The Coming of the Lord: Hope for the Dead and Call to Watchfulness
1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11
1Thess.4.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ου: PART,neg
- θελομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- δε: CONJ
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- αγνοειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- αδελφοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- περι: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- κοιμωμενων: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ptc,gen,pl,m
- ινα: CONJ
- μη: PART
- λυπησθε: VERB,pres,mid/pass,imp,2,pl
- καθως: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- λοιποι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- μη: PART
- εχοντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- ελπιδα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- 1 Thessalonians 4:14 (structural): Immediate literary continuation: explains the basis for not grieving—belief that Jesus died and rose, and that God will bring with Jesus those who have 'fallen asleep.'
- 1 Corinthians 15:20–22 (thematic): Develops the same hope in Christ’s resurrection (Christ as firstfruits) and argues that without the resurrection Christian hope—and the point of mourning—would be vain.
- John 11:25–26 (thematic): Jesus’ declaration 'I am the resurrection and the life' provides the Christological foundation for Christian hope in the face of death, which undergirds Paul's admonition not to grieve like those without hope.
- Acts 24:15 (verbal): Paul’s earlier statement of 'hope toward God' in a resurrection of both just and unjust echoes the language and theological claim that grounds hope over death.
- John 14:1–3 (thematic): Jesus’ comforting promise that he goes to prepare a place and will return to receive his people serves the same pastoral purpose—reassuring believers so they need not grieve as those without hope.
Alternative generated candidates
- But we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest who have no hope.
- But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
1Thess.4.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- γαρ: PART
- πιστευομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- απεθανεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- ανεστη: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ουτως: ADV
- και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- κοιμηθεντας: VERB,aor,pass,ptc,acc,pl,m
- δια: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- αξει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- συν: PREP
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 (verbal): Christ’s resurrection as firstfruits and the promise that at his coming those who belong to him will be made alive — closely parallels the assurance that God will bring with Jesus those who have 'fallen asleep'.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (structural): Immediate context of 4:14; the same paragraph develops the hope for believers who have died and describes Christ’s return bringing the dead in Christ with him.
- John 11:25-26 (thematic): Jesus’ claim 'I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me will live, even though he dies' echoes the theological basis for confidence that God will bring the dead in Christ to life with Jesus.
- Romans 6:5 (allusion): Speaks of being united with Christ in a death like his so that we may also be united with him in a resurrection like his — an implicit basis for the promise that the dead in Christ will be brought with him.
- Philippians 3:20-21 (thematic): Anticipates the Lord’s coming to transform and bring believers into conformity with his risen body, resonating with the idea that God will bring those 'who sleep in Jesus' when Christ returns.
Alternative generated candidates
- For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, even so God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
- For since we believe that Jesus died and rose, God will also bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep.
1Thess.4.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τουτο: PRON,nom,sg,n
- γαρ: PART
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- λεγομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- εν: PREP
- λογω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- οτι: CONJ
- ημεις: PRON,nom,pl,1
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- ζωντες: PART,pres,act,nom,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- περιλειπομενοι: PART,pres,mid/pass,nom,pl,m
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- παρουσιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ου: PART,neg
- μη: PART
- φθασωμεν: VERB,aor,act,subj,1,pl
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- κοιμηθεντας·: PART,aor,pass,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same teaching: describes the Lord’s descent, the resurrection of the dead, and the gathering of the living—explains how the living will not precede the dead.
- 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (verbal): Speaks of not all sleeping and being changed ‘in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye’ at the last trumpet—parallels the teaching about the living and the dead at the Lord’s coming.
- 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 (thematic): Presents Christ as the firstfruits and links the resurrection of believers to Christ’s coming, echoing the sequence and hope in 1 Thess 4:15.
- John 14:3 (thematic): Jesus’ promise ‘I will come again and receive you’ parallels the expectation that the Lord will come and gather his people—background for the assurance in 1 Thess 4:15.
- Acts 1:11 (allusion): The angels’ declaration that Jesus will return ‘in the same way’ supports the eschatological expectation of the Lord’s coming that underlies Paul’s statement about the living and the dead.
Alternative generated candidates
- For this we tell you by a word from the Lord: that we who are alive, who remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
- For this we tell you by the word of the Lord: that we who are alive, who remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep.
1Thess.4.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οτι: CONJ
- αυτος: PRON,nom,sg,3,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- κελευσματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- εν: PREP
- φωνη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- αρχαγγελου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- σαλπιγγι: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- καταβησεται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
- απ᾽ουρανου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- νεκροι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- Χριστω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- αναστησονται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,pl
- πρωτον: ADV
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 15:52 (verbal): Mentions the 'last trumpet' and that 'the dead will be raised'—a close verbal parallel to Paul's 'trump of God' and the resurrection of the dead in Christ.
- Matthew 24:31 (verbal): Speaks of angels and a loud trumpet call gathering the elect—parallels the trumpet/angelic imagery and the eschatological gathering in 1 Thessalonians 4:16.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:7 (thematic): Describes the Lord being revealed from heaven with his mighty angels—another Pauline depiction of Christ's heavenly coming accompanied by angelic figures.
- Daniel 12:1-2 (allusion): Speaks of Michael's stand and the resurrection of those who 'sleep in the dust of the earth'—provides Old Testament background for the archangelic figure and end-time resurrection invoked in 1 Thessalonians 4:16.
Alternative generated candidates
- For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ will rise first.
- For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ will rise first.
1Thess.4.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- επειτα: ADV
- ημεις: PRON,nom,pl,1
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- ζωντες: PART,pres,act,nom,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- περιλειπομενοι: PART,pres,mid,nom,pl,m
- αμα: ADV
- συν: PREP
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- αρπαγησομεθα: VERB,fut,mid,ind,1,pl
- εν: PREP
- νεφελαις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- εις: PREP
- απαντησιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- αερα·και: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ουτως: ADV
- παντοτε: ADV
- συν: PREP
- κυριω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- εσομεθα: VERB,fut,mid,ind,1,pl
Parallels
- Matthew 24:30-31 (thematic): Jesus' coming on the clouds and the gathering of the elect by angels parallels the Thessalonian image of believers being gathered to meet the Lord in the air.
- 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (verbal): Both passages speak of the sudden transformation/raising of the living and the dead ‘in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye’ at the last trumpet, linking resurrection and being caught up.
- John 14:3 (thematic): Jesus' promise 'I will come again and will take you to myself... that where I am you may be also' echoes the assurance that believers will be with the Lord.
- Philippians 3:20-21 (thematic): The hope that Christ will transform our lowly bodies and bring believers into heavenly citizenship complements the Thessalonian expectation of being taken up to be with the Lord.
- Acts 1:11 (allusion): The angels' declaration that Jesus will return 'in like manner' points back to a future coming from heaven (clouds) and undergirds the expectation of being caught up to meet him.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will always be with the Lord.
- Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord always.
1Thess.4.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ωστε: CONJ
- παρακαλειτε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- αλληλους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- λογοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- τουτοις: DEM,dat,pl,m
Parallels
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (verbal): Direct repetition of the exhortation to 'encourage one another' and 'build up'—same imperative verb (παρακαλεῖτε) and communal-purpose language.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:14 (verbal): Uses the same verb (παρακαλεῖτε) in exhorting the community to encourage specific groups (the faint-hearted, weak, and distressed), expanding the practical scope of mutual consolation.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 (verbal): Paul’s prayer that the Lord 'comfort' (παρακαλέσαι / παρακαλῶ) and strengthen believers’ hearts echoes the theme and vocabulary of mutual encouragement found in 1 Thess 4:18.
- Hebrews 3:13 (verbal): 'But encourage one another daily…' (parallel imperative to exhort/encourage), stressing regular mutual exhortation to prevent hardening of heart—same pastoral imperative as 1 Thess 4:18.
- Hebrews 10:24–25 (thematic): Calls believers to provoke/stir up one another to love and good works and not forsake assembling—the same communal ethic of mutual encouragement and edification underlying 1 Thess 4:18.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore comfort one another with these words.
- Therefore encourage one another with these words.
1Thess.5.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Περι: PREP
- δε: CONJ
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- χρονων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- καιρων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- αδελφοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- ου: PART,neg
- χρειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εχετε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- γραφεσθαι: VERB,pres,mid/pass,inf
Parallels
- Acts 1:7 (verbal): Uses the same technical phrase about 'times and seasons' (Greek χρονοὺς καὶ καιρούς) and likewise denies that such knowledge belongs to the disciples—close verbal and thematic parallel.
- Mark 13:32 (thematic): Jesus teaches that the timing of the end (the day/hour) is unknown to others and only the Father knows, echoing the theme that believers need not be told exact times.
- Matthew 24:36 (thematic): Parallel to Mark 13:32: no one knows the day or hour of the Son of Man's coming—reinforces the point that precise times are not for human knowledge.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2 (structural): Immediate literary continuation of 5:1; contrasts the statement that they need not be written to by specifying how the day of the Lord will come (like a thief).
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (thematic): Earlier passage in the same letter treating the Lord's coming and the fate of the dead—provides the broader eschatological context motivating the remark about 'times and seasons' in 5:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I should write to you.
- Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you do not need anything to be written to you.
1Thess.5.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αυτοι: PRON,nom,pl,3
- γαρ: PART
- ακριβως: ADV
- οιδατε: VERB,perf,act,ind,2,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- ημερα: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ως: ADV
- κλεπτης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- νυκτι: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- ουτως: ADV
- ερχεται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- 2 Peter 3:10 (verbal): Uses the same language of 'the day of the Lord' coming unexpectedly and like a thief, emphasizing suddenness and judgment.
- Matthew 24:43-44 (verbal): Jesus compares coming of the Son of Man to a thief in the night, urging watchfulness—same metaphor of unexpected arrival.
- Luke 12:39-40 (verbal): Parallel Lukan version of the 'thief in the night' saying, stressing readiness because the Son of Man will come at an unexpected hour.
- Revelation 16:15 (quotation): Uses a direct 'I come like a thief' formula (spoken by Christ), echoing the thief imagery for Christ's coming and blessing those who watch.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 (structural): Immediate context in the same letter contrasts those 'in darkness' with 'children of the day,' applying the thief metaphor to urge sober, vigilant conduct.
Alternative generated candidates
- For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night.
- For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
1Thess.5.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οταν: CONJ
- λεγωσιν·Ειρηνη: VERB,pres,act,subj,3,pl
- και: CONJ
- ασφαλεια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- τοτε: ADV
- αιφνιδιος: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- εφισταται: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
- ολεθρος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ωσπερ: ADV
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- ωδιν: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- γαστρι: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- εχουση: VERB,pres,act,ptcp,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- ου: PART,neg
- μη: PART
- εκφυγωσιν: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,pl
Parallels
- Ezekiel 7:25 (verbal): Ezekiel proclaims that when disaster comes people will seek peace but none will be found—language and theme closely parallel Paul’s 'When they say, “Peace and safety,” then sudden destruction...'.
- Matthew 24:6-8 (verbal): Jesus lists signs of the end and summarizes them as 'the beginning of birth pains'—the same labor‑pain imagery Paul uses to describe sudden, unstoppable calamity.
- Mark 13:7-8 (verbal): Mark’s version of the Olivet discourse likewise frames end‑time tribulations as birth pangs; this verbal parallel reinforces the apocalyptic birth‑pangs motif in 1 Thessalonians 5:3.
- Isaiah 26:17-18 (allusion): Isaiah uses the image of a woman in travail to depict national distress and failure of relief—an Old Testament precedent for interpreting catastrophic upheaval as birthing/labor imagery.
- Revelation 6:15-17 (thematic): The Revelation scene of terrified people calling for the mountains to hide because 'the great day of their wrath has come' echoes Paul’s picture of sudden destruction and the inability of people to escape.
Alternative generated candidates
- While people are saying, 'Peace and safety,' then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
- When people say, ‘Peace and safety,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
1Thess.5.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- υμεις: PRON,nom,pl,2
- δε: CONJ
- αδελφοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εστε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- εν: PREP
- σκοτει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- ινα: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- ημερα: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- ως: ADV
- κλεπτης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- καταλαβη: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,sg
Parallels
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 (verbal): Immediate context: the coming “day of the Lord” is said to come like a thief in the night, the same imagery of unexpected arrival that v.4 contrasts with the Thessalonians' preparedness.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:5 (thematic): Close intratextual contrast: v.5 develops v.4’s point by identifying believers as "children of light"—the flip side of not being "in darkness."
- Matthew 24:43-44 (verbal): Jesus uses the thief-in-the-night simile to warn of the unexpected timing of the Son of Man’s coming; parallels in Mark 13 and Luke 12 echo the same metaphor and admonition to be ready.
- 2 Peter 3:10 (verbal): Explicit New Testament parallel: Peter likewise states that the day of the Lord will come "like a thief," using the same sudden, unwarned arrival motif and urging holy conduct in light of it.
- Romans 13:11-14 (thematic): Uses night/day imagery and the call to wake from sleep and live as people of the day—theological parallel to 1 Thess 5:4–5’s contrast between darkness and the vigilant, light-filled life of believers.
Alternative generated candidates
- But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief.
- But you are not in darkness, brothers, so that that day should overtake you like a thief.
1Thess.5.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- παντες: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- γαρ: PART
- υμεις: PRON,nom,pl,2
- υιοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- φωτος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- εστε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- και: CONJ
- υιοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- ημερας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εσμεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- νυκτος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ουδε: CONJ,neg
- σκοτους·: NOUN,gen,sg,n
Parallels
- Ephesians 5:8 (verbal): Uses the same language and idea—believers as 'children/sons of light' and called to walk as children of light, closely echoing 1 Thess 5:5.
- John 12:35-36 (verbal): Explicitly links belief and becoming 'sons/children of light' (γένησθε υἱοὶ τοῦ φωτός), a direct verbal and thematic parallel about identity in the light.
- Romans 13:12-14 (thematic): Contrasts night/darkness with day/light and exhorts believers to 'put on the armor of light' and cast off works of darkness, using the same day/night moral imagery.
- 1 John 1:5-7 (thematic): Proclaims 'God is light' and calls believers to walk in the light (not in darkness), emphasizing fellowship and moral life in light—theological echo of 'children of light.'
- Colossians 1:12-13 (thematic): Speaks of God delivering believers from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of his Son—the same transfer from darkness to light underpinning 1 Thess 5:5.
Alternative generated candidates
- For you are all children of light, children of the day; we are not of the night nor of darkness.
- For you are all sons of light and sons of day; we are not of night nor of darkness.
1Thess.5.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αρα: PART
- ουν: CONJ
- μη: PART
- καθευδωμεν: VERB,pres,act,subj,1,pl
- ως: ADV
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- λοιποι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- αλλα: CONJ
- γρηγορωμεν: VERB,pres,act,subj,1,pl
- και: CONJ
- νηφωμεν: VERB,pres,act,subj,1,pl
Parallels
- 1Thess.5.4 (structural): Immediate context contrast of 'those who are of the day' vs 'those who sleep'—the verse is part of the same exhortation about wakefulness and readiness.
- 1Thess.5.8 (verbal): Close verbal and thematic continuation—explicitly repeats the call to be 'of the day' and to be sober (νήφω), linking wakefulness with sober conduct.
- Eph.5.14-15 (allusion): 'Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead' and 'walk circumspectly' echo the summons to wakefulness and careful, sober living found in 1 Thess 5:6.
- Mark 13:35-37 (thematic): Jesus' command to 'stay awake' because the master may come at any hour parallels the exhortation to watch and be sober in expectation of the Lord's coming.
- 1 Pet.5.8 (verbal): Uses similar imperatives to be sober-minded/watchful (νήψατε/νήφεσθε, γρηγορεῖτε) — a close verbal and ethical parallel stressing vigilance against spiritual danger.
Alternative generated candidates
- So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
- So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
1Thess.5.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- γαρ: PART
- καθευδοντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- νυκτος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- καθευδουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- και: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- μεθυσκομενοι: VERB,pres,mid,part,nom,pl,m
- νυκτος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- μεθυουσιν·: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- 1 Thessalonians 5:6 (structural): Immediate parallel in same context: 'let us not sleep as others do, but let us watch and be sober' — contrasts sleeping with watchfulness as in v.7.
- Romans 13:11-13 (verbal): Uses very similar language and contrasts sleeping/works of darkness with walking as in the day, opposing 'rioting and drunkenness'.
- Ephesians 5:8-18 (verbal): Contrasts former darkness with life in the light and explicitly forbids being 'drunk with wine,' urging sober, Spirit-filled conduct.
- Titus 2:11-12 (thematic): Calls believers to live soberly and deny ungodliness while awaiting Christ's appearing — parallel ethical exhortation to sobriety and watchfulness.
- Mark 13:33-37 (thematic): Jesus' call to watchfulness for the Master's coming (do not sleep) parallels the exhortation against spiritual sleepiness found in 1 Thess 5:7.
Alternative generated candidates
- For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.
- For those who sleep, sleep by night, and those who get drunk, get drunk by night.
1Thess.5.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ημεις: PRON,nom,pl,1
- δε: CONJ
- ημερας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- οντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- νηφωμεν: VERB,pres,act,subj,1,pl
- ενδυσαμενοι: VERB,aor,mid,part,nom,pl,m
- θωρακα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- πιστεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- αγαπης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- περικεφαλαιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ελπιδα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- σωτηριας·: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Eph.6.14-17 (verbal): Uses the same 'armor' imagery—breastplate and helmet (helmet of salvation)—linking spiritual protection to righteousness/faith and salvation.
- Rom.13.12-14 (verbal): Commands believers to 'put on' moral/Christian virtues and the 'armor of light' and to 'put on the Lord Jesus Christ,' echoing the clothing/armoring metaphor and ethical urgency.
- 1 Cor.13.13 (thematic): Presents the central triad of Christian virtues—faith, hope, and love—which 1 Thessalonians 5:8 arranges as faith and love (breastplate) and hope (helmet).
- Col.3.12-14 (structural): Employs the 'put on' clothing metaphor (put on compassion, kindness; above all put on love), paralleling Paul's exhortation to 'put on' faith, love, and hope as garments/armor.
- 1 Pet.1.13 (allusion): Calls believers to 'gird up the loins of your mind' and 'be sober' and to set hope fully on grace—sharing the sobriety/alertness and hope language found in 1 Thessalonians 5:8.
Alternative generated candidates
- But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of the hope of salvation.
- But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
1Thess.5.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οτι: CONJ
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εθετο: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- οργην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αλλα: CONJ
- εις: PREP
- περιποιησιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- σωτηριας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- δια: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Romans 5:9 (verbal): Speaks of being saved from God's wrath through Christ’s blood—closely parallels the language and theological point that God has not destined believers for wrath but for salvation through Jesus.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:10 (verbal): Uses similar language about waiting for Christ 'who delivers us from the wrath to come,' directly echoing the theme that believers are not appointed to wrath but to salvation.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 (thematic): Affirms that God chose believers for salvation (through sanctification and belief) and called them to obtain glory—parallel emphasis on God’s salvific purpose rather than appointment to wrath.
- Titus 3:5-7 (thematic): Describes salvation as God’s merciful act (washing, renewal, justification) that results in hope of eternal life—relates to the verse’s emphasis on God’s intent to grant salvation rather than wrath.
- John 3:36 (thematic): Contrasts those who have eternal life through belief in the Son with those on whom 'the wrath of God remains,' highlighting the same dichotomy between divine wrath and the salvation given to believers.
Alternative generated candidates
- For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
- For God did not appoint us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Thess.5.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- αποθανοντος: VERB,aor,act,ptcp,gen,sg,m
- περι: PREP
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- ινα: CONJ
- ειτε: CONJ
- γρηγορωμεν: VERB,pres,act,subj,1,pl
- ειτε: CONJ
- καθευδωμεν: VERB,pres,act,subj,1,pl
- αμα: ADV
- συν: PREP
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ζησωμεν: VERB,aor,act,subj,1,pl
Parallels
- 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 (structural): Same epistolary teaching about believers who 'sleep' (die) and the future gathering/union with the Lord—both passages connect death/sleep with being 'with him.'
- Romans 6:8-9 (verbal): Explicitly links dying with Christ to living with him ('if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him'), echoing the language and soteriological logic of 5:10.
- John 14:3 (thematic): Jesus' promise 'I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also' resonates with the aim of Christ's death in 5:10—that believers may 'live with him.'
- John 11:25-26 (thematic): Jesus as 'the resurrection and the life' who assures that whoever believes in him will live, even if they die—parallels 5:10's assurance of life with Christ whether one is awake or asleep.
- Titus 2:13-14 (allusion): Affirms Christ 'gave himself for us' to redeem and present us holy—ties the atoning purpose of Christ's death in 5:10 to the result of believers' present and future life with him.
Alternative generated candidates
- He died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live together with him.
- who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live together with him.
1Thess.5.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- διο: CONJ
- παρακαλειτε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- αλληλους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- οικοδομειτε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ενα: NUM,acc,sg,m
- καθως: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- ποιειτε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
Parallels
- Romans 14:19 (verbal): Uses the language of 'edify/build up' (οἰκοδομή) and calls believers to pursue what promotes mutual building up, echoing 1 Thess 5:11's command to build one another up.
- Romans 15:2 (verbal): Commands believers to please their neighbor for their good and 'edification'—same ethical aim and vocabulary of mutual building up found in 1 Thess 5:11.
- Ephesians 4:29 (verbal): Contrasts harmful speech with speech 'that gives grace to those who hear,' explicitly framing Christian speech and action as intended for edification/ building up.
- 1 Corinthians 14:26 (structural): Describes orderly gatherings in which each contribution (psalm, teaching, revelation) is to be for 'edification'—a practical parallel to the communal goal of building one another up.
- Hebrews 10:24-25 (thematic): Urges believers to encourage one another and not abandon meeting together—sharing the imperative to exhort and strengthen the community that underlies 1 Thess 5:11.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
- Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you are doing.
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest who have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord: that we who are alive, who remain until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord.
Therefore encourage one another with these words. Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I write to you.
For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
While people are saying, 'Peace and safety,' sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman—and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that that day should surprise you like a thief.
For you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night nor of the darkness. So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober—putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep we might live together with him.
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.