1Th 5:4-8 | TNotes | STEP | 5:4 The day of the Lord will not surprise believers—not because they know the date of his coming, but because they are spiritually prepared.

5:4 ^a The day of the Lord will not surprise believers—not because they know the date of his coming, but because they are spiritually prepared.
5:5 ^b As children of the light, the Thessalonian believers were saved from darkness (John 12:36 ^c; Acts 26:18 ^d; Eph 5:8 ^e; 1 Pet 2:9 ^f).

• of the day: They belong to God’s new order (Rom 13:12 ^g).

• darkness and night: These refer to an immoral life (see 1 Thes 5:6-8 ^h).
5:6 ⁱ Stay alert and be clearheaded echoes Jesus’ call to be morally prepared because the disciples will not know the day of his return (Matt 24:42 ^j, 44 ^k; 25:13 ^l; cp. 1 Pet 1:13 ^m).
5:7 ⁿ Sleep refers to moral indifference (5:6 ^o), and drunk is a metaphor for those who do not exercise self-control; they will be surprised by the day of the Lord (5:4 ^p; Matt 24:48-51 ^q).
5:8 ^r Armor ... helmet (Isa 59:17 ^s; Eph 6:11-17 ^t): The armament is the moral life (Rom 13:12 ^u; 2 Cor 6:7 ^v; 10:3-5 ^w; 2 Tim 2:3-4 ^x). The Christian soldier is equipped with the virtues of faith, love, and confidence (see 1 Thes 1:3 ^y; 3:6 ^z; 1 Cor 13:13 ^aa; 2 Thes 1:3-4 ^ab).