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 5,15 1Thes 5,15
So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.
If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.
to the end that ye should walk worthily of God, who {Some ancient authorities read called.}calleth you into his own kingdom and glory.
Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men.
Now if Timothy come, see that he be with you without fear; for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do:
If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, {Or, and wouldest forbear to release it for him, thou shall surely release it with him}thou shalt forbear to leave him, thou shalt surely release it with him.
{Hebrew: Justice, justice.} That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.
If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men.
Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise;
Thou shalt not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people; but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am Jehovah.
They also that render evil for goodAre adversaries unto me, because I follow the thing that is good.
So then, {Or, while}as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith.
Nevertheless do ye also severally love each one his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she fear her husband.
As saith the proverb of the ancients, Out of the wicked cometh forth wickedness; but my hand shall not be upon thee.
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.
And the Lord's {Greek: bondservant.}servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing,
Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another {Many ancient authorities read from a clean heart. Compare 1 Timothy 1:5.}from the heart fervently:
If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me;(Yea, I have delivered him that without cause was mine adversary);
Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
to speak evil of no man, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all meekness toward all men.
And I fell down before his feet to {See marginal note on chapter 3:9}worship him. And he saith unto me, See thou do it not: I am a fellow-servant with thee and with thy brethren that hold the testimony of Jesus: {See marginal note on chapter 3:9}worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Whoso rewardeth evil for good,Evil shall not depart from his house.
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, {Or, stedfastness}patience, meekness.
Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
And he saith unto me, See thou do it not: I am a fellow-servant with thee and with thy brethren the prophets, and with them that keep the words of this book: {See marginal note on chapter 3:9}worship God.
Say not thou, I will recompense evil:Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.
Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord:
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth,And let not thy heart be glad when he is overthrown;
And let him turn away from evil, and do good;Let him seek peace, and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous,And his ears unto their supplication:But the face of the Lord is upon them that do evil.
And who is he that will harm you, if ye be zealous of that which is good?
Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me;I will render to the man according to his work.
Beloved, imitate not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
If {Hebrew: he that hateth thee}thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat;And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
but I say unto you, Resist not {Or, evil}him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
but I say unto you, Love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you;
that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.
But love your enemies, and do them good, and lend, {Some ancient authorities read despairing of no man.}never despairing; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of the Most High: for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.
Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men.
If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men.
Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto {Or, wrath}the wrath of God: for it is written, {Deuteronomy 32:35}Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord.
But {(Proverbs 25:21 f.)}if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Nay, already it is altogether {Or, a loss to you}a defect in you, that ye have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather take wrong? why not rather be defrauded?
who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, threatened not; but committed {Or, his cause}himself to him that judgeth righteously:
not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but contrariwise blessing; for hereunto were ye called, that ye should inherit a blessing.