These saints were in the enjoyment of a fresh, new Christian life. The times and seasons were not a necessity for them to know about until they were established. The apostle gave them a quick summary of this, however, in the first ten verses. While the world is glorying in success and looking forward to the completion of their plans for a new civilization of comfort, peace, and safety, then sudden destruction will come upon them as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape.
But the apostle goes on to comfort the saints and let them know that they are children of light and of the day, not of the night or of darkness. If of the day let us not sleep as others; our part is to watch for the Lord's coming and to be sober. Those who sleep sleep in the night, those drunken are inebriated in the night. We who are of the day should be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
Our portion is not wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, "who died for us that, whether we wake or sleep [are living or in the grave] we shall live together with Him."
Very few exhortations are needed where believers are walking in the freshness of first love. There was nothing among these saints to blame. They did not have a full understanding of doctrine, but affection flowed through the assembly, and that would build them up to be Christ-like in their testimony. Here we see the fountain in its freshness, near to its Source.
The saints were to know them which labored among them and those over them in the Lord. No elders or deacons are mentioned, nothing formal, only that which fit their state in all its freshness.
Love would have a care for the weak, whatever their condition. They were to follow what was good. They were to be careful not to quench the Spirit, but to act when the Spirit gave liberty. Rejoicing and prayer were always in season. They should prove, but not despise, those who prophesied, giving thanks for everything. They were to abstain from every appearance of evil.
The spirit is mentioned first, before the soul or body, for it is by the spirit that we make contact with God.
The soul is the center of our desires, the body is what gives expression to any holy desire. The apostle desired that the saints should be presented "blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." This letter was to be read to the entire assembly for the profit of all.