1 Thessalonians 4 15

1 Thessalonians 4:15 kjv

For 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.

1 Thessalonians 4:15 nkjv

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

1 Thessalonians 4:15 niv

According to the Lord's word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.

1 Thessalonians 4:15 esv

For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

1 Thessalonians 4:15 nlt

We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.

1 Thessalonians 4 verses

1 Thessalonians 4 15 Meaning

This verse declares with divine authority that living believers at the time of the Lord's return will not ascend to meet Him before those believers who have died. It offers comfort and assurance, establishing the sequence of events at the Christ's second coming, ensuring that deceased Christians will participate fully and without disadvantage in the grand event known as the Parousia.

1 Thessalonians 4 15 Context

First Thessalonians 4:15 is a pivotal verse within Paul's comforting instruction to the church in Thessalonica regarding the Parousia, or the Lord's return. The preceding verses (1 Thess 4:13-14) reveal the Thessalonians' distress and misunderstanding about the fate of their Christian loved ones who had died before Christ's second coming. They seemingly feared that those who had "fallen asleep" would miss out on the Lord's return or would be at a disadvantage compared to believers still living. Paul addresses this directly, aiming to dispel their grief and provide clear teaching from a divine source, thereby offering genuine hope. The verses following (1 Thess 4:16-17) elaborate on the sequence of events Paul has just affirmed, detailing the glorious descent of the Lord, the resurrection of the dead in Christ, and the simultaneous catching up of both the resurrected and living believers to meet Him. The immediate historical context suggests an early church grappling with eschatological truths, facing misconceptions, and needing clear apostolic teaching on Christian hope beyond the grave. There might have been indirect polemics against despair found in surrounding pagan cultures that had no sure hope for the afterlife.

1 Thessalonians 4 15 Word analysis

• For (γάρ - gar): This conjunction serves to introduce an explanation or clarification for what was stated previously, specifically addressing the concern and providing the basis for Paul's comforting assurance about the deceased. It links this new revelation to the need for comfort expressed in 1 Thess 4:13.
• this we say to you (τοῦτο γὰρ ὑμῖν λέγομεν - touto gar hymin legomen): "This" refers to the precise instruction about the sequence of events at the Lord's return. The phrase "we say to you" emphasizes a direct, authoritative declaration from Paul and his fellow workers (Silas and Timothy), directed specifically to the Thessalonian community. It sets up the impending divine revelation.
• by the word of the Lord (ἐν λόγῳ Κυρίου - en logō Kyriou): This is a critical phrase, signifying the absolute authority and divine origin of the subsequent teaching. Paul is not speaking from his own opinion or wisdom, but from a revelation directly from Christ, a specific teaching Jesus Himself imparted or a truth revealed to Paul through the Holy Spirit concerning Christ's return. This elevates the teaching beyond mere human speculation to divine certainty.
• that we who are alive, who are left (ὅτι ἡμεῖς οἱ ζῶντες οἱ περιλειπόμενοι - hoti hēmeis hoi zōntes hoi perileipomenoi): "We" often indicates Paul including himself, suggesting he anticipated he might be alive at the Lord's coming, reflecting an active hope. "Who are alive" specifies their state. "Who are left" (a remnant or those remaining behind) further clarifies that these are the believers who will not have died before Christ's return. The early believers held a lively expectation of Christ's imminent return.
• will by no means precede (οὐ μὴ φθάσωμεν - ou mē phthasōmen): This Greek construction with "οὐ μή" followed by the aorist subjunctive is a strong double negative, conveying an emphatic denial or impossibility. It means "absolutely not," "under no circumstances," or "it will certainly not happen." The verb phthasomen means to arrive sooner than, outrun, or precede. This strongly assures the Thessalonians that living believers will in no way gain an advantage over those who have died. The fairness and justice of God's timing are highlighted.
• those who have fallen asleep (τοὺς κοιμηθέντας - tous koimēthentas): This is a common and comforting New Testament euphemism for the death of believers. The term koimaomai (to sleep) signifies that death is temporary, like a deep sleep from which one will awaken. It reflects the Christian hope of resurrection, contrasting with the finality of death in other belief systems. This phrase directly addresses the concern about the deceased.

1 Thessalonians 4 15 Bonus section

• "We" pronoun: Paul's use of "we" (including himself) in the phrase "we who are alive, who are left" reflects the early church's lively and hopeful expectation that Christ's return could happen within their lifetime. This personal hope did not diminish Paul's understanding of God's broader timeline, but underscored the imminence of the Parousia.
• Order of Events: This verse introduces the divinely revealed order: the deceased in Christ will rise first, then the living will be caught up with them. This sequential action ensures a unified gathering with the Lord and removes any hierarchy or disadvantage for those who have died. It speaks to God's perfect plan and fairness.
• Purpose: The core purpose of this verse, and the broader passage, is pastoral. It aims not merely to inform about future events, but specifically to console grieving believers with hope "so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope" (1 Thess 4:13). The knowledge of this truth transforms sorrow into expectation.

1 Thessalonians 4 15 Commentary

First Thessalonians 4:15 serves as a bedrock of comfort and clarity concerning the fate of deceased believers at the Parousia. Paul introduces his explanation by asserting its divine origin: it is "by the word of the Lord," establishing it as an authoritative and non-negotiable truth directly revealed by Christ. The central point is the emphatic assurance that living believers will "by no means precede" those who have "fallen asleep" in Christ. This directly addresses the anxiety prevalent in the Thessalonian church, ensuring them that their loved ones who died would not miss out on the glory of Christ's return. The use of "fallen asleep" highlights the temporary nature of death for believers, who await resurrection, just as one awakes from slumber. This verse thus lays the foundation for the subsequent description of the Lord's descent and the unified gathering of all believers—living and resurrected—to meet Him, thereby providing immense hope and dispelling grief that arises from a lack of understanding about Christian eschatology. It underscores the fairness of God's plan and the completeness of His redemption for all who believe, regardless of whether they die before or are alive at His coming.