1 Thessalonians 5:6

5:6 So then we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober.

1 Thessalonians 4:17

4:17 Then we who are alive, who are left, ¹  will be suddenly caught up ²  together ³  with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 5:3

5:3 Now when ⁴  they are saying, “There is peace and security,” ⁵  then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains ⁶  on a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape.

1 Thessalonians 4:18

4:18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:1

A Life Pleasing to God

4:1 Finally then, brothers and sisters, ⁷  we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us about how ⁸  you must live and please God (as you are in fact living) ⁹  that you do so more and more.

1 Thessalonians 4:4

4:4 that each of you know how to possess his own body ¹⁰  in holiness and honor,

1 Thessalonians 4:8

4:8 Consequently the one who rejects this is not rejecting human authority ¹¹  but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, just as you are in fact doing.

1 Thessalonians 2:14

2:14 For you became imitators, brothers and sisters, ¹²  of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you too suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they in fact did from the Jews,

[4:17]  ¹ tc The words οἱ περιλειπόμενοι (Joi perileipomenoi, “[the ones] who are left”) are lacking in F G {0226^vid} ar b as well as a few fathers, but the rest of the textual tradition has the words. Most likely, the Western mss omitted the words because of perceived redundancy with οἱ ζῶντες (Joi zwnte", “[the ones] who are alive”).

[4:17]  ² tn Or “snatched up.” The Greek verb ἁρπάζω implies that the action is quick or forceful, so the translation supplied the adverb “suddenly” to make this implicit notion clear.

[4:17]  ³ tn Or “simultaneously,” but this meaning does not fit as well in the parallel in 5:10.

[5:3]  ¹ tc ‡ δέ (de, “now”) is found in א² B D 0226 6 1505 1739 1881 al, but lacking in א* A F G 33 it. γάρ (gar, “for”) is the reading of the Byzantine text and a few other witnesses (Ψ 0278 Ï). Although normally the shorter reading is to be preferred, the external evidence is superior for δέ (being found in the somewhat better Alexandrian and Western witnesses). What, then, is to explain the γάρ? Scribes were prone to replace δέ with γάρ, especially in sentences suggesting a causal or explanatory idea, thus making the point more explicit. Internally, the omission of δέ looks unintentional, a case of homoioarcton (otandelegwsin). Although a decision is difficult, in this instance δέ has the best credentials for authenticity.

[5:3]  ² tn Grk “peace and security,” with “there is” understood in the Greek construction.

[5:3]  ³ tn Grk a singular “birth pain.”

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

[4:1]  ² sn As you received instruction from us about how (Grk “as you received from us how”). The Greek word translated received is used for accepting instructions passed on as fixed traditions from teacher to follower. Paul speaks in these terms about doctrinal traditions as well as ethical instruction that he passes on to his converts and expects them to keep (cf. 1 Cor 11:2, 23; 15:1-3; Gal 1:9; Phil 4:9; 2 Thess 2:15; 3:6).

[4:1]  ³ tc This parenthetical clause is absent in several later witnesses (D² Ψ Ï), but it may have been expunged for sounding redundant. The longer text, in this instance, is solidly supported by א A B D* F G 0183^vid 0278 33 81 104 326 365 629 al co and should be unquestionably preferred.

[4:4]  ¹ tn Grk “to gain [or possess] his own vessel.” “Vessel” is most likely used figuratively for “body” (cf. 2 Cor 4:7). Some take it to mean “wife” (thus, “to take a wife for himself” or “to live with his wife”), but this is less likely. See J. Smith, “1 Thess 4:4 – Breaking the Impasse,” BBR 10 (Fall 2000), who argues that “vessel” in this context is very likely a euphemism for the sexual organs.

[4:8]  ¹ tn Grk “rejecting man.”

[2:14]  ¹ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.