But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you.
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape.
But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you {Some ancient authorities read as thieves.}as a thief:
for ye are all sons of light, and sons of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness;
so then let us not sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober.
For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that are drunken are drunken in the night.
But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
For God appointed us not unto wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who died for us, that, whether we {Or, watch}wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
Wherefore {Or, comfort chapter 4:18.}exhort one another, and build each other up, even as also ye do.
But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
and to esteem them exceeding highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all.
See that none render unto any one evil for evil; but always follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all.
Rejoice always;
pray without ceasing;
in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward.
Quench not the Spirit;
despise not prophesyings;
{Many ancient authorities insert but.}prove all things; hold fast that which is good;
abstain from every form of evil.
And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the {Or, presence}coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it.
Brethren, pray for us {Some ancient authorities add also.}.
Salute all the brethren with a holy kiss.
I adjure you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the {Many ancient authorities insert holy.}brethren.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Querverweise zu 1. Thessalonicher 5,11 1Thes 5,11
Wherefore {Or, exhort chapter 5:11.}comfort one another with these words.
but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called To-day; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin:
So then {Many ancient authorities read we follow.}let us follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may edify one another.
for indeed ye do it toward all the brethren that are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brethren, that ye abound more and more;
not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.
Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, unto edifying.
And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
All things are lawful; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful; but not all things {Greek: build up.}edify.
Wherefore I shall be ready always to put you in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and are established in the truth which is with you.
Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: and greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
So also ye, since ye are zealous of {Greek: spirits.}spiritual gifts, seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church.
And let the prophets speak by two or three, and let the others {Greek: discriminate.}discern.
{Or, Think ye…you?}Ye think all this time that we are excusing ourselves unto you. In the sight of God speak we in Christ. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying.
for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:
from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together {Greek: through every joint of the supply.}through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.
Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for {Greek: the building up of the need.}edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear.
neither to give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questionings, rather than a {Or, stewartship See 1 Corinthians 9:17.}dispensation of God which is in faith; so do I now.
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,