Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians

Comm on Phil, Col, Thes
1 Thessalonians 5:1-5
1. But of the times and the seasons, brethren, 1. Porro de temporibus et articulis temporum
ye have no need that I write unto you. non opus habetis, ut vobis scribatur.
2. For yourselves know perfectly that the day 2. Ipsi enim optime scitis, quod dies Domini
of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. tanquam fur in nocte sic veniet.
3. For when they shall say, Peace and safety, 3. Quando enim dixerint, Pax et securitas,
then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as tunc repentinus ipsis superveniet interitus, quasi
travail upon a woman with child; and they shall dolor partus mulieri praegnanti, nec effugient.
not escape.
4. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that 4. Vos autem, fratres, non estis in tenebris,
that day should overtake you as a thief. ut dies ille vos quasi fur opprimat.
5. Ye are all the children of light, and the 5. Omnes vos filii lucis estis, et filii diei: non
children of the day: we are not of the night, nor sumus noctis, neque tenebrarum.
of darkness.
1 But as to times. He now, in the third place, calls them back from a curious and unprofitable
inquiry as to times, but in the mean time admonishes them to be constantly in a state of preparation
for receiving Christ. 589 He speaks, however, by way of anticipation, saying, that they have no need
that he should write as to those things which the curious desire to know. For it is an evidence of
excessive incredulity not to believe what the Lord foretells, unless he marks out the day by certain
circumstances, and as it were points it out with the finger. As, therefore, those waver between
doubtful opinions who require that moments of time should be marked out for them, as if they
would draw a conjecture 590 from some plausible demonstration, he accordingly says that discussions
of this nature are not necessary for the pious. There is also another reason — that believers do not
desire to know more than they are permitted to learn in God’s school. Now Christ designed that
the day of his coming should be hid from us, that, being in suspense, we might be as it were upon
watch.
2 Ye know perfectly. He places exact knowledge in contrast with an anxious desire of
investigation. But what is it that he says the Thessalonians know accurately? 591 It is, that the day
of Christ will come suddenly and unexpectedly, so as to take unbelievers by surprise, as a thief
does those that are asleep. This, however, is opposed to evident tokens, which might portend afar
off his coming to the world. Hence it were foolish to wish to determine the time precisely from
presages or prodigies.
3 For when they shall say. Here we have an explanation of the similitude, the day of the Lord
will be like a thief in the night. Why so? because it will come suddenly to unbelievers, when not
looked for, so that it will take them by surprise, as though they were asleep. But whence comes
that sleep? Assuredly from deep contempt of God. The prophets frequently reprove the wicked on
account of this supine negligence, and assuredly they await in a spirit of carelessness not merely
589 “Quand il viendra en iugement;” — “When he will come to judgment.”
590 “De ce qu’ils en doyuent croire;” — “Of what they must believe.”
591 “Plenement et certainement;” — “Fully and certainly.”
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John Calvin