1Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers,[1] you have no need to have anything written to you. (但2:21; 徒1:7; 帖前4:9)2For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. (太24:43; 路17:24; 帖后2:2)3While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. (诗35:8; 赛13:8; 路17:26; 路21:34; 帖后1:9)4But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. (约一2:8)5For you are all children[2] of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. (路16:8)6So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. (太24:42; 可13:36; 羅13:11; 彼前1:13)7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. (徒2:15; 彼后2:13)8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. (赛59:17; 弗6:14; 弗6:17; 弗6:23)9For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, (帖前1:10; 帖后2:13; 來10:39)10who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. (羅14:9; 提后2:11)11Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Final Instructions and Benediction
12We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, (林前16:16; 林前16:18; 腓2:29; 來13:17)13and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. (可9:50)14And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle,[3] encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. (赛35:4; 徒20:35; 羅15:1; 林前13:4; 帖后3:6; 帖后3:11; 來12:12)15See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. (羅12:9; 羅12:17; 加6:10; 彼前3:9)16Rejoice always, (腓4:4)17pray without ceasing, (路18:1)18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (弗5:20)19Do not quench the Spirit. (林前14:30; 弗4:30; 提前4:14; 提后1:6)20Do not despise prophecies, (林前11:4)21but test everything; hold fast what is good. (伯34:4; 弗5:10; 约一4:1)22Abstain from every form of evil.23Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (出31:13; 路1:46; 约17:17; 羅15:33; 林前14:14; 帖前2:19; 來4:12; 彼后3:14; 犹1:1)24He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (林前1:9; 腓1:6)25Brothers, pray for us. (帖后3:1; 來13:18)26Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. (羅16:16)27I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. (西4:16)28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (羅16:20)