"We belong to the day" is a reference to 5:2, that is the day when
Christ will return. I see it as a hopeful affirmation that we
already have been saved. The caution then lies in the idea that we
must not get lazy.
If I recall the background of 1 Thessalonians correctly, it was
writen to a group of people in tourmoil over exactly when Christ
would return. They were agitated that he had not already come. The
letter was to assure them that Jesus would return, and remind them
to keep up a strong, vital faith.
As for the Sobriety question, I tend to lead toward metaphore on
this one. Although this could be used and easily intrepreted as a
anti-drinking passage, I think that neglects the overall message
of the text. Paul was not writing about alcohol abuse. He was
writing about being ready for the moment when Christ would return.
The image of a drunk is a good metaphore of one who is not ready
for anything. I tend to understand "sober" as "alert" or "fully
aware."
Sobriety needs to be compared with sleeping and waking.
If Paul literally means that one must never take a drink of
alcohol, wouldn't that also mean that he expects one to never fall
asleep?
"5:6 So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep
awake and be sober."
Using this text to preach alcohol abuse may be text abuse.
DWR
5:3 is a key (but not the only) point in this passage. We cannot
point to something and say, "There is peace and security." The
only peace and security is with Jesus.
Last year our small congregation received an unexpected gift which
resulted in a large endowment of money. The temptation will be
there to rely on this endowment for financial needs, and to reduce
pledging. We have to be on our guard against that.
Jay in Alabama
Another look at "drunk" and "sober."
I am teaching Revelation and while studying chapter 17, I thought
of this discussion.
John describes "the great whore" and "bablyon" (aka Rome) as being
"drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the witnesses
to Jesus Christ." 17:1,2 & 6.
An intrepretation of this assumes that that intoxication was due
to Rome's power, arrogance, and ability to absolutely controll
everything it touched. The prophetic word of the time, then, would
be that Rome (the great whore) was so drunk on her own arrogant
pride, she would be destroyed by God.
1 Thess 5:1-11 also is also eschatological in nature. It may be
streching the text to assume the same meaning of sobriety, but
there could also be a legimite link here.
The caution for modern readers, according to this intrepration,
would be for us to look closely at what we are "drunk" on in the
western world. Power, politics, Gross National Product, the Stock
Market, our military ability, .... the list goes on. Are we too
caught up in our own selves that we will fail to see Christ?
Just wanted to add that little tidbit while it was fresh in my
mind. Now back to my study.
DWR
I am one who likes to see the connections and links in the
lectionary lessons. There are two that I see connecting the Old
Testament, Gospel, and Epistle lessons: 1) The first is the
concept of a day of reckoning. The Israelites again did what was
evil, so . . .A man entrusted his property to others, left, after
a long while returned, then . . . On the day of the Lord He will
return like a thief in the night, then . . .In all three passages,
there comes a time of reckoning. The second theme that I see
running through all three is encouragement. Deborah encourages
Barak, Paul encourages the Thessalonians 4:18 and 5:11. In the
Gospel, we are encouraged to work until Christ returns. I find it
fascinating that passages that call us to accountability are also
passages that speak of encouragement. PK in Ohio
I think "belong(ing) to the day" is quite simply understood in
light of vv. 6-7. Both drunkards and sleepers have this one thing
in common - they are unaware, respectively, because the drunkards
let a substance into themselves which impairs good judgment, and
the sleepers are, well - asleep! "Children of the day" then, are
those who, by faith, have sharp discernment, unimpaired by earthly
distractions, and remain awake to God's leading and the eternal
hope that THIS may be the day! Ken in WV
What strikes me about this text is the way it brings an
eschatological hope for the future back into the present. We don't
just live with some vague hope that God will at some point say
"enough is enough" and bring history to a close. We have
confidence that God's future is already breaking into the present.
Therefore, we don't just wait eagerly for the future - we shape
our lives in the present according to what Christ has shown us the
future will be. So, let's keep encouraging one another!
Chris in NC
