1 Thessalonians 5:4

But you, brothers, aren’t in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief.

World English Bible
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Other translations

WEBBE

But you, brothers, aren’t in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief.

BSB

But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief.

KJV

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

ASV

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief:

BBE

But you, my brothers, are not in the dark, for that day to overtake you like a thief:

Original Greek

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ὑμεῖς humeis You yourselves G4771 δέ de however G1161 ἀδελφοί adelphoi brothers G80 οὐκ ouk not G3756 ἐστὲ este are G1510 ἐν en in G1722 σκότει skotei darkness G4655 ἵνα ina that G2443 ἡ hē the G3588 ἡμέρα hēmera day G2250 ὑμᾶς humas you G4771 ὡς hōs like G5613 κλέπτης kleptēs a thief G2812 καταλάβῃ katalabē may grasp G2638

The early church

"But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief." Here he speaks of a life that is dark and impure. For it is just as corrupt and wicked men do all things as in the night, escaping the notice of all, and inclosing themselves in darkness. For tell me, does not the adulterer watch for the evening, and the thief for the night? Does not the violator of the tombs carry on all his trade in the night? What then? Does it not overtake them as a thief? Does it not come upon them also uncertainly, but do they know it beforehand? How then does he say, "Ye have no need that aught be written unto you"? He speaks here not with respect to the uncertainty, but with respect to the calamity, that is, it will not come as an evil to them. For it will come uncertainly indeed even to them, but it will involve them in no trouble. "That that Day," he says, "may not overtake you as a thief." For in the case of those who are watching and who are in the light, if there should be any entry of a robber, it can do them no harm: so also it is with those who live well. But those who are sleeping he will strip of everything, and go off; that is, those who are trusting in the things of this life.
John Chrysostom · d. 407Homilies on 1 Thessalonians

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 1–5

It is needless or useless to ask about the particular time of Christ's coming. Christ did not reveal this to the apostles. There are times and seasons for us to work in, and these are our duty and interest to know and observe; but as to the time when we must give up our account, we know it not, nor is it needful that we should. The coming of Christ will be a great surprise to men. Our Lord himself said so. As the hour of death is the same to each person that the judgment will be to mankind in general, so the same remarks answer for both. Christ's coming will be terrible to the ungodly. Their destruction will overtake them while they dream of happiness, and please themselves with vain amusements. There will be no means to escape the terror or the punishment of that day. This day will be a happy day to the righteous. They are not in darkness; they are the children of the light. It is the happy condition of all true Christians. But how many are speaking peace and safety to themselves, over whose heads utter destruction is hovering! Let us endeavour to awaken ourselves and each other, and guard against our spiritual enemies.

Read Matthew Henry on 1 Thessalonians 5 →

Parallel passages

4

The same words or events elsewhere.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 Peter 3:10Revelation 3:3Revelation 16:15

Cross-references

13

Topics

RighteousWisdomBlindnessWatchfulnessDarkness

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.