Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Thessalonians 5:4

"But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief:" — 1 Thessalonians 5:4 (ASV)

In contrast to the non-Christians referred to in v.3 are the believers (“brothers”) in Thessalonica. Continuing the figure of night (v.2), “darkness” (GK 5030) refers to the realm of wickedness and the darkened understanding and ignorance of impending doom that go with it. Such symbolical language occurs quite widely in biblical writings (cf. Dt 28:29; Job 19:8; Job 74:20; Isaiah 42:6–7; Jeremiah 13:16; Matthew 10:27; Matthew 8:12; Romans 13:12; Ephesians 5:8, 11; et al.). In reassuring his converts, Paul declares without qualification that believers in Christ belong to a realm different from that of the world. Thus they will not participate in “this day” of the Lord. It will not overtake them by surprise; their position in Christ guarantees their deliverance.