1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
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.
4:14 n The central Christian creed, that Jesus died and was raised to life again, is the foundation for hope in the face of death, guaranteed by the resurrection of Christ (1 Cor 15 o).
• God will bring back refers to the resurrection of believers (1 Thes 4:16 p).
4:15 q directly from the Lord: Jesus’ own teaching provided the source of Paul’s assurance for the Thessalonians (see Matt 24:29-31 r, 40-41 s)
• not ... ahead: Paul wants the Thessalonians to know that, when the Lord returns, the dead will not be at a disadvantage but will participate equally in the resurrection.
• In referring to Jesus’ coming, Paul uses a Greek term (parousia) commonly used to describe the coming of the emperor to a city with great pomp and celebration (see 1 Thes 4:17 t).
4:16 u with the trumpet call of God: God’s trumpet will herald the resurrection, just as it previously announced the rescue of Israel (Zeph 1:16 v; Zech 9:14 w). In the future it will announce the gathering of God’s chosen people from the “farthest ends of the earth and heaven” (Matt 24:31 x; cp. 1 Cor 15:52 y).
4:17 z to meet: This alludes to the custom of sending an official delegation to greet a visiting dignitary and accompany him as he enters the city (Matt 25:6 aa, 10 ab; Acts 28:15-16 ac).
4:18 ad The purpose of Paul’s teaching about the end is so believers will encourage each other in the face of death. He is not promoting speculation about the end times.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-10
5:1 ae Questions such as how and when all this will happen occupied the thoughts of both Jewish and Christian people (Dan 12:6 af; Matt 24:3 ag; Luke 17:20 ah; Acts 1:6 ai; 1 Pet 1:10-11 aj).5:2 ak For you know quite well: Paul reminds them of the teaching they had already received (3:3-4 al).
• The day of the Lord’s return is the time when God will come to judge humanity (Isa 13:6 am, 9 an; Ezek 30:3 ao) and save his people (Joel 2:21-32 ap; 3:18 aq; Zech 14 ar).
• like a thief in the night: Cp. Matt 24:43-44 as; Luke 12:39-40 at; 2 Pet 3:10 au; Rev 3:3 av; 16:15 aw.
5:3 ax “Everything is peaceful and secure”: The expression “peace and safety” was common during the era of the pax Romana (Roman peace). Amid such presumed security, God’s ultimate judgment comes without warning and is inescapable.
5:4 ay The day of the Lord will not surprise believers—not because they know the date of his coming, but because they are spiritually prepared.
5:5 az As children of the light, the Thessalonian believers were saved from darkness (John 12:36 ba; Acts 26:18 bb; Eph 5:8 bc; 1 Pet 2:9 bd).
• of the day: They belong to God’s new order (Rom 13:12 be).
• darkness and night: These refer to an immoral life (see 1 Thes 5:6-8 bf).
5:6 bg Stay alert and be clearheaded echoes Jesus’ call to be morally prepared because the disciples will not know the day of his return (Matt 24:42 bh, 44 bi; 25:13 bj; cp. 1 Pet 1:13 bk).
5:7 bl Sleep refers to moral indifference (5:6 bm), and drunk is a metaphor for those who do not exercise self-control; they will be surprised by the day of the Lord (5:4 bn; Matt 24:48-51 bo).
5:8 bp Armor ... helmet (Isa 59:17 bq; Eph 6:11-17 br): The armament is the moral life (Rom 13:12 bs; 2 Cor 6:7 bt; 10:3-5 bu; 2 Tim 2:3-4 bv). The Christian soldier is equipped with the virtues of faith, love, and confidence (see 1 Thes 1:3 bw; 3:6 bx; 1 Cor 13:13 by; 2 Thes 1:3-4 bz).
5:9 ca God’s anger (1:10 cb; 2:16 cc; Rom 5:9 cd; cp. 2 Thes 1:6-10 ce; 2:8 cf) represents the carrying out of his judgment against evil. However, God destined believers for salvation, not wrath (2 Thes 2:13-14 cg), and they will escape the terrors of the day of the Lord (1 Thes 5:1-3 ch).
5:10 ci The promise that believers will live with him forever is based on Christ’s resurrection (4:14 cj).
• dead or alive: A reference to living and deceased believers (4:13-15 ck) rather than people’s moral condition (as in 5:6-7 cl).
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