4:1 brothers See note on 1:4.

4:2 through the Lord Jesus Paul’s following instruction about sexual immorality is not a matter of human philosophy. As an apostle, he speaks on behalf of Christ.

4:3 will of God God makes His desires known to His people so they will display His character to the world.

sanctification The Greek word used here, hagiasmos, refers to the process of becoming holy. This process involves dedicating oneself to serving God by loving Him and others, and it results in moral purity. In this context, Paul’s primary concern is for the Thessalonians to avoid sexual immorality.

sexual immorality The Greek word used here, porneia, refers to all sexual immorality, not just premarital sex or prostitution. The apostles advised Gentile (non-Jewish) believers to abstain from such activity (Acts 15:20). See note on 1 Thess 2:12.

4:4 vessel The Greek word used here, skeuos, can refer to various objects or things (compare 2 Cor 4:7; Heb 9:21). Here it probably functions as a metaphorical reference to the human body. Believers must use their bodies in a manner pleasing to God and abstain from sexual immorality.

sanctification See note on 1 Thess 4:3.

4:6 to exploit The Greek word used here, pleonekteō, refers to taking advantage of someone, especially for financial or material gain. It is possible that Paul is concerned with believers taking advantage of one another in terms of finances. However, the context of the passages suggests that Paul is still addressing the issue of sexual immorality (vv. 2–5). In this case, he is urging believers to avoid taking advantage of each other in sexual matters. Such behavior not only would represent a moral failure, but also would damage the community of believers and its reputation within society.

brother The Greek word adelphos used here includes fellow believers and fellow citizens.

4:7 holiness God is holy and invites us to share in His holiness (Lev 11:45; 20:7; 1 Pet 1:16). See note on 1 Thess 4:3.

4:8 God Paul’s instructions about holiness are based not on human philosophy or tradition, but on God’s holy character as the standard for behavior (e.g., Lev 11:45; 20:7; 1 Pet 1:14–16). God empowers believers to do what He commands through the gift of His Holy Spirit. See note on 1 Thess 4:2.

4:9 brotherly love The Greek word here, philadelphia, originally referred to affection among blood relatives. Christians adopted this word because they considered themselves the family of God.

4:10 Macedonia See note on 1:7.

4:11 live a quiet life By discarding their idols (1:9), the Thessalonians abandoned many of their social, religious, and civic obligations. Since their response to the gospel already disrupted the city, Paul urges them not to make the matter worse.

work with your hands It is possible that some of the believers may have used Christ’s future return as an excuse to stop working. However, the most likely case is that some of the poor believers had stopped being responsible to support themselves. Paul urges them to earn their own living instead of taking advantage of other believers’ wealth.

4:13 those who have fallen asleep In both the ot and nt, as well as in wider Jewish and Graeco-Roman literature, “sleep” serves as a euphemism for death (e.g., Gen 47:30; Psa 13:3; John 11:11–13; Acts 13:36; compare 2 Maccabees 12:45; Homer, Iliad 11.241).

hope The Greek word used here, elpis, does not refer to wishful thinking; it is the confident expectation that God will fulfill what He has promised.

4:14 For if we believe May indicate that this verse was a creedal statement of the early church (compare 1 Cor 15:3–4).

bring those who have fallen asleep The Thessalonians were troubled about the state of believers who died before the Lord’s return. Compare the ancient works Psalms of Solomon 17:50; 4 Ezra 13:24. Paul assures them that these believers are not lost, nor will they miss out on His return; rather, they will be with the Lord and reunited with other believers (1 Thess 5:10). On “fallen asleep,” see v. 13 and note.

4:15 word of the Lord Paul assures the Thessalonians that the hope of Christ’s return and the resurrection of believers are based on God’s promises. These words are intended to console (v. 18).

Lord’s coming See note on 1 Thess 1:10.

fallen asleep See note on v. 13.

4:16 the Lord himself Refers to Jesus. The Greek expression used here emphasizes that this is a personal visitation by the Lord Jesus, not just His angelic messengers.

the voice of the archangel Probably refers to the archangel Michael (see Jude 9). “A shout of command,” “the voice of the archangel,” and “the trumpet of God” may be referring to the same thing—a great acclamation meant to herald the returning King.

Angels in the Bible Table

trumpet of God Announcing the Lord’s arrival. Paul’s language describes a visible and audible event.

dead in Christ will rise first The Thessalonians were concerned that the “dead in Christ” (i.e., believers who died before the Lord’s return) would be excluded from Christ’s return and the blessings of the age to come. However, Paul informs them that those believers will not be lost; in fact, they will precede living believers to resurrection glory. Because of Christ’s resurrection, the Thessalonians will have new bodies that are no longer subject to death (1 Cor 15:52–55). The resurrection is the center of Christian hope.

4:17 snatched away The Greek term used here, harpazō, means “to seize with force” (e.g., Acts 8:39); the emphasis is on reunion with Jesus, not necessarily removal from earth. Believers who are alive during Christ’s return will be forcibly united with Him, no matter what type of interference evil brings. Paul could be suggesting that believers will literally be united with Christ in the air (the rapture view), or simply that believers will be united with Christ in bringing God’s presence, which is in heaven (the “clouds”), fully to earth. Later in 1 Thessalonians 4–5, Paul’s language echoes the ancient idea that gods, like Baal, at times came upon the clouds to bring their message and judgment. Those who join the gods in the clouds are part of the god’s siege: believers could be uniting with Christ in His war on evil. Paul may have also been influenced by works that describe characters being taken up to heaven (such as Gen 5:24 in the Septuagint in reference to Enoch; compare 2 Cor 12:2, 4; and the pseudepigraphal document 4 Ezra 6:26; 14:9).

clouds In the ot, clouds represent theophany—a visible manifestation of God’s presence (e.g., Exod 13:21; 19:16; 24:15–18; 40:34; Num 12:5; Dan 7:13).

Paul and the “Third Heaven”

Theophany in the Old Testament

meeting The Greek term used here, apantēsis, could be used to describe the meeting between a visiting dignitary and the citizens of a city. Its use here likely serves to illuminate Paul’s teaching on the Parousia.

Lord in the air Either believers will meet the Lord in the space immediately above the earth, or they will meet Him as part of His army against evil, or both. The Lord is arriving in the ancient style of god warriors, suggesting that He comes to destroy evil. “Meeting” Him “in the air” (His battle space) could certainly suggest joining Him in His battle. Paul does not say whether believers will return to the earth with Christ or ascend to heaven with Him. He simply states that believers will be with the Lord forever following their reunion with Him in the sky.

we will be together with the Lord Addresses the believers’ primary concern: separation from Christ and other fellow believers. This point is reiterated in 1 Thess 4:18.

4:18 comfort one another with these words Paul’s brief message about Christ’s return is meant to comfort the Thessalonian church with regard to their departed loved ones and reassure them that they will not miss out on the Day of the Lord.