1 Thessalonians 5:9

Contextual Overview

⁶ so let's not be asleep, like the rest are; on the contrary, let us stay alert and sober. ⁶ So then do not let us sleep as the rest do, but let us watch and be sober; ⁶ so then let's not sleep, as the rest do, but let us watch and be sober. ⁶ Therefore, let us not fall asleep like others do, but let us stay awake and be sober.Matthew 24:42; Romans 13:11-13; 1 Peter 5:8;">[xr] ⁶ Sleep we not, therefore, as the rest; but be wakeful and sober. ⁶ Let us not therefore sleep, like others; but let us be vigilant and considerate. ⁶ so then let us not sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober. ⁶ So then, let us not take our rest as the others do, but let us be self-controlled and awake. ⁶ So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. ⁶ Therefore let vs not sleepe as do other, but let vs watch and be sober.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

not: 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 3:3, Exodus 9:16, Proverbs 16:4, Ezekiel 38:10-17, Matthew 26:24, Acts 1:20, Acts 1:25, Acts 13:48, Romans 9:11-23, 2 Timothy 2:19, 2 Timothy 2:20, 1 Peter 2:8, 2 Peter 2:3, Jude 1:4

obtain: Romans 11:7, Romans 11:30, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Thessalonians 2:14, 1 Timothy 1:13, 1 Timothy 1:16, 2 Timothy 2:10, 1 Peter 2:10, 2 Peter 1:1

Reciprocal: Job 23:14 - appointed John 3:36 - but John 5:24 - and shall not John 14:2 - if Romans 5:6 - Christ Romans 8:28 - the called Romans 9:22 - the vessels Romans 9:23 - he had afore 1 Corinthians 4:9 - as 2 Thessalonians 2:12 - they 1 Timothy 6:12 - Fight Hebrews 10:39 - but

Cross-References

1 Chronicles 1:2
Keinan, Mahalal'el, Yered,

1 Chronicles 1:2
Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared,

1 Chronicles 1:2
Kenan, Mahalal'el, Yered,

1 Chronicles 1:2
Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared;

1 Chronicles 1:2
Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,

1 Chronicles 1:2
Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,

1 Chronicles 1:2
Kenan, Mahalchel, Iared.

1 Chronicles 1:2
Kenan, Mahalaleel, Iered,

1 Chronicles 1:2
Kenan, Mahalalael, Jered,

1 Chronicles 1:2
and Cainan, Maleleel, Jared,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For God hath not appointed us to wrath,.... To destruction and ruin, the effect of wrath; though there are some that are vessels of wrath, fitted for destruction, of old ordained to condemnation, and who are reserved for the day of evil; but there are others who are equally children of wrath, as deserving of the wrath of God in themselves as others, who are not appointed to it; which is an instance of wonderful and distinguishing grace to them:

but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ; salvation is alone by Christ, he alone has wrought it out; it is in him, and in no other; he was appointed to this work, was called and sent, and came to do it, and has done it; and God's elect, who were chosen in him, are appointed in the counsel and purpose of God, to obtain, possess, and enjoy this salvation; and which, as this appointment may be known, as it was by these Thessalonians; the Gospel having come to them, not in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as it is an encouragement to faith and hope, so it excites to sobriety and watchfulness, and the discharge of every duty. The doctrine of predestination does not lead to despair, but encourages the hope of salvation; and it is no licentious doctrine, for election to salvation by Christ is through sanctification of the Spirit, and unto holiness; and good works are the fruits of it, and are what God has foreordained his people should walk in.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For God hath not appointed us to wrath - This is designed as an encouragement to effort to secure our salvation. The wish of God is to save us, and therefore we should watch and be sober; we should take to ourselves the whole of the Christian armor, and strive for victory. If he had appointed us to wrath, effort would have been in vain, for we could do nothing but yield to our inevitable destiny. The hope of a final triumph should animate us in our efforts, and cheer us in our struggles with our foes. How much does the hope of victory animate the soldier in battle! When morally certain of success, how his arm is nerved! When everything conspires to favor him, and when he seems to feel that God fights for him, and intends to give him the victory, how his heart exults, and how strong is he in battle! Hence, it was a great point among the ancients, when about entering into battle, to secure evidence that the gods favored them, and meant to give them the victory.

For this purpose they offered sacrifices, and consulted the flight of birds and the entrails of animals; and for this armies were accompanied by soothsayers and priests, that they might interpret any signs which might occur that would be favorable, or to propitiate the favor of the gods by sacrifice. See Homer, passim; Arrian’s Expedition of Alexander, and the classic writers generally. The apostle alludes to something of this kind here. He would excite us to maintain the Christian warfare manfully, by the assurance that God intends that we shall be triumphant. This we are to learn by no conjectures of soothsayers; by no observation of the flight of birds; by no sacrifice which we can make to propitiate his favor, but by the unerring assurance of his holy word. If we are Christians, we know that he intends our salvation, and that victory will be ours; if we are willing to become Christians, we know that the Almighty arm will be stretched out to aid us, and that the “gates of hell” cannot prevent it.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath — So then it appears that some were appointed to wrath, εις οργην, to punishment; on this subject there can be no dispute. But who are they? When did this appointment take place? And for what cause? These are supposed to be "very difficult questions, and such as cannot receive a satisfactory answer; and the whole must be referred to the sovereignty of God." If we look carefully at the apostle's words, we shall find all these difficulties vanish. It is very obvious that, in the preceding verses, the apostle refers simply to the destruction of the Jewish polity, and to the terrible judgments which were about to fall on the Jews as a nation; therefore, they are the people who were appointed to wrath; and they were thus appointed, not from eternity, nor from any indefinite or remote time, but from that time in which they utterly rejected the offers of salvation made to them by Jesus Christ and his apostles; the privileges of their election were still continued to them, even after they had crucified the Lord of glory; for, when he gave commandment to his disciples to go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature, he bade them begin at Jerusalem. They did so, and continued to offer salvation to them, till at last, being everywhere persecuted, and the whole nation appearing with one consent to reject the Gospel, the kingdom of God was wholly taken away from them, and the apostles turned to the Gentiles. Then God appointed them to wrath; and the cause of that appointment was their final and determined rejection of Christ and his Gospel. But even this appointment to wrath does not signify eternal damnation; nothing of the kind is intended in the word. Though we are sure that those who die in their sins can never see God, yet it is possible that many of those wretched Jews, during their calamities, and especially during the siege of their city, did turn unto the Lord who smote them, and found that salvation which he never denies to the sincere penitent.

When the Jews were rejected, and appointed to wrath, then the Gentiles were elected, and appointed to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, whose Gospel they gladly received, and continue to prize; while the remnant of the Jews continue, in all places of their dispersion, the same irreconcilable and blasphemous opponents of the Gospel of Christ. On these accounts the election of the Gentiles and the reprobation of the Jews still continue.