The Night Burglar: Rethinking the Eschatological Discourse in 1 Thess 4.13–5.11

This article examines the function of the night burglar similes (1 Thess 5.2, 4) within the broader context of Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians. It aims to demonstrate that these similes are integral to Paul’s discourses on the Lord’s parousia (4.13–18) and the Lord’s Day (5.1–11) and argue that the similes serve as a thematic link between these narratives, creating a connection that aligns their timing and unfolding. Furthermore, the article examines the Lord’s parousia and Day, along with the associated events of dispossession and dislocation, as complementary aspects of a single eschatological event – bringing salvation to those in the light and disaster to those in darkness. The literary structure, rhetorical strategies, thematic elements and linguistic nuances of 1 Thess 4.13–5.11 support this interpretation, positioning the similes as integral components of the parousia and Day discourses. Additionally, the article reflects on the significance of the night burglar’s ‘loot’ and its connection to the Thessalonians as valuable vessels (4.4–5) and their need to don God’s armour (5.8).