PEACE AND SECURITY
The First to the Thessalonians 5:1-5 -
1 Now as for the times and the seasons, brothers, you need nothing to
be written to you.
2 For you yourselves know very well that Jehovah's day is coming exactly
as a thief in the night.
3 Whenever it is that they are saying, “Peace and security!”
then sudden destruction is to be instantly on them, just like birth
pains on a pregnant woman, and they will by no means escape.
4 But you, brothers, you are not in darkness, so that the day should
overtake you as it would thieves,
5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We belong neither to
night nor to darkness.
From New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition) © 2022
Notes on 1 Thessalonians 5:3 from NWTSE:
Sudden destruction is to be instantly on them: Paul here indicates that
there will be little or no time between the proclamation of “peace and
security” and the destruction that will come upon those making that cry.
It will be sudden and inescapable. The Greek phrase contains two terms
(rendered “sudden” and “be instantly on”) to emphasize the striking
suddenness with which the destruction will come. A similar combination of
terms appears at Lu 21:34, where the coming of Jehovah’s day is described.
Just like birth pains on a pregnant woman: Labor pains come suddenly;
there is no way of foreknowing the exact day and hour. However, Paul’s
metaphor stresses the suddenness and inevitability of the coming
destruction. Once labor pains begin, a woman knows that an unstoppable
process has begun.—Compare study note on Mt 24:8.
They will by no means escape: Paul here uses two negatives (lit., “not not
escape”) to emphasize that it will be impossible for the wicked to escape
the “sudden destruction” that will come “instantly on them.”
1 Th 5:3 "Peace and Security" phrase from 15 other bible translations:
American Standard Version Peace and safety
Aramaic Bible in Plain English peace and quiet
Berean Study Bible Peace and security
English Revised Version Peace and safety
English Standard Version peace and security
GOD'S WORD® Translation safe and sound
Holman Christian Standard Bible Peace and security
International Standard Version peace and security
King James Version Peace and safety
NET Bible peace and security
New American Standard Bible Peace and safety
New International Version Peace and safety
New Living Translation peaceful and secure
World English Bible Peace and safety
Young's Literal Translation Peace and surety
Find out more:
WTB&TS of Pennsylvania references
1) First Thessalonians Chapter 5 - with extensive notes and extensive references.
2) w19 September pp. 8-13 Armageddon Is Good News!
3) w19 October pp. 8-13 Keep Busy During the Last of “the Last Days”
4) w12 9/15 pp. 3-7 How This World Will Come to an End
5) w12 9/15 pp. 8-12 Peace for a Thousand Years—And Beyond!
6) w94 8/1 pp. 6-7 The Nuclear Threat—Removed for Good!
7) w91 9/1 pp. 5-6 The Bible’s View of Peace and Security
8) w91 9/1 pp. 7-8 Looking Beyond Man-Made “Peace and Security”
9) w87 9/1 pp. 18-23 On Guard Against “Peace and Security” as Devised by Nations
10) w86 10/1 pp. 16-20 Peace From God—When?
11) 1986 Book True Peace and Security—How Can You Find It?
12) 1986 Book Worldwide Security Under the “Prince of Peace”
13) w81 11/15 pp. 10-15 “Peace and Security!”—Then “Sudden Destruction”
14) w78 4/1 pp. 4-6 Peace and Security
15) 1973 Book True Peace and Security—From What Source?
JCShook 3/20/2022