But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
Parallel translations
- WEB But concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that anything be written to you.
- BSB Now about the times and seasons, brothers, we do not need to write to you.
- NKJV But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.
- NASB Now as to the periods and times, brothers and sisters, you have no need of anything to be written to you.
- NLT Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
They need no instruction about the exact times of the Lord's coming. The when is not the focus.
Overview
Shifting from the fact of Christ's return to its timing, Paul says they already know enough about "the times and the seasons." Rather than speculating about dates, his concern is readiness. This sets up his teaching that the day will come unexpectedly, so watchfulness, not calculation, is required.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Acts 1:7And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
- 1 Th 4:9But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
- Matt 24:36But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
- Matt 24:3And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
- Mark 13:30–32Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
- 2 Cor 9:1For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
- Jude 1:3Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
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Christ at the center
The believer waits for God's Son from heaven, Jesus who delivers from the wrath to come and who will return to gather his people to himself.
How 1 Thessalonians 5:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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