Theme: Moral support among Christians

Exegetical note
Paul's earlier utterances to the Thessalonians apparently had led them to believe that the parousia of the Christ was very near at hand, and to engage in speculation about "the times and the seasons." In response, Paul reminds them of the words of Jesus about that day coming "like a thief in the night," an image that he uses to contrast them as "day people," who should remain wakeful and sober, and who should - instead of engaging in idle speculation - give each oth…