1 Thessalonians
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1 Thessalonians 4
1 Thessalonians 4
1Finally then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even as ye do walk,—that ye abound more and more.
1Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
Commentary · verse 1
2For ye know what charge we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
3For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye abstain from fornication;
2For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
3For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
Commentary · verses 2-3
It is God's Will for us to abstain from fornication. God wants us to worship Him, not an idol.
4that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
4That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
Commentary · verse 4
Paul wanted each of the Thessalonians to be able to be sanctified and honorable, that each of them would have the ability to depend on no man, just God.
5not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who know not God; 6that no man transgress, and wrong his brother in the 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 that rejecteth, rejecteth not man, but God, who giveth his Holy Spirit unto you.
5Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
6That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
7For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
8He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
Commentary · verses 5-8
Those people who did not listen to Paul's words were actually rejecting God because Paul was speaking God's Word. We saw this in the Gospel according to John: when people rejected what God was stating through the prophets and Jesus, these people proved they did not know God.
9But concerning love of the brethren ye have no need that one write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another;
9But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
Commentary · verse 9
Paul believed that the Thessalonians had enough faith that they could be taught of God to love each other.
10for indeed ye do it toward all the brethren that are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brethren, that ye abound more and more;
10And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
Commentary · verse 10
Paul knew they were loving each other but he encouraged them to grow in this love.
11and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your hands, even as we charged you; 12that ye may walk becomingly toward them that are without, and may have need of nothing.
11And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
12That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
Commentary · verses 11-12
Paul encouraged them to continue working so they could better give out of the fruits of their labor and to be a witness to those who were not believers.
13But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope.
14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
13But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Commentary · verses 13-14
Doctrine: Those believers who are dead will be raised the same as Christ already has been. Paul suddenly moved into deep Doctrine as it was hard to see the transition, if any, between verse 12 and 13. Verse 12 spoke of being a good witness and being in need of nothing. Verse 13 suddenly turned to Paul concerned these new believers were ignorant about what happened after a person died.
15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep.
15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
Commentary · verse 15
Doctrine: Believers living on earth during the Rapture will not precede the dead believers. Paul moved to even deeper Doctrine: what happens when Jesus spiritually returns to earth to Rapture believers ending our dispensation just before the Tribulation.
16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; 17then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Commentary · verses 16-17
Verses 16-17 covered the pre-Tribulation Rapture. Jesus will descend from heaven with the trump of God, which we have covered in this commentary in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52. The last trump referenced the last of God's seven feasts (Leviticus 23) that used a trump: Rosh Hashanah. The dead in Christ rise first, then those that are alive rise to meet the Lord in the air, and all the believers are taken to heaven to be with the Lord forever. At this point, they cannot forfeit their Salvation. After the Rapture of the Church, there will be believers in heaven. Notice, this passage did not mention believers in heaven. Believers who have already died are not yet with the Lord, they rise to meet the Lord ahead of those who are still living at the time of the Rapture. Remember, Jesus will also physically return to earth to battle the Antichrist (Matthew 24:31). Jesus' physical return will come at the end of the Tribulation. Notice, Matthew 24:29-31 stated that all the tribes of earth would mourn when they saw Jesus coming on the clouds and all the believers in heaven and on earth would be gathered together. During Jesus' physical return, there will be believers in heaven, which meant His spiritual return must precede His physical return. Again, Paul covered deep Doctrine with these new believers, but he also covered this same Doctrine with the immature church in Corinth: 1 Corinthians 15:51-54. He believed this deep Doctrine ought to be used to comfort each other...
18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Commentary · verse 18
Theme of Chapter 4: Paul began this chapter encouraging them to grow and be a good witness to unbelievers. Then Paul suddenly presented deep Doctrine concerning the pre-Tribulation Rapture of the Church.
Encouragement to walk by faith to please God, and that they grow in this.