The Chosen Key Word in this Chapter is “Sober” it comes from the Greek Word “nepho” which means “to be sober, watchful.”
Paul closes his letter describing a day that will arrive suddenly, and how believers should live while waiting for it. Welcome to Bible Life Basics Chapter Reviews, I am Chris and this is 1 Thessalonians 5.
Paul explains that regarding times and seasons, the Thessalonians have no need for anything to be written to them, since they already know perfectly well that the day of the Lord comes “as a thief in the night,” when people say peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. He reminds them they are not in darkness, that this day should overtake them like a thief, since they are children of light and of the day, not of night or darkness.
Paul urges them not to sleep as others do, but to watch and be “sober,” “nepho” in Greek, meaning to be clear-headed and self-controlled, since those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk are drunk at night. He instructs believers, who belong to the day, to be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation, since God has not appointed believers to wrath, but to obtain salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for them, so that whether they wake or sleep, they should live together with Him.
Paul urges them to comfort and edify one another, to know and esteem those who labor among them, to be at peace among themselves, and to warn the unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, and be patient toward everyone. He gives a rapid series of concise instructions, “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks… Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings… Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.” He closes praying that the God of peace would sanctify them wholly, spirit, soul, and body, preserved blameless until the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, promising that He who calls them is faithful, who also will do it, closing with his familiar benediction of grace.
Paul’s rapid-fire list of closing instructions, rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in everything, distills genuine Christian living into remarkably simple, practical habits rather than complicated theological achievement. Living ready for Christ’s sudden return, this chapter suggests, looks less like anxious calculation and more like consistent, daily faithfulness in ordinary things.
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