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Read the Bible

Contemporary English Version

1 Thessalonians 4:14

We believe that Jesus died and was raised to life. We also believe that when God brings Jesus back again, he will bring with him all who had faith in Jesus before they died.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Bereavement;   Death;   Immortality;   Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   Resurrection;   Sleep;   Scofield Reference Index - Faith;   Resurrection;   Thompson Chain Reference - Dead, the;   Mortality-Immortality;   Resurrection;   The Topic Concordance - Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ;   Resurrection;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Affliction, Consolation under;   Death of Saints, the;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Heaven;   Mourning;   Resurrection of the Dead;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Funeral;   Jesus christ;   Paul;   Sorrow;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Ascension of Jesus Christ;   Body;   Burial;   Confidence;   Death, Mortality;   Heal, Health;   Hope;   Intermediate State;   Ministry, Minister;   Paradise;   Second Coming of Christ;   Sleep;   Thessalonians, First and Second, Theology of;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Resurrection;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Immortality;   Resurrection of the Dead;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Thessalonians, the Epistles to the;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Death;   Eschatology;   Hope;   Intermediate State;   1 Thessalonians;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Faith;   Hope;   Kingdom of God;   Paul the Apostle;   Thessalonians, First Epistle to the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Angels;   Ascension (2);   Ascension of Isaiah;   Brotherly Love;   Comfort;   Judgment Damnation;   Parousia;   Resurrection;   Resurrection of Christ;   Sleep;   Sleep ;   Thessalonians Epistles to the;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Day of the Lord;   Dispensation,;   Hope;   Prophets, the;   Thessalonians, Epistles to the;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Thessalo'nians, First Epistle to the,;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Sleep (and forms);   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Judgment;   Resurrection;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Also;   Asleep;   Hope;   Jesus Christ (Part 1 of 2);   Peter, Simon;   Resurrection;   Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the;   Thessalonians, the First Epistle of Paul to the;  

Devotionals:

- Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life - Devotion for May 8;   Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for December 9;   Every Day Light - Devotion for October 17;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
King James Version (1611)
For if we beleeue that Iesus died, and rose againe: euen so them also which sleepe in Iesus, will God bring with him.
King James Version
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
English Standard Version
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
New American Standard Bible
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.
New Century Version
We believe that Jesus died and that he rose again. So, because of him, God will raise with Jesus those who have died.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
Legacy Standard Bible
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
Berean Standard Bible
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.
Complete Jewish Bible
do who have nothing to hope for. For since we believe that Yeshua died and rose again, we also believe that in the same way God, through Yeshua, will take with him those who have died.
Darby Translation
For if we believe that Jesus has died and has risen again, so also God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.
Easy-to-Read Version
We believe that Jesus died, but we also believe that he rose again. So we believe that God will raise to life through Jesus any who have died and bring them together with him when he comes.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For if we beleeue that Iesus is dead, and is risen, euen so them which sleepe in Iesus, will God bring with him.
George Lamsa Translation
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those who have died in Jesus, God will bring with him.
Good News Translation
We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will take back with Jesus those who have died believing in him.
Lexham English Bible
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, thus also God will bring those who have fallen asleep through Jesus together with him.
Literal Translation
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will also bring with Him all those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.
Amplified Bible
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again [as in fact He did], even so God [in this same way—by raising them from the dead] will bring with Him those [believers] who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
American Standard Version
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Bible in Basic English
For if we have faith that Jesus underwent death and came back again, even so those who are sleeping will come again with him by God's power.
Hebrew Names Version
For if we believe that Yeshua died and rose again, even so those who have fallen asleep in Yeshua will God bring with him.
International Standard Version
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so it is through Jesus that God will bring back with him those who have died.1 Corinthians 15:13,18, 23; 1 Thessalonians 3:13;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
For if we believe that Jeshu died and arose, so also Aloha those who have slept in Jeshu will bring with him.
Murdock Translation
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them who sleep, will God, by Jesus, bring with him.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For yf we beleue that Iesus dyed and rose agayne: euen so them also whiche sleepe by Iesus, wyll God bryng with hym.
English Revised Version
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
World English Bible
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those who have fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For if we believe, that Jesus died and rose again, so will God bring with him those also that sleep in Christ.
Weymouth's New Testament
For if we believe that Jesus has died and risen again, we also believe that, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who shall have passed away.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For if we bileuen, that Jhesu was deed, and roos ayen, so God schal lede with hym hem that ben deed bi Jhesu.
Update Bible Version
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so those also that have fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Webster's Bible Translation
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
New English Translation
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians.
New King James Version
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. [fn]
New Living Translation
For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.
New Life Bible
We believe that Jesus died and then came to life again. Because we believe this, we know that God will bring to life again all those who belong to Jesus.
New Revised Standard
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, if we believe that, Jesus, died, and rose again, so, also will, God, bring forth with him, them who have fallen asleep through Jesus;
Douay-Rheims Bible
(4-13) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again: even so them who have slept through Jesus, will God bring with him.
Revised Standard Version
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For yf we beleve that Iesus dyed and rose agayne: even so them also which slepe by IeIesus will God brynge agayne with him.
Young's Literal Translation
for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also God those asleep through Jesus he will bring with him,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For yf we beleue that Iesus dyed and rose agayne, euen so the also which slepe by Iesus, shal God brynge with him.
Mace New Testament (1729)
for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we must believe that God by Jesus will raise the dead, and assemble them with him.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Here's the way it is, since Jesus died and came back, all those who've made their final ride with Christ in their hearts are going to be brought back to life.

Contextual Overview

13 My friends, we want you to understand how it will be for those followers who have already died. Then you won't grieve over them and be like people who don't have any hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and was raised to life. We also believe that when God brings Jesus back again, he will bring with him all who had faith in Jesus before they died. 15 Our Lord Jesus told us that when he comes, we won't go up to meet him ahead of his followers who have already died. 16 With a loud command and with the shout of the chief angel and a blast of God's trumpet, the Lord will return from heaven. Then those who had faith in Christ before they died will be raised to life. 17 Next, all of us who are still alive will be taken up into the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the sky. From that time on we will all be with the Lord forever. 18 Encourage each other with these words.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

if we: Isaiah 26:19, Romans 8:11, 1 Corinthians 15:12-23, 2 Corinthians 4:13, 2 Corinthians 4:14, Revelation 1:18

sleep: 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 1 Thessalonians 3:13, 1 Corinthians 15:18, Revelation 14:13

God: 1 Thessalonians 4:17, Genesis 49:19, Zechariah 14:15, Matthew 24:31, 1 Corinthians 15:23, Philippians 3:20, Philippians 3:21, 2 Thessalonians 2:1, Jude 1:14, Jude 1:15

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 7:12 - sleep Job 14:12 - awake Job 14:14 - shall he live Psalms 4:8 - I will Psalms 16:9 - my flesh Proverbs 3:24 - and Song of Solomon 6:2 - and to Song of Solomon 7:9 - those that are asleep Jeremiah 31:16 - Refrain Daniel 12:2 - many Hosea 13:14 - O death Matthew 27:52 - slept Mark 5:39 - not dead Mark 13:27 - shall gather John 5:19 - and John 5:28 - for John 11:11 - sleepeth John 11:25 - I am Acts 4:2 - preached Acts 7:60 - he fell Acts 24:15 - that Romans 6:8 - we believe Romans 14:8 - we live therefore 1 Corinthians 6:14 - God 1 Corinthians 11:30 - sleep 1 Corinthians 15:13 - General 1 Corinthians 15:51 - We shall not Philippians 3:10 - and the power Hebrews 6:2 - resurrection Hebrews 9:28 - he appear

Cross-References

Genesis 4:5
but not with Cain and his offering. This made Cain so angry that he could not hide his feelings.
Genesis 4:6
The Lord said to Cain: What's wrong with you? Why do you have such an angry look on your face?
Genesis 4:11
And so, I'll put you under a curse. Because you killed Abel and made his blood run out on the ground, you will never be able to farm the land again.
Genesis 4:12
If you try to farm the land, it won't produce anything for you. From now on, you'll be without a home, and you'll spend the rest of your life wandering from place to place.
Genesis 4:13
"This punishment is too hard!" Cain said.
Genesis 4:14
"You're making me leave my home and live far from you. I will have to wander about without a home, and just anyone could kill me."
Genesis 4:15
"No!" the Lord answered. "Anyone who kills you will be punished seven times worse than I am punishing you." So the Lord put a mark on Cain to warn everyone not to kill him.
Genesis 4:16
But Cain had to go far from the Lord and live in the Land of Wandering, which is east of Eden.
Genesis 4:20
Lamech and Adah had two sons, Jabal and Jubal. Their son Jabal was the first to live in tents and raise sheep and goats. Jubal was the first to play harps and flutes.
Genesis 4:24
Anyone who tries to get even with me will be punished ten times more than anyone who tries to get even with Cain."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For if we believe that Jesus died, and rose again,.... As every Christian does, for both the death and resurrection of Christ are fundamental articles of faith; nothing is more certain or more comfortable, and more firmly to be believed, than that Christ died for the sins of his people, and rose again for their justification; on these depend the present peace, joy, and comfort of the saints, and their everlasting salvation and happiness: and no less certain and comfortable, and as surely to be believed, is what follows,

even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. The saints that are dead are not only represented as asleep, as before, but as "asleep in Jesus"; to distinguish them from the other dead, the wicked; for the phrase of sleeping in death is promiscuously used of good and bad, though most commonly applied to good men: and so say the Jews c,

"we used to speak of just men, not as dead, but as sleeping; saying, afterwards such an one fell asleep, signifying that the death of the righteous is nothing else than a sleep.''

To represent death as a sleep makes it very easy and familiar; but it is more so, when it is considered as sleeping in Jesus, in the arms of Jesus; and such as are asleep in him must needs be at rest, and in safety: some join the phrase "in", or "by Jesus", with the word bring, and read the passage thus, "them that are asleep, by Jesus will God bring with him"; intimating, that God will raise up the dead bodies of the saints by Christ, as God-man and Mediator; and through him will bring them to eternal glory, and save them by him, as he has determined: others render the words, "them which sleep through", or "by Jesus"; or die for his sake, and so restrain them to the martyrs; who they suppose only will have part in the first resurrection, and whom God will bring with Jesus at his second coming; but the coming of Christ will be "with all his saints"; see 1 Thessalonians 3:13 wherefore they are best rendered, "them that sleep in Jesus"; that is, "in the faith of Jesus", as the Arabic version renders it: not in the lively exercise of faith on Christ, for this is not the case of all the saints at death; some of them are in the dark, and go from hence under a cloud, and yet go safe, and may be said to die, or sleep, in Jesus, and will be brought with him; but who have the principle, and hold the doctrine of faith, are, and live and die, true believers; who die interested in Christ, in union with him, being chosen and blessed, and preserved in him from everlasting, and effectually called by his grace in time, and brought to believe in him; these, both their souls and bodies, are united to Christ, and are his care and charge; and which union remains in death, and by virtue of it the bodies of the saints will be raised at the last day: so that there may be the strongest assurance, that such will God bring with him; either God the Father will bring them with his Son, or Jehovah the Son will bring them with himself; he will raise them from the dead, and unite them to their souls, or spirits, he will bring with him; the consideration of which may serve greatly to mitigate and abate sorrow for deceased friends.

c Shebet Juda, p. 294. Ed. Gent.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again - That is, if we believe this, we ought also to believe that those who have died in. the faith of Jesus will be raised from the dead. The meaning is not that the fact of the resurrection depends on our believing that Jesus rose, but that the death and resurrection of the Saviour were connected with the resurrection of the saints; that the one followed from the other, and that the one was as certain as the other. The doctrine of the resurrection of the saints so certainly follows from that of the resurrection of Christ, that, if the one is believed, the other ought to be also; see the notes on 1 Corinthians 15:12-14.

Which sleep in Jesus - A most beautiful expression. It is not merely that they have calm repose - like a gentle slumber - in the hope of awaking again, but that this is “in Jesus” - or “through” (διὰ dia) him; that is, his death and resurrection are the cause of their quiet and calm repose. They do not “sleep” in paganism, or in infidelity, or in the gloom of atheism - but in the blessed hope which Jesus has imparted. They lie, as he did, in the tomb - free from pain and sorrow, and with the certainty of being raised up again.

They sleep in Jesus, and are bless’d,

How kind their slumbers are;

From sufferings and from sin released,

And freed from every snare.

When, therefore, we think of the death of saints, let us think of what Jesus was in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. Such is the sleep of our pious friends now in the grave; such will be our own when we die.

Will God bring with him - This does not mean that God will bring them with him from heaven when the Saviour comes - though it will be true that their spirits will descend with the Saviour; but it means that he will bring them from their graves, and will conduct them with him to glory, to be with him; compare notes, John 14:3. The declaration, as it seems to me, is designed to teach the general truth that the redeemed are so united with Christ that they shall share the same destiny as he does. As the head was raised, so will all the members be. As God brought Christ from the grave, so will he bring them; that is, his resurrection made it certain that they would rise. It is a great and universal truth that God will bring all from their graves who “sleep in Jesus;” or that they shall all rise. The apostle does not, therefore, refer so much to the time when this would occur - meaning that it would happen when the Lord Jesus should return - as to the fact that there was an established connection between him and his people, which made it certain that if they died united with him by faith, they would be as certainly brought from the grave as he was.

If, however, it means, as Prof. Bush (Anastasis, pp. 266, 267) supposes, that they will be brought with him from heaven, or will accompany him down, it does not prove that there must have been a previous resurrection, for the full force of the language would be met by the supposition that their spirits had ascended to heaven, and would be brought with him to be united to their bodies when raised. If this be the correct interpretation, then there is probably an allusion to such passages as the following, representing the coming of the Lord accompanied by his saints. “The Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.” Zechariah 14:5. “And Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh, with thousand of his saints;” Jude 1:14. “Who,” says President Dwight (Serm. 164), “are those whom God will bring with Him at this time? Certainly not the bodies of his saints ... The only answer is, he will bring with him ‘the spirits of just men made perfect.’”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again — ει γαρ. Seeing that we believe; knowing that the resurrection of Christ is as fully authenticated as his death.

Even so them — It necessarily follows that them who sleep-die, in him-in the faith of the Gospel, will God bring with him-he will raise them up as Jesus was raised from the dead, in the same manner, i.e. by his own eternal power and energy; and he will bring them with him-with Christ, for he is the head of the Church, which is his body.


 
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