1Th 4:13 | TNotes | STEP | 4:13 the believers who have died (literally those who have fallen asleep; also in 4:14 ): Sleep was a common euphemism for death in Greek, Jewish, and Christian literature (Dan 12:2 ; Matt 27:52 ). Personal existence continues after death (Luke 23:40-43 ; Acts 7:55-60 ; 2 Cor 5:6-10 ; Phil 1:20-24 ; Rev 6:9-11 ); those who have died await the resurrection (1 Cor 15:23 ). • grieve like people who have no hope: Ancient letters of comfort exhorted mourners not to be overcome with grief because they could do nothing to avert death. Paul does not prohibit grief (cp. John 16:6 , 20 ; Phil 2:27 ) but calls Christian mourners to abandon the kind of grief typical of those who have no hope in God.

a4:13►

b4:14►

cDan 12:2►

dMatt 27:52►

eLuke 23:40-43►

fActs 7:55-60►

g2 Cor 5:6-10►

hPhil 1:20-24►

iRev 6:9-11►

j1 Cor 15:23►

kJohn 16:6►

l20►

mPhil 2:27►

‏ 1 Thessalonians 4:13

4:13 ^a the believers who have died (literally those who have fallen asleep; also in 4:14 ^b): Sleep was a common euphemism for death in Greek, Jewish, and Christian literature (Dan 12:2 ^c; Matt 27:52 ^d). Personal existence continues after death (Luke 23:40-43 ^e; Acts 7:55-60 ^f; 2 Cor 5:6-10 ^g; Phil 1:20-24 ^h; Rev 6:9-11 ⁱ); those who have died await the resurrection (1 Cor 15:23 ^j).

• grieve like people who have no hope: Ancient letters of comfort exhorted mourners not to be overcome with grief because they could do nothing to avert death. Paul does not prohibit grief (cp. John 16:6 ^k, 20 ^l; Phil 2:27 ^m) but calls Christian mourners to abandon the kind of grief typical of those who have no hope in God.