Don’t despise prophecies. CCC
21 Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good. CCC
22 Abstain from every form of evil.
23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. CCC · Fathers
24 He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it.
25 Brothers, pray for us. CCC
26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
27 I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the holy brothers.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
1 But of the times and moments, brethren, you need not, that we should write to you:
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord shall so come as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say: Peace and security; then shall sudden destruction come upon them, as the pains upon her that is with child, and they shall not escape. Fathers
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 For all you are the children of light and children of the day: we are not of the night nor of darkness. CCC
6 Therefore, let us not sleep, as others do: but let us watch, and be sober. CCC
7 For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that are drunk, are drunk in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, having on the breast plate of faith and charity and, for a helmet, the hope of salvation. CCC
9 For God hath not appointed us unto wrath: but unto the purchasing of salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us: that, whether we watch or sleep, we may live together with him.
11 For which cause comfort one another and edify one another, as you also do.
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them who labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you; CCC
13 That you esteem them more abundantly in charity, for their work’s sake. Have peace with them. CCC
14 And we beseech you, brethren, rebuke the unquiet: comfort the feeble minded: support the weak: be patient towards all men.
15 See that none render evil for evil to any man: but ever follow that which is good towards each other and towards all men.
16 Always rejoice.
17 Pray without ceasing. CCC
18 In all things give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you all. CCC
19 Extinguish not the spirit. CCC
20 Despise not prophecies. CCC
21 But prove all things: hold fast that which is good. CCC
22 From all appearance of evil refrain yourselves.
23 And may the God of peace himself sanctify you in all things: that your whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. CCC · Fathers
24 He is faithful who hath called you, who also will do it.
25 Brethren, pray for us. CCC
26 Salute all the brethren with a holy kiss.
27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church
Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text.
Read the Fathers
“This, too, the apostle affirms: "When they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction shall come upon them.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXX. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1216 “This bath is called enlightenment, because those who receive this [catechetical] instruction are enlightened in their understanding . . . ." Having…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 2849 “Such a battle and such a victory become possible only through prayer. It is by his prayer that Jesus vanquishes the tempter,…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1820 “Christian hope unfolds from the beginning of Jesus' preaching in the proclamation of the beatitudes. the beatitudes raise our hope toward heaven…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1269 “Having become a member of the Church, the person baptized belongs no longer to himself, but to him who died and rose…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1174 “The mystery of Christ, his Incarnation and Passover, which we celebrate in the Eucharist especially at the Sunday assembly, permeates and transfigures…”
- CCC 2633 “When we share in God's saving love, we understand that every need can become the object of petition. Christ, who assumed all…”
- CCC 2742 “Pray constantly . . . always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the…”
Read the Catechism
Read the Catechism
- CCC 801 “It is in this sense that discernment of charisms is always necessary. No charism is exempt from being referred and submitted to…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 801 “It is in this sense that discernment of charisms is always necessary. No charism is exempt from being referred and submitted to…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 367 “Sometimes the soul is distinguished from the spirit: St. Paul for instance prays that God may sanctify his people "wholly", with "spirit…”
“… as well as a spiritual man; saying thus in the first Epistle to the Thessalonians, "Now the God of peace sanctify you perfect (perfectos); and may your spirit, and soul, and body be preserved whole without complaint to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter VI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 2636 “The first Christian communities lived this form of fellowship intensely. Thus the Apostle Paul gives them a share in his ministry of…”