1 Thessalonians Chapter 4 — Living to Please God
Paul encourages the Thessalonian believers to live holy lives and provides comfort concerning the resurrection of the dead at the coming of the Lord.
1Finally then, brothers, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, that you abound more and more.
2For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
3For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality,
4that each one of you know how to control his own body*literally, possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
5not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who don’t know God,
6that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother or sister in this matter; because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified.
7For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification.
8Therefore he who rejects this doesn’t reject man, but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to you.
9But concerning brotherly love, you have no need that one write to you. For you yourselves are taught by God to love one another,
10for indeed you do it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brothers, that you abound more and more;
11and that you make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, even as we instructed you,
12that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and may have need of nothing.
13But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope.
14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
15For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep.
16For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first,
17then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.
18Therefore comfort one another with these words.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
1 Thessalonians 4:3
“For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality,”
This verse clearly defines the moral expectations for Christian living as part of God's will.
1 Thessalonians 4:16
“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first,”
This provides a detailed description of the events surrounding the return of Jesus and the priority of the resurrection.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter, Paul urges the believers in Thessalonica to continue growing in their walk with God, specifically emphasizing the importance of sanctification and avoiding sexual immorality. He highlights the need for brotherly love and a quiet, productive life that earns the respect of outsiders. The second half of the chapter addresses specific concerns about believers who have died. Paul explains that those who have fallen asleep in Jesus will not be left behind when Christ returns. He describes the second coming of the Lord, characterized by a shout, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet of God. He assures the church that the dead in Christ will rise first, followed by those still alive, who will be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air. Paul concludes by telling the believers to comfort one another with these words regarding their eternal future with the Lord.
Frequently Asked Questions
In this context, falling asleep is a metaphor used for believers who have died before the return of Christ. Paul uses this term to emphasize the temporary nature of death and the hope of the future resurrection.
Paul explicitly identifies the will of God as the sanctification of believers. This involves living a holy life, controlling one's body with honor, and abstaining from sexual immorality.
Paul teaches that the return of the Lord is a source of great comfort and hope. He encourages believers to use these truths to encourage one another, knowing they will be with the Lord forever.
Study Note
The Greek word 'parousia' is often associated with the 'coming' of the Lord described in this chapter, a term historically used for the arrival of a high-ranking official or king.
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