1 Thessalonians 5:8

5:8 But since we are of the day, we must stay sober by putting on the breastplate ¹  of faith and love and as a helmet our hope for salvation. ² 

1 Thessalonians 4:14

4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that ³  God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians. ⁴ 

1 Thessalonians 3:8

3:8 For now we are alive again, ⁵  if you stand firm in the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 2:17

Forced Absence from Thessalonica

2:17 But when we were separated from you, brothers and sisters, ⁶  for a short time (in presence, not in affection) ⁷  we became all the more fervent in our great desire ⁸  to see you in person. ⁹ 

1 Thessalonians 3:4

3:4 For in fact when we were with you, we were telling you in advance that we would suffer affliction, and so it has happened, as you well know. ¹⁰ 

¹ sn An allusion to Isa 59:17.

² tn Grk “hope of salvation” (“a helmet…for salvation” is an allusion to Isa 59:17).

³ tn “we believe that” is understood from the first clause of the verse, which is parallel. Grk “so also God will bring.”

⁴ tn Grk “those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.” It is possible that “through Jesus” describes “bring,” but this gives the unlikely double reference, “through Jesus God will bring them with Jesus.” Instead it describes their “falling sleep,” since through him their death is only sleep and not the threat it once was. Also Christians are those whose total existence – life and death – is in and through and for Christ (1 Cor 8:6).

⁵ tn Grk “because now we live,” in comparison with his feelings of dread in not knowing how they were doing (cf. 2:17-3:5).

⁷ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.

⁸ tn Grk “in face, not in heart.”

⁹ tn Grk “with great desire.”

¹⁰ tn Grk “to see your face.”

⁹ tn Grk “just as it also occurred and you know.”