1 Thessalonians 4:13 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

13 But G1161 I would G2309 not G3756 have G2309 you G5209 to be ignorant, G50 brethren, G80 concerning G4012 them which are asleep, G2837 that G3363 ye sorrow G3076 not, G3363 even G2532 as G2531 others G3062 which G3588 have G2192 no G3361 hope. G1680

Cross Reference

2 Peter 3:4 STRONG

And G2532 saying, G3004 Where G4226 is G2076 the promise G1860 of his G846 coming? G3952 for G1063 since G575 G3739 the fathers G3962 fell asleep, G2837 all things G3956 continue G3779 G1265 as they were from G575 the beginning G746 of the creation. G2937

Ephesians 2:12 STRONG

That G3754 at G1722 that G1565 time G2540 ye were G2258 without G5565 Christ, G5547 being aliens G526 from the commonwealth G4174 of Israel, G2474 and G2532 strangers G3581 from the covenants G1242 of promise, G1860 having G2192 no G3361 hope, G1680 and G2532 without God G112 in G1722 the world: G2889

Acts 7:60 STRONG

And G1161 he kneeled down, G5087 G1119 and cried G2896 with a loud G3173 voice, G5456 Lord, G2962 lay G2476 not G3361 this G5026 sin G266 to their G846 charge. And G2532 when he had said G2036 this, G5124 he fell asleep. G2837

John 11:11-13 STRONG

These things G5023 said G2036 he: G846 and G2532 after G3326 that G5124 he saith G3004 unto them, G846 Our G2257 friend G5384 Lazarus G2976 sleepeth; G2837 but G235 I go, G4198 that G2443 I may awake G1852 him G846 out of sleep. G1852 Then G3767 said G2036 his G846 disciples, G3101 Lord, G2962 if G1487 he sleep, G2837 he shall do well. G4982 Howbeit G1161 Jesus G2424 spake G2046 of G4012 his G846 death: G2288 but G1161 they G1565 thought G1380 that G3754 he had spoken G3004 of G4012 taking of rest G2838 in sleep. G5258

Daniel 12:2 STRONG

And many H7227 of them that sleep H3463 in the dust H6083 of the earth H127 shall awake, H6974 some to everlasting H5769 life, H2416 and some to shame H2781 and everlasting H5769 contempt. H1860

Ezekiel 37:11 STRONG

Then he said H559 unto me, Son H1121 of man, H120 these bones H6106 are the whole house H1004 of Israel: H3478 behold, they say, H559 Our bones H6106 are dried, H3001 and our hope H8615 is lost: H6 we are cut off H1504 for our parts.

Acts 13:36 STRONG

For G1063 G3303 David, G1138 after he had served G5256 his own G2398 generation G1074 by the will G1012 of God, G2316 fell on sleep, G2837 and G2532 was laid G4369 unto G4314 his G846 fathers, G3962 and G2532 saw G1492 corruption: G1312

2 Peter 3:8 STRONG

But, G1161 beloved, G27 be G2990 not G3361 G5209 ignorant G2990 of this one G1520 thing, G5124 that G3754 one G3391 day G2250 is with G3844 the Lord G2962 as G5613 a thousand G5507 years, G2094 and G2532 a thousand G5507 years G2094 as G5613 one G3391 day. G2250

1 Thessalonians 5:10 STRONG

Who G3588 died G599 for G5228 us, G2257 that, G2443 whether G1535 we wake G1127 or G1535 sleep, G2518 we should live G2198 together G260 with G4862 him. G846

1 Thessalonians 4:15 STRONG

For G1063 this G5124 we say G3004 unto you G5213 by G1722 the word G3056 of the Lord, G2962 that G3754 we G2249 which G3588 are alive G2198 and remain G4035 unto G1519 the coming G3952 of the Lord G2962 shall G5348 not G3364 prevent G5348 them which G3588 are asleep. G2837

2 Corinthians 1:8 STRONG

For G1063 we would G2309 not, G3756 brethren, G80 have G50 you G5209 ignorant G50 of G5228 our G2257 trouble G2347 which G3588 came G1096 to us G2254 in G1722 Asia, G773 that G3754 we were pressed G2596 out G916 of measure, G5236 above G5228 strength, G1411 insomuch G5620 that we G2248 despaired G1820 even G2532 of life: G2198

1 Corinthians 15:18-19 STRONG

Then G686 they also G2532 which are fallen asleep G2837 in G1722 Christ G5547 are perished. G622 If G1487 in G1722 this G5026 life G2222 only G3440 we have hope G1679 G2070 in G1722 Christ, G5547 we are G2070 of all G3956 men G444 most miserable. G1652

1 Corinthians 15:6 STRONG

After that, G1899 he was seen G3700 of above G1883 five hundred G4001 brethren G80 at once; G2178 of G1537 whom G3739 the greater part G4119 remain G3306 unto G2193 this present, G737 but G1161 some G5100 G2532 are fallen asleep. G2837

1 Corinthians 12:1 STRONG

Now G1161 concerning G4012 spiritual G4152 gifts, brethren, G80 I would G2309 not G3756 have G2309 you G5209 ignorant. G50

1 Corinthians 10:1 STRONG

Moreover, G1161 brethren, G80 I would G2309 not G3756 that ye G5209 should be ignorant, G50 how that G3754 all G3956 our G2257 fathers G3962 were G2258 under G5259 the cloud, G3507 and G2532 all G3956 passed G1330 through G1223 the sea; G2281

Romans 1:13 STRONG

Now G1161 I would G2309 not G3756 have G50 you G5209 ignorant, G50 brethren, G80 that G3754 oftentimes G4178 I purposed G4388 to come G2064 unto G4314 you, G5209 (but G2532 was let G2967 hitherto,) G891 G1204 that G2443 I might have G2192 some G5100 fruit G2590 among G1722 you G5213 also, G2532 even as G2531 G2532 among G1722 other G3062 Gentiles. G1484

Acts 8:2 STRONG

And G1161 devout G2126 men G435 carried G4792 Stephen G4736 to his burial, and G2532 made G4160 great G3173 lamentation G2870 over G1909 him. G846

John 11:24 STRONG

Martha G3136 saith G3004 unto him, G846 I know G1492 that G3754 he shall rise again G450 in G1722 the resurrection G386 at G1722 the last G2078 day. G2250

Luke 8:52-53 STRONG

And G1161 all G3956 wept, G2799 and G2532 bewailed G2875 her: G846 but G1161 he said, G2036 Weep G2799 not; G3361 she is G599 not G3756 dead, G599 but G235 sleepeth. G2518 And G2532 they laughed G2606 him G846 to scorn, G2606 knowing G1492 that G3754 she was dead. G599

Ezekiel 24:16-18 STRONG

Son H1121 of man, H120 behold, I take away H3947 from thee the desire H4261 of thine eyes H5869 with a stroke: H4046 yet neither shalt thou mourn H5594 nor weep, H1058 neither shall thy tears H1832 run down. H935 Forbear H1826 to cry, H602 make H6213 no mourning H60 for the dead, H4191 bind H2280 the tire of thine head H6287 upon thee, and put on H7760 thy shoes H5275 upon thy feet, H7272 and cover H5844 not thy lips, H8222 and eat H398 not the bread H3899 of men. H582 So I spake H1696 unto the people H5971 in the morning: H1242 and at even H6153 my wife H802 died; H4191 and I did H6213 in the morning H1242 as I was commanded. H6680

Proverbs 14:32 STRONG

The wicked H7563 is driven away H1760 in his wickedness: H7451 but the righteous H6662 hath hope H2620 in his death. H4194

Job 19:25-27 STRONG

For I know H3045 that my redeemer H1350 liveth, H2416 and that he shall stand H6965 at the latter H314 day upon the earth: H6083 And though after H310 my skin H5785 worms destroy H5362 this body, yet in my flesh H1320 shall I see H2372 God: H433 Whom I shall see H2372 for myself, and mine eyes H5869 shall behold, H7200 and not another; H2114 though my reins H3629 be consumed H3615 within H2436 me.

1 Kings 2:10 STRONG

So David H1732 slept H7901 with his fathers, H1 and was buried H6912 in the city H5892 of David. H1732

1 Kings 1:21 STRONG

Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord H113 the king H4428 shall sleep H7901 with his fathers, H1 that I and my son H1121 Solomon H8010 shall be counted offenders. H2400

2 Samuel 12:19-20 STRONG

But when David H1732 saw H7200 that his servants H5650 whispered, H3907 David H1732 perceived H995 that the child H3206 was dead: H4191 therefore David H1732 said H559 unto his servants, H5650 Is the child H3206 dead? H4191 And they said, H559 He is dead. H4191 Then David H1732 arose H6965 from the earth, H776 and washed, H7364 and anointed H5480 himself, and changed H2498 his apparel, H8071 and came H935 into the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and worshipped: H7812 then he came H935 to his own house; H1004 and when he required, H7592 they set H7760 bread H3899 before him, and he did eat. H398

Deuteronomy 14:1-2 STRONG

Ye are the children H1121 of the LORD H3068 your God: H430 ye shall not cut H1413 yourselves, nor make H7760 any baldness H7144 between your eyes H5869 for the dead. H4191 For thou art an holy H6918 people H5971 unto the LORD H3068 thy God, H430 and the LORD H3068 hath chosen H977 thee to be a peculiar H5459 people H5971 unto himself, above all the nations H5971 that are upon H6440 the earth. H127

Leviticus 19:28 STRONG

Ye shall not make H5414 any H3793 cuttings H8296 in your flesh H1320 for the dead, H5315 nor print H5414 any marks H7085 upon you: I am the LORD. H3068

Genesis 37:35 STRONG

And all his sons H1121 and all his daughters H1323 rose up H6965 to comfort H5162 him; but he refused H3985 to be comforted; H5162 and he said, H559 For I will go down H3381 into the grave H7585 unto my son H1121 mourning. H57 Thus his father H1 wept H1058 for him.

2 Samuel 18:33 STRONG

And the king H4428 was much moved, H7264 and went up H5927 to the chamber H5944 over the gate, H8179 and wept: H1058 and as he went, H3212 thus he said, H559 O my son H1121 Absalom, H53 my son, H1121 my son H1121 Absalom! H53 would God I had died H4191 for thee, H5414 O Absalom, H53 my son, H1121 my son! H1121

Matthew 27:52 STRONG

And G2532 the graves G3419 were opened; G455 and G2532 many G4183 bodies G4983 of the saints G40 which G3588 slept G2837 arose, G1453

Job 1:21 STRONG

And said, H559 Naked H6174 came I out H3318 of my mother's H517 womb, H990 and naked H6174 shall I return H7725 thither: the LORD H3068 gave, H5414 and the LORD H3068 hath taken away; H3947 blessed H1288 be the name H8034 of the LORD. H3068

Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 4 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 4

1Th 4:1-18. Exhortations to Chastity; Brotherly Love; Quiet Industry; Abstinence from Undue Sorrow for Departed Friends, For at Christ's Coming All His Saints Shall Be Glorified.

1. Furthermore—Greek, "As to what remains." Generally used towards the close of his Epistles (Eph 6:10; Php 4:8).

then—with a view to the love and holiness (1Th 3:12, 13) which we have just prayed for in your behalf, we now give you exhortation.

beseech—"ask" as if it were a personal favor.

by, &c.—rather as Greek, "IN the Lord Jesus"; in communion with the Lord Jesus, as Christian ministers dealing with Christian people [Edmunds].

as ye … received—when we were with you (1Th 2:13).

how—Greek, the "how," that is, the manner.

walk and … please God—that is, "and so please God," namely, by your walk; in contrast to the Jews who "please not God" (1Th 2:15). The oldest manuscripts add a clause here, "even as also ye do walk" (compare 1Th 4:10; 5:11). These words, which he was able to say of them with truth, conciliate a favorable hearing for the precepts which follow. Also the expression, "abound more and more," implies that there had gone before a recognition of their already in some measure walking so.

2. by the Lord Jesus—by His authority and direction, not by our own. He uses the strong term, "commandments," in writing to this Church not long founded, knowing that they would take it in a right spirit, and feeling it desirable that they should understand he spake with divine authority. He seldom uses the term in writing subsequently, when his authority was established, to other churches. 1Co 7:10; 11:17; and 1Ti 1:5 (1Th 4:18, where the subject accounts for the strong expression) are the exceptions. "The Lord" marks His paramount authority, requiring implicit obedience.

3. For—enforcing the assertion that his "commandments" were "by (the authority of) the Lord Jesus" (1Th 4:2). Since "this is the will of God," let it be your will also.

fornication—not regarded as a sin at all among the heathen, and so needing the more to be denounced (Ac 15:20).

4. know—by moral self-control.

how to possess his vessel—rather as Greek, "how to acquire (get for himself) his own vessel," that is, that each should have his own wife so as to avoid fornication (1Th 4:3; 1Co 7:2). The emphatical position of "his own" in the Greek, and the use of "vessel" for wife, in 1Pe 3:7, and in common Jewish phraseology, and the correct translation "acquire," all justify this rendering.

in sanctification—(Ro 6:19; 1Co 6:15, 18). Thus, "his own" stands in opposition to dishonoring his brother by lusting after his wife (1Th 4:6).

honour—(Heb 13:4) contrasted with "dishonor their own bodies" (Ro 1:24).

5. in the lust—Greek, "passion"; which implies that such a one is unconsciously the passive slave of lust.

which know not God—and so know no better. Ignorance of true religion is the parent of unchastity (Eph 4:18, 19). A people's morals are like the objects of their worship (De 7:26; Ps 115:8; Ro 1:23, 24).

6. go beyond—transgress the bounds of rectitude in respect to his "brother."

defraud—"overreach" [Alford]; "take advantage of" [Edmunds].

in any matter—rather as Greek, "in the matter"; a decorous expression for the matter now in question; the conjugal honor of his neighbor as a husband, 1Th 4:4; 1Th 4:7 also confirms this view; the word "brother" enhances the enormity of the crime. It is your brother whom you wrong (compare Pr 6:27-33).

the Lord—the coming Judge (2Th 1:7, 8).

avenger—the Righter.

of all such—Greek, "concerning all these things;" in all such cases of wrongs against a neighbor's conjugal honor.

testified—Greek, "constantly testified [Alford].

7. unto uncleanness—Greek, "for the purpose of."

unto—rather as Greek, "in"; marking that "holiness" is the element in which our calling has place; in a sphere of holiness. Saint is another name for Christian.

8. despiseth, &c.—Greek, "setteth at naught" such engagements imposed on him in his calling, 1Th 4:7; in relation to his "brother," 1Th 4:6. He who doth so, "sets at naught not man (as for instance his brother), but God" (Ps 51:4) is used of despising or rejecting God's minister, it may mean here, "He who despiseth" or "rejecteth" these our ministerial precepts.

who hath also given unto us—So some oldest manuscripts read, but most oldest manuscripts read, "Who (without 'also') giveth (present) unto you" (not "us").

his Spirit—Greek, "His own Spirit, the Holy (One)"; thus emphatically marking "holiness" (1Th 4:7) as the end for which the Holy (One) is being given. "Unto you," in the Greek, implies that the Spirit is being given unto, into (put "into" your hearts), and among you (compare 1Th 2:9; Eph 4:30). "Giveth" implies that sanctification is not merely a work once for all accomplished in the past, but a present progressive work. So the Church of England Catechism, "sanctifieth (present) all the elect people of God." "His own" implies that as He gives you that which is essentially identical with Himself, He expects you should become like Himself (1Pe 1:16; 2Pe 1:4).

9. brotherly love, &c.—referring here to acts of brotherly kindness in relieving distressed brethren. Some oldest manuscripts support English Version reading, "YE have"; others, and those the weightiest, read, "WE have." We need not write, as ye yourselves are taught, and that by God: namely, in the heart by the Holy Spirit (Joh 6:45; Heb 8:11; 1Jo 2:20, 27).

to love—Greek, "with a view to," or "to the end of your loving one another." Divine teachings have their confluence in love [Bengel].

10. And indeed—Greek, "For even."

11. study to be quiet—Greek, "make it your ambition to be quiet, and to do your own business." In direct contrast to the world's ambition, which is, "to make a great stir," and "to be busybodies" (2Th 3:11, 12).

work with your own hands—The Thessalonian converts were, it thus seems, chiefly of the working classes. Their expectation of the immediate coming of Christ led some enthusiasts among them to neglect their daily work and be dependent on the bounty of others. See end of 1Th 4:12. The expectation was right in so far as that the Church should be always looking for Him; but they were wrong in making it a ground for neglecting their daily work. The evil, as it subsequently became worse, is more strongly reproved in 2Th 3:6-12.

12. honestly—in the Old English sense, "becomingly," as becomes your Christian profession; not bringing discredit on it in the eyes of the outer world, as if Christianity led to sloth and poverty (Ro 13:13; 1Pe 2:12).

them … without—outside the Christian Church (Mr 4:11).

have lack of nothing—not have to beg from others for the supply of your wants (compare Eph 4:28). So far from needing to beg from others, we ought to work and get the means of supplying the need of others. Freedom from pecuniary embarrassment is to be desired by the Christian on account of the liberty which it bestows.

13. The leading topic of Paul's preaching at Thessalonica having been the coming kingdom (Ac 17:7), some perverted it into a cause for fear in respect to friends lately deceased, as if these would be excluded from the glory which those found alive alone should share. This error Paul here corrects (compare 1Th 5:10).

I would not—All the oldest manuscripts and versions have "we would not." My fellow labourers (Silas and Timothy) and myself desire that ye should not be ignorant.

them which are asleep—The oldest manuscripts read present tense, "them which are sleeping"; the same as "the dead in Christ" (1Th 4:16), to whose bodies (Da 12:2, not their souls; Ec 12:7; 2Co 5:8) death is a calm and holy sleep, from which the resurrection shall waken them to glory. The word "cemetery" means a sleeping-place. Observe, the glory and chief hope of the Church are not to be realized at death, but at the Lord's coming; one is not to anticipate the other, but all are to be glorified together at Christ's coming (Col 3:4; Heb 11:40). Death affects the mere individual; but the coming of Jesus the whole Church; at death our souls are invisibly and individually with the Lord; at Christ's coming the whole Church, with all its members, in body and soul, shall be visibly and collectively with Him. As this is offered as a consolation to mourning relatives, the mutual recognition of the saints at Christ's coming is hereby implied.

that ye sorrow not, even as others—Greek, "the rest"; all the rest of the world besides Christians. Not all natural mourning for dead friends is forbidden: for the Lord Jesus and Paul sinlessly gave way to it (Joh 11:31, 33, 35; Php 2:27); but sorrow as though there were "no hope," which indeed the heathen had not (Eph 2:12): the Christian hope here meant is that of the resurrection. Ps 16:9, 11; 17:15; 73:24; Pr 14:32, show that the Old Testament Church, though not having the hope so bright (Isa 38:18, 19), yet had this hope. Contrast Catullus [Carmina 5.4], "When once our brief day has set, we must sleep one everlasting night." The sepulchral inscriptions of heathen Thessalonica express the hopeless view taken as to those once dead: as Aeschylus writes, "Of one once dead there is no resurrection." Whatever glimpses some heathen philosophers, had of the existence of the soul after death, they had none whatever of the body (Ac 17:18, 20, 32).

14. For if—confirmation of his statement, 1Th 4:13, that the removal of ignorance as to the sleeping believers would remove undue grief respecting them. See 1Th 4:13, "hope." Hence it appears our hope rests on our faith ("if we believe"). "As surely as we all believe that Christ died and rose again (the very doctrine specified as taught at Thessalonica, Ac 17:3), so also will God bring those laid to sleep by Jesus with Him (Jesus)." (So the order and balance of the members of the Greek sentence require us to translate). Believers are laid in sleep by Jesus, and so will be brought back from sleep with Jesus in His train when He comes. The disembodied souls are not here spoken of; the reference is to the sleeping bodies. The facts of Christ's experience are repeated in the believer's. He died and then rose: so believers shall die and then rise with Him. But in His case death is the term used, 1Co 15:3, 6, &c.; in theirs, sleep; because His death has taken for them the sting from death. The same Hand that shall raise them is that which laid them to sleep. "Laid to sleep by Jesus," answers to "dead in Christ" (1Th 4:16).

15. by the word of the Lord—Greek, "in," that is, in virtue of a direct revelation from the Lord to me. So 1Ki 20:35. This is the "mystery," a truth once hidden, now revealed, which Paul shows (1Co 15:51, 52).

prevent—that is, "anticipate." So far were the early Christians from regarding their departed brethren as anticipating them in entering glory, that they needed to be assured that those who remain to the coming of the Lord "will not anticipate them that are asleep." The "we" means whichever of us are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord. The Spirit designed that believers in each successive age should live in continued expectation of the Lord's coming, not knowing but that they should be among those found alive at His coming (Mt 24:42). It is a sad fall from this blessed hope, that death is looked for by most men, rather than the coming of our Lord. Each successive generation in its time and place represents the generation which shall actually survive till His coming (Mt 25:13; Ro 13:11; 1Co 15:51; Jas 5:9; 1Pe 4:5, 6). The Spirit subsequently revealed by Paul that which is not inconsistent with the expectation here taught of the Lord's coming at any time; namely, that His coming would not be until there should be a "falling away first" (2Th 2:2, 3); but as symptoms of this soon appeared, none could say but that still this precursory event might be realized, and so the Lord come in his day. Each successive revelation fills in the details of the general outline first given. So Paul subsequently, while still looking mainly for the Lord's coming to clothe him with his body from heaven, looks for going to be with Christ in the meanwhile (2Co 5:1-10; Php 1:6, 23; 3:20, 21; 4:5). Edmunds well says, The "we" is an affectionate identifying of ourselves with our fellows of all ages, as members of the same body, under the same Head, Christ Jesus. So Ho 12:4, "God spake with us in Beth-el," that is, with Israel. "We did rejoice," that is, Israel at the Red Sea (Ps 66:6). Though neither Hosea, nor David, was alive at the times referred to, yet each identifies himself with those that were present.

16. himself—in all the Majesty of His presence in person, not by deputy.

descend—even as He ascended (Ac 1:11).

with—Greek, "in," implying one concomitant circumstance attending His appearing.

shout—Greek, "signal shout," "war shout." Jesus is represented as a victorious King, giving the word of command to the hosts of heaven in His train for the last onslaught, at His final triumph over sin, death, and Satan (Re 19:11-21).

the voice of … archangel—distinct from the "signal shout." Michael is perhaps meant (Jude 9; Re 12:7), to whom especially is committed the guardianship of the people of God (Da 10:13).

trump of God—the trumpet blast which usually accompanies God's manifestation in glory (Ex 19:16; Ps 47:5); here the last of the three accompaniments of His appearing: as the trumpet was used to convene God's people to their solemn convocations (Nu 10:2, 10; 31:6), so here to summon God's elect together, preparatory to their glorification with Christ (Ps 50:1-5; Mt 24:31; 1Co 15:52).

shall rise first—previously to the living being "caught up." The "first" here has no reference to the first resurrection, as contrasted with that of "the rest of the dead." That reference occurs elsewhere (Mt 13:41, 42, 50; Joh 5:29; 1Co 15:23, 24; Re 20:5, 6); it simply stands in opposition to "then," 1Th 4:17. FIRST, "the dead in Christ" shall rise, THEN the living shall be caught up. The Lord's people alone are spoken of here.

17. we which are alive … shall be caught up—after having been "changed in a moment" (1Co 15:51, 52). Again he says, "we," recommending thus the expression to Christians of all ages, each generation bequeathing to the succeeding one a continually increasing obligation to look for the coming of the Lord. [Edmunds].

together with them—all together: the raised dead, and changed living, forming one joint body.

in the clouds—Greek, "in clouds." The same honor is conferred on them as on their Lord. As He was taken in a cloud at His ascension (Ac 1:9), so at His return with clouds (Re 1:7), they shall be caught up in clouds. The clouds are His and their triumphal chariot (Ps 104:3; Da 7:13). Ellicott explains the Greek, "robed round by upbearing clouds" [Aids to Faith].

in the air—rather, "into the air"; caught up into the region just above the earth, where the meeting (compare Mt 25:1, 6) shall take place between them ascending, and their Lord descending towards the earth. Not that the air is to be the place of their lasting abode with Him.

and so shall we ever be with the Lord—no more parting, and no more going out (Re 3:12). His point being established, that the dead in Christ shall be on terms of equal advantage with those found alive at Christ's coming, he leaves undefined here the other events foretold elsewhere (as not being necessary to his discussion), Christ's reign on earth with His saints (1Co 6:2, 3), the final judgment and glorification of His saints in the new heaven and earth.

18. comfort one another—in your mourning for the dead (1Th 4:13).