Commentary on Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Thessalonians Timothy Titus and Philemon John Calvin (continued)
Chapter
1 Thessalonians 5:1-5
1 Thessalonians 5:1-5 1. But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
1. Porro de temporibus et articulis temporum non opus habetis, ut vobis scribatur.
2. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
2. Ipsi enim optime scitis, quod dies Domini tanquam fur in nocte sic veniet. 3. For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
3. Quando enim dixerint, Pax et securitas, tunc repentinus ipsis superveniet interitus, quasi dolor partus mulieri praegnanti, nec effugient.
4. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
4. Vos autem, fratres, non estis in tenebris, ut dies ille vos quasi fur opprimat. 5. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
5. Omnes vos filii lucis estis, et filii diei: non sumus noctis, neque tenebrarum.
1 But as to times. He now, in the third place, calls them back from a curious and unprofitable inquiry as to times, but in the mean time admonishes them to be constantly in a state of preparation for receiving Christ. 760 He speaks, however, by way of anticipation, saying, that they have no need that he should write as to those things which the curious desire to know. For it is an evidence of excessive incredulity not to believe what the Lord foretells, unless he marks out the day by certain circumstances, and as it were points it out with the finger. As, therefore, those waver between doubtful opinions who require that moments of time should be marked out for them, as if they would draw a conjecture 761 from some plausible demonstration, he accordingly says that discussions of this nature are not necessary for the pious. There is also another reason --- that believers do not desire to know more than they are permitted to learn in God's school. Now Christ designed that the day of his coming should be hid from us, 760"Quand il viendra en iugement;" — "When he will come to judgment." 761"De ce qu'ils en doyuent croire;" — "Of what they must believe."