1 Thessalonians 5:1

1 THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 5 1 Thessalonians 5:1 The apostle proceedeth to show that Christ's coming will be sudden, exhorting Christians to watch and be sober, so as not to be taken by surprise. 1 Thessalonians 5:12,13 He beseecheth them to respect their spiritual guides, 1 Thessalonians 5:14 and giveth, divers other precepts, 1 Thessalonians 5:23 concluding with a prayer and salutations. But when shall these things be? Might some say, as the disciples asked Christ, Matthew 24:3,36 Ac 1:6. He tells them: It is not for you to know the times or the seasons; not that they knew them in particular already, but there was no need they should know them. It may be some among them were too curious to inquire. He doth not say they could not be known, as being put into God's own power, as Acts 1:7; but, ye have no need that I write of them. The apostle, as in his preaching, so in his writing, had respect to what was most needful and profitable for the people: as when the disciples asked: Are there few that be saved? Christ answered them in that which was most needful to them, Luke 13:24: and so doth the apostle here; instead of acquainting them with the times and seasons, he puts them upon watchfulness, that they might not be surprised, as in the following verses; and to improve the knowledge they had already, which was this, that Christ's coming would be sudden.