1 Thess 5-End Times

1, 2 Thessalonians (1) Introduction (5:1)

“Times and dates” (v. 1) translates two Greek words for time. In contexts where distinctions are made between them, the first (chronos) connotes time as a sequence, and the second (chairos) connotes an event or an epoch in time. But the two apparently formed a stock phrase in the church’s teachings about the end times

1, 2 Thessalonians (2) The Manner of the Lord’s Return (5:2–3)

The words need not describe idyllic times but arrogant or self-deceived people. They are like the prophets and priests who disputed Jeremiah’s warnings of impending destruction and cried “peace, peace” when in fact Babylon was about to destroy the city (Jer 6:14).

1, 2 Thessalonians (2) The Manner of the Lord’s Return (5:2–3)

Ezekiel mocked such people by likening them to fools whose response to finding a weak wall is to whitewash it to make it look good. It will collapse when the storm comes and expose their folly (Ezek 13:10–12).

Darkness vs. light

have you ever walked across the bedroom thinking the floor was clear? You walked confidently, expecting to walk as in the light

three types of people-people in light, people in dark who think they’re in light, people who are in darkness who realize it

1, 2 Thessalonians (3) The Christian Life Anticipating the Return (5:4–11)

“Faith and love” are placed together as modifiers of “breastplate.” “Hope” is the lone referent for “helmet” and is itself refined by the phrase “of salvation.”