Be Ready for the Lord's Coming

5 ¹Now, brothers [and sisters], we don't need to write to you about times and dates. ²You know very well that the day the Lord comes again will be [a surprise] like a thief who comes at night. ³People will say, "We have peace and we are safe." At that time destruction will come to them quickly. Destruction will come like the pains of a woman who is having a baby. And those people will not escape. ⁴But you, brothers [and sisters], are not living in darkness (sin). And so that day will not surprise you like a thief. ⁵You are all people who belong to the light (goodness). You belong to the day. We don't belong to the night or to darkness (evil). ⁶So we should not be like other people. We should not be sleeping. We should be awake and have self-control. ⁷People who sleep, sleep at night. People who get drunk, get drunk at night. ⁸But we belong to the day (goodness), so we should control ourselves. We should wear faith and love to protect us. And the hope of salvation should be our helmet. ⁹God did not choose us to suffer his anger. God chose us to have salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁰Jesus died for us so that we can live together with him. It is not important if we are alive or dead [when Jesus comes]. ¹¹So encourage each other and make each other stronger [in faith]. And you are doing that now.

Final Instructions and Greetings

¹²Now brothers [and sisters], we ask you to respect those people who work hard with you--those who lead you in the Lord and teach you. ¹³Respect those people with a very special love because of the work they do [with you]. Live in peace with each other. ¹⁴We ask you, brothers [and sisters], to warn those people who don't work. Encourage the people who are afraid. Help the people who are weak. Be patient with every person. ¹⁵Be sure that no person pays back wrong for wrong. But always try to do what is good for each other and for all people. ¹⁶Always be full of joy. ¹⁷Never stop praying. ¹⁸Give thanks [to God] at all times. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus. ¹⁹Don't stop the work of the [Holy] Spirit.* ²⁰Don't treat prophecy* like it is not important. ²¹But test everything. Keep what is good. ²²And stay away from everything that is evil. ²³We pray that God himself, the God of peace, will make you pure--belonging only to him. We pray that your whole self--spirit, soul, and body--will be kept safe and be without wrong when our Lord Jesus Christ comes. ²⁴The One (God) who calls you will do that for you. You can trust him. ²⁵Brothers [and sisters], please pray for us. ²⁶Give all the brothers [and sisters] a holy kiss when you meet. ²⁷I tell you by the authority (power) of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers [and sisters]. ²⁸The grace (kindness) of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Spirit, Holy Spirit Also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, and the Comforter. Joined with God and Christ, he does God's work among people in the world. prophecy Teaching by a person who speaks for God.