Bible Commentaries
1 Thessalonians 4

Verse 1

1 Thessalonians 5:22 [For Structures see below]. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 beseech . App-134 .

exhort . App-134 .

by . App-104 .

Lord . App-98 .

Jesus . App-98 .

that = in order that. Greek. hina .

God . App-98 .

more and more = the more.

Verse 2

know . App-132 .

commandments . Greek. parangelia. Compare 1 Timothy 1:18 (charge).

Lord . App-98 .

Verse 3

will . App-102 .

sanctification . Greek. hagiasmos. See Romans 6:19 .

abstain . Greek. apechomai. See Acts 15:20 .

Verse 4

every = each.

possess . Greek. ktaomai. See Luke 21:19 .

his = his own.

vessel . Greek. skeuos . Compare 1 Peter 3:7 .

Verse 5

lust . Greek. pathos. See Romans 1:26 . The Revised Version renders it "passion".

concupiscence = lust, or desire.

Gentiles = Gentiles also.

Verse 6

no man = that he (should) not ( App-105 ).

go beyond . Greek. huperbaino. Only here.

defraud . Greek. pleonekteo. See 2 Corinthians 2:11 .

any = the.

avenger . Greek. ekdikos. Only here and Romans 13:4 .

of = concerning. App-104 .

such = such (sins).

also have forewarned = forewarned also. Greek. proeipo. Only here; Acts 1:16 . Galatians 1:5 , Galatians 1:21 .

testified . Greek. diamarturomai. See Acts 2:40 .

Verse 7

hath . Omit.

unto . App-104 .

unto . App-104 .

holiness . Same as "sanctification", 1 Thessalonians 4:3 .

Verse 8

despiseth . Greek. atheteo. See John 12:48 .

man . App-123 .

hath also given . The texts read "giveth".

unto . App-104 .

us . The texts read "you".

holy Spirit . Though there are two articles, the reference is to the gifts of Acts 2:4 , the Spirit being always the Giver. App-101 .

Verse 9

as touching . App-104 .

brotherly love . Greek. Philadelphia. See Romans 12:10 .

unto = to.

taught of God . Greek. theodidaktos. Only here.

love . App-135 .

Verse 10

toward . App-104 .

beseech . Same as "exhort", 1 Thessalonians 4:1 .

increase . Same as "abound", 1 Thessalonians 4:1 .

Verse 11

study . Greek. philotimeomai. See Romans 15:20 .

be quiet . Greek. hesuchazo. See Luke 23:56 .

do, &c . = attend to your own affairs. Compare 2 Thessalonians 3:11 .

commanded . Greek. parangello. See Acts 1:4 .

Verse 12

honestly . Greek. euschemonos. See Romans 13:13 .

them that are without . Compare 1 Corinthians 5:12 , 1 Corinthians 5:13 .Colossians 4:5 .

nothing . Greek. medeis.

Verse 13

I . Texts read "we".

would . App-102 .

have you, &c . See Romans 1:13 .

concerning . App-104 .

asleep = falling asleep. App-171 .

others = the rest. App-124 . Add "also".

no = not, as 1 Thessalonians 4:5 .

Verse 14

For . Greek. gar .

if . App-118 .

believe . App-150 .

rose again . App-178 .

even so them also . Read "so ( we believe) also that them".

sleep = are fallen asleep.

in Jesus = through ( App-104 . 1 Thessalonians 4:1 ) Jesus. This stands in the Greek between the words "sleep" and "bring". To which does it belong? "Sleep in Jesus" is an expression not found elsewhere. In 1 Thessalonians 4:16 the "dead in Christ" are spoken of, with which may be compared 1 Corinthians 15:18 . And the proper meaning of dia with the Genitive is "through", though it is wrongly translated "in" Matthew 26:61 .Mark 14:58 . 1 Timothy 2:15 .Hebrews 7:9 ; Hebrews 13:22 , and "among" 2 Timothy 2:2 . The context will show that "through" is the meaning, as the Revised Version renders it in margin. "Through" the Lord Jesus Christ we have peace, reconciliation, sonship, the Holy Spirit's gifts, victory, and many other blessings; Romans 5:1 , Romans 5:10 ; Romans 8:37 . 1 Corinthians 15:57 . 2 Corinthians 5:18 . Ephesians 1:5 .Colossians 1:20 . Titus 3:6 . Death is not a blessing, but an enemy. Inflicted by the Lord (Revelation 2:23 ; Revelation 19:21 ), and permitted by Him, it is the work of the devil (Hebrews 2:14 .Revelation 2:10; Revelation 2:10 ), whose works He came to destroy. It is better, therefore, to take the words "through Jesus" with "bring", and read, "God will through Jesus bring with Him", in harmony with John 5:25 ; John 11:25 .Philippians 1:3 , Philippians 1:21 .

with . App-104 .

Verse 15

the . Omit.

word . App-121 .

remain . Greek. perileipomai. Only here and 1 Thessalonians 4:17 . Is this subsequent to Philippians 1:3 , Philippians 1:11 ?

coming . Compare 1 Thessalonians 2:19 .

prevent = anticipate. Greek. phthano. See Romans 9:31 . "Prevent" meant "go or come before". Now it only means "stand in the way of".

asleep = fallen asleep.

Verse 16

For = Because. Greek. hoti.

heaven . Singular. See Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .

shout = word of command. Greek. keleusma. Only here in NT. In the Septuagint in Proverbs 30:27 , the rendering of which is, The locust has no king, yet it marches orderly at one word of command.

archangel . Only here and in Jude 1:9 , where he is called Michael, which connects this event with Daniel 12:1 .

trump . Compare Matthew 24:31 and 1 Corinthians 15:52 .

the dead . App-139 .

Christ . App-98 .

Verse 17

Then . Greek. epeita, thereupon, thereafter.

caught up . Greek. harpazo. See Acts 8:39 . 2 Corinthians 12:2 , 2 Corinthians 12:4 .Revelation 12:5 .

together . Greek. hama.

the . Omit.

meet . Greek. See Matthew 25:1 .

in . App-104 .

so . i.e. by resurrection, or translation.

ever . App-151 .

Verse 18

Wherefore = So then.

comfort . Same as "beseech", 1 Thessalonians 4:10 .