3 For G1063 this G5124 is G2076 the will G2307 of God, G2316 even your G5216 sanctification, G38 that ye G5209 should abstain G567 from G575 fornication: G4202
That G1519 he G980 no longer G3371 should live G980 the rest G1954 of his time G5550 in G1722 the flesh G4561 to the lusts G1939 of men, G444 but G235 to the will G2307 of God. G2316
And G1161 the very G846 God G2316 of peace G1515 sanctify G37 you G5209 wholly; G3651 and G2532 I pray God your G5216 whole G3648 spirit G4151 and G2532 soul G5590 and G2532 body G4983 be preserved G5083 blameless G274 unto G1722 the coming G3952 of our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ. G5547
Mortify G3499 therefore G3767 your G5216 members G3196 which G3588 are upon G1909 the earth; G1093 fornication, G4202 uncleanness, G167 inordinate affection, G3806 evil G2556 concupiscence, G1939 and G2532 covetousness, G4124 which G3748 is G2076 idolatry: G1495
And G2532 be G4964 not G3361 conformed G4964 to this G5129 world: G165 but G235 be ye transformed G3339 by the renewing G342 of your G5216 mind, G3563 that G1519 ye G5209 may prove G1381 what G5101 is that good, G18 and G2532 acceptable, G2101 and G2532 perfect, G5046 will G2307 of God. G2316
But G1161 we G2249 are bound G3784 to give thanks G2168 alway G3842 to God G2316 for G4012 you, G5216 brethren G80 beloved G25 of G5259 the Lord, G2962 because G3754 God G2316 hath G138 from G575 the beginning G746 chosen G138 you G5209 to G1519 salvation G4991 through G1722 sanctification G38 of the Spirit G4151 and G2532 belief G4102 of the truth: G225
But G2532 fornication, G4202 and G1161 all G3956 uncleanness, G167 or G2228 covetousness, G4124 let it G3687 not be once G3366 named G3687 among G1722 you, G5213 as G2531 becometh G4241 saints; G40 Neither G2532 filthiness, G151 nor G2532 foolish talking, G3473 nor G2228 jesting, G2160 which G3588 are G433 not G3756 convenient: G433 but G235 rather G3123 giving of thanks. G2169 For G1063 this G5124 ye know, G2075 G1097 that G3754 no G3756 G3956 whoremonger, G4205 nor G2228 unclean person, G169 nor G2228 covetous man, G4123 who G3739 is G2076 an idolater, G1496 hath G2192 any inheritance G2817 in G1722 the kingdom G932 of Christ G5547 and G2532 of God. G2316
I delight H2654 to do H6213 thy will, H7522 O my God: H430 yea, thy law H8451 is within H8432 my heart. H4578
That G2443 he might sanctify G37 and cleanse it G2511 with the washing G3067 of water G5204 by G1722 the word, G4487 That G2443 he might present G3936 it G846 to himself G1438 a glorious G1741 church, G1577 not G3361 having G2192 spot, G4696 or G2228 wrinkle, G4512 or G2228 any G5100 such thing; G5108 but G235 that G2443 it should be G5600 holy G40 and G2532 without blemish. G299
Sanctify G37 them G846 through G1722 thy G4675 truth: G225 thy G4674 word G3056 is G2076 truth. G225 As G2531 thou hast sent G649 me G1691 into G1519 the world, G2889 even so G2504 have G649 I also G2504 sent G649 them G846 into G1519 the world. G2889 And G2532 for G5228 their G846 sakes G5228 I G1473 sanctify G37 myself, G1683 that G2443 they G846 also G2532 might G5600 be sanctified G37 through G1722 the truth. G225
Marriage G1062 is honourable G5093 in G1722 all, G3956 and G2532 the bed G2845 undefiled: G283 but G1161 whoremongers G4205 and G2532 adulterers G3432 God G2316 will judge. G2919
Elect G1588 according G2596 to the foreknowledge G4268 of God G2316 the Father, G3962 through G1722 sanctification G38 of the Spirit, G4151 unto G1519 obedience G5218 and G2532 sprinkling G4473 of the blood G129 of Jesus G2424 Christ: G5547 Grace G5485 unto you, G5213 and G2532 peace, G1515 be multiplied. G4129
But G1161 the fearful, G1169 and G2532 unbelieving, G571 and G2532 the abominable, G948 and G2532 murderers, G5406 and G2532 whoremongers, G4205 and G2532 sorcerers, G5332 and G2532 idolaters, G1496 and G2532 all G3956 liars, G5571 shall have their G846 part G3313 in G1722 the lake G3041 which G3588 burneth G2545 with fire G4442 and G2532 brimstone: G2303 which is G3603 the second G1208 death. G2288
And G2532 the world G2889 passeth away, G3855 and G2532 the lust G1939 thereof: G846 but G1161 he that doeth G4160 the will G2307 of God G2316 abideth G3306 for G1519 ever. G165
For G1063 ye have G2192 need G5532 of patience, G5281 that, G2443 after ye have done G4160 the will G2307 of God, G2316 ye might receive G2865 the promise. G1860
For G1223 this cause G5124 we G2249 also, G2532 since G575 the G3739 day G2250 we heard G191 it, do G3973 not G3756 cease G3973 to pray G4336 for G5228 you, G5216 and G2532 to desire G154 that G2443 ye might be filled G4137 with the knowledge G1922 of his G846 will G2307 in G1722 all G3956 wisdom G4678 and G2532 spiritual G4152 understanding; G4907
And lest, G3361 when I come G2064 again, G3825 my G3450 God G2316 will humble G5013 me G3165 among G4314 you, G5209 and G2532 that I shall bewail G3996 many G4183 which G3588 have sinned already, G4258 and G2532 have G3340 not G3361 repented G3340 of G1909 the uncleanness G167 and G2532 fornication G4202 and G2532 lasciviousness G766 which G3739 they have committed. G4238
Nevertheless, G1223 G1161 to avoid fornication, G4202 let G2192 every man G1538 have G2192 his own G1438 wife, G1135 and G2532 let G2192 every woman G1538 have G2192 her own G2398 husband. G435
G2228 Know ye G1492 not G3756 that G3754 the unrighteous G94 shall G2816 not G3756 inherit G2816 the kingdom G932 of God? G2316 Be G4105 not G3361 deceived: G4105 neither G3777 fornicators, G4205 nor G3777 idolaters, G1496 nor G3777 adulterers, G3432 nor G3777 effeminate, G3120 nor G3777 abusers of themselves with mankind, G733 Nor G3777 thieves, G2812 nor G3777 covetous, G4123 nor G3777 drunkards, G3183 nor G3756 revilers, G3060 nor G3756 extortioners, G727 shall inherit G3756 G2816 the kingdom G932 of God. G2316 And G2532 such G5023 were G2258 some of you: G5100 but G235 ye are washed, G628 but G235 ye are sanctified, G37 but G235 ye are justified G1344 in G1722 the name G3686 of the Lord G2962 Jesus, G2424 and G2532 by G1722 the Spirit G4151 of our G2257 God. G2316
Teach H3925 me to do H6213 thy will; H7522 for thou art my God: H430 thy spirit H7307 is good; H2896 lead H5148 me into the land H776 of uprightness. H4334
For G1063 whosoever G3739 G302 shall do G4160 the will G2307 of God, G2316 the same G3778 is G2076 my G3450 brother, G80 and G2532 my G3450 sister, G79 and G2532 mother. G3384
That ye abstain G567 from meats offered to idols, G1494 and G2532 from blood, G129 and G2532 from things strangled, G4156 and G2532 from fornication: G4202 from G1537 which G3739 if ye keep G1301 yourselves, G1438 ye shall do G4238 well. G2095 Fare ye well. G4517
And G2532 now, G3569 brethren, G80 I commend G3908 you G5209 to God, G2316 and G2532 to the word G3056 of his G846 grace, G5485 which G3588 is able G1410 to build you up, G2026 and G2532 to give G1325 you G5213 an inheritance G2817 among G1722 all G3956 them which are sanctified. G37
To open G455 their G846 eyes, G3788 and to turn G1994 them from G575 darkness G4655 to G1519 light, G5457 and G2532 from the power G1849 of Satan G4567 unto G1909 God, G2316 that they G846 may receive G2983 forgiveness G859 of sins, G266 and G2532 inheritance G2819 among G1722 them which are sanctified G37 by faith G4102 that is in G1519 me. G1691
But G1161 of G1537 him G846 are G2075 ye G5210 in G1722 Christ G5547 Jesus, G2424 who G3739 of G575 God G2316 is made G1096 unto us G2254 G5037 wisdom, G4678 and righteousness, G1343 and G2532 sanctification, G38 and G2532 redemption: G629
Meats G1033 for the belly, G2836 and G2532 the belly G2836 for meats: G1033 but G1161 God G2316 shall destroy G2673 both G2532 it G5026 and G2532 them. G5023 Now G1161 the body G4983 is not G3756 for fornication, G4202 but G235 for the Lord; G2962 and G2532 the Lord G2962 for the body. G4983 And G1161 God G2316 hath G1453 both G2532 raised up G1453 the Lord, G2962 and G2532 will G1825 also G2532 raise up G1825 us G2248 by G1223 his own G846 power. G1411 Know ye G1492 not G3756 that G3754 your G5216 bodies G4983 are G2076 the members G3196 of Christ? G5547 shall I G142 then G3767 take G142 the members G3196 of Christ, G5547 and make G4160 them the members G3196 of an harlot? G4204 God forbid. G3361 G1096 What? G2228 know ye G1492 not G3756 that G3754 he which is joined G2853 to an harlot G4204 is G2076 one G1520 body? G4983 for G1063 two, G1417 saith he, G5346 shall be G2071 one G1519 G3391 flesh. G4561 But G1161 he that is joined G2853 unto the Lord G2962 is G2076 one G1520 spirit. G4151 Flee G5343 fornication. G4202 Every G3956 sin G265 that G3739 G1437 a man G444 doeth G4160 is G2076 without G1622 the body; G4983 but G1161 he that committeth fornication G4203 sinneth G264 against G1519 his own G2398 body. G4983
Make G2675 you G5209 perfect G2675 in G1722 every G3956 good G18 work G2041 to G1519 do G4160 his G846 will, G2307 working G4160 in G1722 you G5213 that which is wellpleasing G2101 in his G846 sight, G1799 through G1223 Jesus G2424 Christ; G5547 to whom G3739 be glory G1391 for G1519 ever G165 and ever. G165 Amen. G281
In G1722 every thing G3956 give thanks: G2168 for G1063 this G5124 is the will G2307 of God G2316 in G1722 Christ G5547 Jesus G2424 concerning G1519 you. G5209
Epaphras, G1889 who is one of G1537 you, G5216 a servant G1401 of Christ, G5547 saluteth G782 you, G5209 always G3842 labouring fervently G75 for G5228 you G5216 in G1722 prayers, G4335 that G2443 ye may stand G2476 perfect G5046 and G2532 complete G4137 in G1722 all G3956 the will G2307 of God. G2316
I wrote G1125 unto you G5213 in G1722 an epistle G1992 not G3361 to company G4874 with fornicators: G4205 Yet G2532 not G3756 altogether G3843 with the fornicators G4205 of this G5127 world, G2889 or G2228 with the covetous, G4123 or G2228 extortioners, G727 or G2228 with idolaters; G1496 for G1893 then G686 must ye needs G3784 go G1831 out of G1537 the world. G2889 But G1161 now G3570 I have written G1125 unto you G5213 not G3361 to keep company, G4874 if G1437 any man G5100 that is called G3687 a brother G80 be G2228 a fornicator, G4205 or G2228 covetous, G4123 or G2228 an idolater, G1496 or G2228 a railer, G3060 or G2228 a drunkard, G3183 or G2228 an extortioner; G727 with such an one G5108 no not G3366 to eat. G4906
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 4
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).