1 Thessalonians

Wheel of Heaven Translation

1 Thessalonians 5: the day of the Lord like a thief in the night, and the closing exhortations

Direct

Established or uncontested across mainstream sources, or a direct description of the project itself.

The Method

1 Thessalonians is Paul's earliest surviving letter, written to the church at Thessalonica around 50 CE. This translation covers 1 Thessalonians 5, the chapter that Let's Welcome the Extra-Terrestrials cites:

  • 5:1–11: "the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night"; when they are saying "Peace and security", sudden destruction comes
  • 5:12–28: the closing exhortations and the blessing

Verses with a note end in a bracketed marker [ ]; select it to open the note.

About this translation

Edition
Koine Greek text of the SBL Greek New Testament (SBLGNT), edited by Michael W. Holmes, © 2010 Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, used under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The English translation and notes are released CC0.
Coverage
Chapter 5 translated (28 verses): every chapter of the book cited in the Raëlian canon. The rest of the book is not translated.
Review status
Reviewed and signed off.

1 Thessalonians 5 — The day of the Lord like a thief in the night + closing exhortations

1
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that anything be written to you.
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
Περὶ peri δὲ de τῶν tōn χρόνων chronōn καὶ kai τῶν tōn καιρῶν, kairōn, ἀδελφοί, adelphoi, οὐ ou χρείαν chreian ἔχετε echete ὑμῖν hymin γράφεσθαι, graphesthai,
2
For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night.
We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention [of you] in our prayers;
αὐτοὶ autoi γὰρ gar ἀκριβῶς akribōs οἴδατε oidate ὅτι hoti ἡμέρα hēmera κυρίου kyriou ὡς hōs κλέπτης kleptēs ἐν en νυκτὶ nykti οὕτως houtōs ἔρχεται. erchetai.
3
When they are saying, "Peace and security," then sudden destruction comes upon them, as birth pangs come upon a woman with child, and they will by no means escape.
remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father;
ὅταν hotan λέγωσιν· legōsin· Εἰρήνη eirēnē καὶ kai ἀσφάλεια, asphaleia, τότε tote αἰφνίδιος aiphnidios αὐτοῖς autois ἐφίσταται ephistatai ὄλεθρος olethros ὥσπερ hōsper ἡ hē ὠδὶν ōdin τῇ tē ἐν en γαστρὶ gastri ἐχούσῃ, echousē, καὶ kai οὐ ou μὴ mē ἐκφύγωσιν. ekphygōsin.
4
But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief;
knowing, brethren beloved of God, your election,
ὑμεῖς hymeis δέ, de, ἀδελφοί, adelphoi, οὐκ ouk ἐστὲ este ἐν en σκότει, skotei, ἵνα hina ἡ hē ἡμέρα hēmera ὑμᾶς hymas ὡς hōs κλέπτης kleptēs καταλάβῃ, katalabē,
5
for you are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.
how that our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and [in] much assurance; even as ye know what manner of men we showed ourselves toward you for your sake.
πάντες pantes γὰρ gar ὑμεῖς hymeis υἱοὶ huioi φωτός phōtos ἐστε este καὶ kai υἱοὶ huioi ἡμέρας. hēmeras. οὐκ ouk ἐσμὲν esmen νυκτὸς nyktos οὐδὲ oude σκότους· skotous·
6
So then let us not sleep, as the rest do, but let us watch and be sober.
And ye became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit;
ἄρα ara οὖν oun μὴ mē καθεύδωμεν katheudōmen ὡς hōs οἱ hoi λοιποί, loipoi, ἀλλὰ alla γρηγορῶμεν grēgorōmen καὶ kai νήφωμεν. nēphōmen.
7
For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.
so that ye became an ensample to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.
οἱ hoi γὰρ gar καθεύδοντες katheudontes νυκτὸς nyktos καθεύδουσιν, katheudousin, καὶ kai οἱ hoi μεθυσκόμενοι methyskomenoi νυκτὸς nyktos μεθύουσιν· methyousin·
8
But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
For from you hath sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith to God-ward is gone forth; so that we need not to speak anything.
ἡμεῖς hēmeis δὲ de ἡμέρας hēmeras ὄντες ontes νήφωμεν, nēphōmen, ἐνδυσάμενοι endysamenoi θώρακα thōraka πίστεως pisteōs καὶ kai ἀγάπης agapēs καὶ kai περικεφαλαίαν perikephalaian ἐλπίδα elpida σωτηρίας· sōtērias·
9
For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
For they themselves report concerning us what manner of entering in we had unto you; and how ye turned unto God from idols, to serve a living and true God,
ὅτι hoti οὐκ ouk ἔθετο etheto ἡμᾶς hēmas ὁ ho θεὸς theos εἰς eis ὀργὴν orgēn ἀλλὰ alla εἰς eis περιποίησιν peripoiēsin σωτηρίας sōtērias διὰ dia τοῦ tou κυρίου kyriou ἡμῶν hēmōn Ἰησοῦ iēsou Χριστοῦ, christou,
10
who died for us, so that whether we wake or sleep we may live together with him.
and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, [even] Jesus, who delivereth us from the wrath to come.
τοῦ tou ἀποθανόντος apothanontos περὶ peri ἡμῶν hēmōn ἵνα hina εἴτε eite γρηγορῶμεν grēgorōmen εἴτε eite καθεύδωμεν katheudōmen ἅμα hama σὺν syn αὐτῷ autō ζήσωμεν. zēsōmen.
11
Therefore exhort one another and build one another up, just as you are also doing.
διὸ dio παρακαλεῖτε parakaleite ἀλλήλους allēlous καὶ kai οἰκοδομεῖτε oikodomeite εἷς heis τὸν ton ἕνα, hena, καθὼς kathōs καὶ kai ποιεῖτε. poieite.
12
But we ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
Ἐρωτῶμεν erōtōmen δὲ de ὑμᾶς, hymas, ἀδελφοί, adelphoi, εἰδέναι eidenai τοὺς tous κοπιῶντας kopiōntas ἐν en ὑμῖν hymin καὶ kai προϊσταμένους proistamenous ὑμῶν hymōn ἐν en κυρίῳ kyriō καὶ kai νουθετοῦντας nouthetountas ὑμᾶς, hymas,
13
and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
καὶ kai ἡγεῖσθαι hēgeisthai αὐτοὺς autous ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ hyperekperissou ἐν en ἀγάπῃ agapē διὰ dia τὸ to ἔργον ergon αὐτῶν. autōn. εἰρηνεύετε eirēneuete ἐν en ἑαυτοῖς. heautois.
14
And we exhort you, brothers: admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient toward all.
παρακαλοῦμεν parakaloumen δὲ de ὑμᾶς, hymas, ἀδελφοί, adelphoi, νουθετεῖτε noutheteite τοὺς tous ἀτάκτους, ataktous, παραμυθεῖσθε paramytheisthe τοὺς tous ὀλιγοψύχους, oligopsychous, ἀντέχεσθε antechesthe τῶν tōn ἀσθενῶν, asthenōn, μακροθυμεῖτε makrothymeite πρὸς pros πάντας. pantas.
15
See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always pursue what is good toward one another and toward all.
ὁρᾶτε horate μή mē τις tis κακὸν kakon ἀντὶ anti κακοῦ kakou τινι tini ἀποδῷ, apodō, ἀλλὰ alla πάντοτε pantote τὸ to ἀγαθὸν agathon διώκετε diōkete εἰς eis ἀλλήλους allēlous καὶ kai εἰς eis πάντας. pantas.
16
Rejoice always;
πάντοτε pantote χαίρετε, chairete,
17
pray without ceasing;
ἀδιαλείπτως adialeiptōs προσεύχεσθε, proseuchesthe,
18
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
ἐν en παντὶ panti εὐχαριστεῖτε· eucharisteite· τοῦτο touto γὰρ gar θέλημα thelēma θεοῦ theou ἐν en Χριστῷ christō Ἰησοῦ iēsou εἰς eis ὑμᾶς. hymas.
19
Do not quench the Spirit;
τὸ to πνεῦμα pneuma μὴ mē σβέννυτε, sbennyte,
20
do not despise prophecies;
προφητείας prophēteias μὴ mē ἐξουθενεῖτε· exoutheneite·
21
but test all things; hold fast what is good;
πάντα panta δὲ de δοκιμάζετε, dokimazete, τὸ to καλὸν kalon κατέχετε, katechete,
22
abstain from every form of evil.
ἀπὸ apo παντὸς pantos εἴδους eidous πονηροῦ ponērou ἀπέχεσθε. apechesthe.
23
And may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your spirit and soul and body be kept whole, blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Αὐτὸς autos δὲ de ὁ ho θεὸς theos τῆς tēs εἰρήνης eirēnēs ἁγιάσαι hagiasai ὑμᾶς hymas ὁλοτελεῖς, holoteleis, καὶ kai ὁλόκληρον holoklēron ὑμῶν hymōn τὸ to πνεῦμα pneuma καὶ kai ἡ hē ψυχὴ psychē καὶ kai τὸ to σῶμα sōma ἀμέμπτως amemptōs ἐν en τῇ tē παρουσίᾳ parousia τοῦ tou κυρίου kyriou ἡμῶν hēmōn Ἰησοῦ iēsou Χριστοῦ christou τηρηθείη. tērētheiē.
24
Faithful is he who calls you, who will also do it.
πιστὸς pistos ὁ ho καλῶν kalōn ὑμᾶς, hymas, ὃς hos καὶ kai ποιήσει. poiēsei.
25
Brothers, pray for us.
Ἀδελφοί, adelphoi, προσεύχεσθε proseuchesthe περὶ peri ἡμῶν. hēmōn.
26
Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
ἀσπάσασθε aspasasthe τοὺς tous ἀδελφοὺς adelphous πάντας pantas ἐν en φιλήματι philēmati ἁγίῳ. hagiō.
27
I adjure you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brothers.
ἐνορκίζω enorkizō ὑμᾶς hymas τὸν ton κύριον kyrion ἀναγνωσθῆναι anagnōsthēnai τὴν tēn ἐπιστολὴν epistolēn πᾶσιν pasin τοῖς tois ἀδελφοῖς. adelphois.
28
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
ἡ hē χάρις charis τοῦ tou κυρίου kyriou ἡμῶν hēmōn Ἰησοῦ iēsou Χριστοῦ christou μεθʼ methʼ ὑμῶν. hymōn.
Editorial history

Review record. The chapter file carries status: stable (v1.0.0) with a named human reviewer (zarazinsfuss), signed off on 2026-11-02 in wave MC of the canon-cited program. The editor report, the reviewer reports in the chapter files and the sign-off summary (data-library/canon-cited-mc-signoff-summary.md) record every decision.

Selection. Part of the program to translate, as whole chapters, every biblical chapter that the three Raëlian canon books (The Book Which Tells the Truth, Extra-Terrestrials Took Me to Their Planet, Let's Welcome the Extra-Terrestrials) cite. The program is complete: all 98 cited chapters are translated. The last eleven (Leviticus 17 and 25, Numbers 11, Joshua 3, Judges 7, 2 Samuel 6, Micah 5, Tobit 12, Wisdom 6, Revelation 5 and 1 Thessalonians 5) were signed off on 2026-11-02 in wave MC.

Source. The Greek is the SBL Greek New Testament (SBLGNT). The notes report where NA28, Westcott-Hort, the Byzantine text and the Textus Receptus behind the KJV differ.

Conventions. Kyrios is "Lord", theos "God", pneuma "Spirit" for the divine Spirit, and adelphoi "brothers". The canon's readings appear only in notes headed "Wheel of Heaven reading (reception note, not a translation claim)".

Production. Drafted by Claude Opus 5.5 and taken through the Wheel of Heaven Translation Program pipeline (Translator → Editor → Reviewer → human sign-off). Central glossary 2.90.0–2.93.0; 1-thessalonians-woh overlay v1.0.0. Reference translation: ASV (1901). Methodology: Source-Text Translation.

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