1 Thessalonians 5:3

Text (1 Thessalonians 5:3)

3 When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape.

Translation and Paraphrase

3.

(For) when they are saying, (It is a time of) peace and security, then unexpected destruction shall come upon them, just as labor pains (come upon the woman that is with child. And they shall (most certainly) not escape (from the terrors of that day).

Notes (1 Thessalonians 5:3)

1.

They shall not escape: They will not be able to conceal themselves in the dens or the rocks and mountains. Revelation 6:16. The drunkard will have his cup at his lips, the swearer his oath in his mouth, the murderer his gun in his hand, and some in the act of adultery.

2.

How little men know about the true danger to their souls: When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction: As it was in the days of Jeremiah, men will be saying, Peace peace, when there is no peace, Jeremiah 6:1-30; Jeremiah 14:1-22. And as it was in the days of Noah, they knew not till the flood came and took them all away; thus shall it be in the coming of the son of man. Matthew 24:39.

3.

Luke 21:34: And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with dissipation and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. (The word translated unawares in Luke 21:34 is the same word (aphnidios) translated as sudden here in 1 Thessalonians 5:3.)

4.

The statement, They shall not escape, is emphatic in form (using ou me, as in 1 Thessalonians 4:15). Our translation and paraphrase renders it, They shall (most certainly) not escape.

5.

Note that the fate of sinners is said to be destruction. Destruction (Gr. olethros) does not indicate annihilation of body and soul. But it describes the total ruin of everything the sinner is and hoped for. The word is used in this sense by Greek writers. For a full discussion of its meaning and uses, see notes on 2 Thessalonians 1:9.