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1Th_5:3. Paul carries on in a vivid manner (therefore asyndetically) the description of the sudden and unexpected nature in which the advent is to break in, whilst he indicates that precisely at the time when man fancies himself in the greatest security, the advent will occur. But with this thought is the wider and more special thought blended, that they who dream of security and serve earthly things will reap the fruit of their carelessness, namely, destruction.
ὅταν λέγωσιν ] when they shall say, when it is said. As the subject of the verb, the apostle naturally thinks not on the inhabitants of Jerusalem (Harduin), but, as is evident from the nature of the expression of opinion added, and from the apodosis, unbelievers and merely nominal Christians, the children of this world; comp. Mat_24:38 ff.; Luk_17:26 ff. For the pious and true Christian never abandons himself to the feeling of security, but is always mindful of his salvation with fear and trembling; comp. Php_2:12.
εἰρήνη καὶ ἀσφάλεια ] sc. ἐστίν ; comp. Eze_13:10.
ἐφίσταται ] imminet, or it surprises them.
ἐκφύγωσιν ] stands absolutely. Camerarius and others unnecessarily supply τὸν ὄλεθρον . Moreover, de Wette justly remarks, that in the comparison of the pangs of a pregnant woman, the supposition is contained that the advent is close at hand; for although the day and the hour, indeed, is not known to her, yet the period of her bearing is proximately known. Comp. Theodoret: σφόδρα πρόσφορον τὸ παράδειγμα · καὶ γὰρ ἡ κύουσα οἶδεν ὅτι φέρει τὸ ἔμβρυον , ἀγνοεῖ δὲ τὸν τῶν ὠδίνων καιρόν · οὕτω καὶ ἡμεῖς , ὅτι μὲν ἐπιφανήσεται τῶν ὅλων ὁ κύριος , ἴσμεν , σαφῶς δὲ αὐτὸν τὸν καιρὸν οὐδαμῶς ἐδιδάχθημεν . Oecumenius: καλῶς δὲ τὸ ὑπόδειγμα τέθεικε τῆς ἐν γαστρὶ ἐχούσης · καὶ γὰρ καὶ αὕτη σημεῖα μὲν ἔχει τοῦ τόκου πολλά , αὐτῆς δὲ τῆς ὥρας ἢ τῆς ἡμέρας οὐκ ἔτι .
REMARK.
If ὅταν δέ (see critical remark) is read, we might, with Schott, whom Koch follows, find the following contrast with αὐτοί in 1Th_5:2 expressed: ye indeed know certainly that the day of the Lord will infallibly and suddenly arrive; but the day of the Lord, bringing destruction, will surprise the unbelieving and ungodly, who live in carelessness and security. But were such an emphatic opposition of persons the intention of the apostle, he would have attached to the simple verb ὅταν δὲ λέγωσιν a particular personal designation. Besides, αὐτοί , 1Th_5:2, already forms a contrast with the person of the writer, 1Th_5:1; accordingly, it is improbable that αὑτοί , 1Th_5:2, should be so emphatically placed first, in order at the same time to introduce a contrast to third persons who are not mentioned until 1Th_5:3. Lastly, it is evident from the context that it is by no means the design of the apostle to explain that the day of the Lord will befall Christians prepared, but unbelievers unprepared; but he purposes to remind them only of the sudden and unexpected entrance of the advent itself.
(3) 1Th_5:4-11. Exhortation to be ready and prepared for the coming of the advent, occasioned and also softened by the previous indication of their character as “of the light,” which the readers by reason of their peculiarity as Christians possessed.