SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:1
¶ Pero acerca de los tiempos y de los momentos, no tenis, hermanos, necesidad de que yo os escriba,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 5:1
Verse 1. But of the times and the seasons] It is natural to suppose, after what he had said in the conclusion of the preceding chapter concerning the coming of Christ, the raising of the dead, and rendering those immortal who should then be found alive, without obliging them to pass through the empire of death, that the Thessalonians would feel an innocent curiosity to know, as the disciples did concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, when those things should take place, and what should be the signs of those times, and of the coming of the Son of man. And it is remarkable that the apostle answers, here, to these anticipated questions as our Lord did, in the above case, to the direct question of his disciples; and he seems to refer in these words, Of the times and the seasons ye have no need that I write unto you, for yourselves know that the day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night, to what our Lord said, Matt. xxiv. 44; xxv. 13; and the apostle takes it for granted that they were acquainted with our Lord's prediction on the subject: For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. It is very likely therefore, that the apostle, like our Lord, couples these two grand events- the destruction of Jerusalem and the final judgment. And it appears most probable that it is of the former event chiefly that he speaks here, as it was certainly of the latter that he treated in the conclusion of the preceding chapter. In the notes on Acts i. 6, 7, it has already been shown that the cronouv h kairouv, times or seasons, (the very same terms which are used here,) refer to the destruction of the Jewish commonwealth; and we may fairly presume that they have the same meaning in this place.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. But of the times and the seasons, brethren , etc.] Of the coming of Christ, his appointed time and his day, as the Ethiopic version renders it; of the resurrection of the dead in Christ first, and of the rapture of all the saints in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, things treated of in the preceding chapter: and which might excite a curiosity to know the times and seasons of them; as in what year they would come to pass; in what season of the year, whether winter or summer; in what month, and on what day of the month; and whether in the night season, or in the daytime; and in what hour, whether at midnight, cockcrowing, morning, or noonday: to repress which the apostle observes, ye have no need that I write unto you ; to write to them concerning the things themselves was necessary and useful, to stir up and encourage their faith, hope, and expectation of them; to allay their grief for departed friends, and to comfort one another under the various trials and exercises of life; but to write to them about the time of these things would be trifling and unnecessary, would be an idle speculation, and an indulging a vain curiosity; and, besides, was impracticable: for of that day and hour knows no man; the times and seasons the Father hath put in his own power; for these things are equally true of Christ's second coming, as of the kingdom of Christ coming with power and glory, and of the destruction of Jerusalem, ( Matthew 24:36 Acts 1:6,7). The Vulgate Latin and Arabic versions read, ye have no need that we write unto you; the reason follows; Ver. 2. For yourselves know perfectly , etc.] With great exactness and accuracy, with great clearness and perspicuity, as a certain truth, which was made plain and evident to them, and about which there could be no question; and which perfect knowledge they had, either from the words of Christ, ( Matthew 24:42-44), or from the ministration of the apostle and his fellow labourers, when among them: that the day of the Lord ; of the Lord Jesus, when he will show himself to be King of kings, and Lord of lords, and the Judge of the whole earth; and which is sometimes styled the day of the Son of man, and the day of God, for Christ will appear then most gloriously, both in his divine and human nature; the day of redemption, that is, of the body from the grave, and from corruption and mortality; and the last day in which will be the resurrection of the dead, and the day of judgment, in which Christ will come to judge the quick and dead: and which so cometh as a thief in the night ; at an unawares, and the Lord himself in that day will so come, ( Revelation 3:3 16:1) respect is had not to the character of the thief, nor to the end of his coming; but to the manner of it, in the dark, indiscernibly, suddenly, and when not thought of and looked for; and such will be the coming of Christ, it will be sudden, and unknown before hand, and when least thought of and expected: and since the Thessalonians knew this full well, it was needless for the apostle to write about the time and season of it; which they were sensible of, could no more be known and fixed, than the coming of a thief into anyone of their houses.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - It is needless or useless to ask about the particular time of Christ' coming. Christ did not reveal this to the apostles. There are times an seasons for us to work in, and these are our duty and interest to know and observe; but as to the time when we must give up our account, we know it not, nor is it needful that we should. The coming of Chris will be a great surprise to men. Our Lord himself said so. As the hou of death is the same to each person that the judgment will be to mankind in general, so the same remarks answer for both. Christ' coming will be terrible to the ungodly. Their destruction will overtak them while they dream of happiness, and please themselves with vai amusements. There will be no means to escape the terror or the punishment of that day. This day will be a happy day to the righteous They are not in darkness; they are the children of the light. It is the happy condition of all true Christians. But how many are speaking peac and safety to themselves, over whose heads utter destruction i hovering! Let us endeavour to awaken ourselves and each other, an guard against our spiritual enemies.
Greek Textus Receptus
περι 4012 δε 1161 των 3588 χρονων 5550 και 2532 των 3588 καιρων 2540 αδελφοι 80 ου 3756 χρειαν 5532 εχετε 2192 5719 υμιν 5213 γραφεσθαι 1125 5745
Vincent's NT Word Studies
1. Times - seasons (cronwn - kairwn). See on Acts i. 7. With special reference to the Lord's coming. The plural is used because Paul is thinking of a number of incidents attending the preparation and accomplishment of the second advent, and occurring at different times. The collocation times and seasons only here and Acts i. 7. Kairov is the suitable time, cronov the time measured by duration. Hence kairov a juncture, an occasion, as Matt. xvi. 3. The distinction is so well marked that have the phrases cronou kairov the right moment of the time, and eukairov cronov the opportune moment. See Soph. Elec. 1292.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
5:1 {But concerning the times and the seasons} (peri de twn cronwn kai twn kairwn). See both words used also in #Tit 1:2f. cronos is rather an extended period and kairos a definite space of time.
