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Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 4 verses 13–18
In these words the apostle comforts the Thessalonians who mourned for the death of their relations and friends that died in the Lord. His design is to dissuade them from excessive grief, or inordinate sorrow, on that account. All grief for the death of friends is far from being unlawful; we may weep at least for ourselves if we do not weep for them, weep for own loss, though it may be their fain. Yet we must not be immoderate in our sorrows, because,
I. This looks as if we had no hope, Th1 4:13. It is to act too much like the Gentiles, who had no hope of a better life after this; whereas we Christians, who have a most sure hope, the hope of eternal life after this, which God who cannot lie hath promised us, should moderate all our joys and our sorrows on account of any worldly thing. This hope is more than enough to balance all our griefs upon account of any of the crosses of the present time.
II. This is an effect of ignorance concerning those who are dead, Th1 4:13. There are some things which we cannot be ignorant of concerning those that are asleep; for the land they are removed to is a land of darkness, which we know but little of and have no correspondence with. To go among the dead is to go among we know not whom, and to live we know not how. Death is an unknown thing, and the state of the dead, or the state after death, we are much in the dark about; yet there are some things concerning those especially who die in the Lord that we need not, and ought not, to be ignorant of; and, if these things be really understood and duly considered, they will be sufficient to allay our sorrow concerning them.
1.They sleep in Jesus. They are asleep, Th1 4:13. They have fallen asleep in Christ, Co1 15:18. Death does not annihilate them. It is but a sleep to them. It is their rest, and undisturbed rest. They have retired out of this troublesome world, to rest from all their labours and sorrows, and they sleep in Jesus, Th1 4:14. Being still in union with him, they sleep in his arms and are under his special care and protection. Their souls are in his presence, and their dust is under his care and power; so that they are not lost, nor are they losers, but great gainers by death, and their removal out of this world is into a better.
2.They shall be raised up from the dead, and awakened out of their sleep, for God will bring them with him, Th1 4:14. They then are with God, and are better where they are than when they were here; and when God comes he will bring them with him. The doctrine of the resurrection and the second coming of Christ is a great antidote against the fear of death and inordinate sorrow for the death of our Christian friends; and this doctrine we have a full assurance of, because we believe that Jesus died and rose again, Th1 4:14. It is taken for granted that as Christians they knew and believed this. The death and resurrection of Christ are fundamental articles of the Christian religion, and give us hope of a joyful resurrection; for Christ, having risen from the dead, has become the first fruits of those that slept; and therefore those who have fallen asleep in him have not perished nor are lost, Co1 15:18, Co1 15:20. His resurrection is a full confirmation of all that is said in the gospel, or by the word of the Lord, which has brought life and immortality to light.
3.Their state and condition shall be glorious and happy at the second coming of Christ. This the apostle informs the Thessalonians of by the word of the Lord (Th1 4:15), by divine revelation from the Lord Jesus; for though the resurrection of the dead, and a future state of blessedness, were part of the creed of the Old Testament saints, yet they are much more clearly revealed in and by the gospel. By this word of the Lord we know, (1.) That the Lord Jesus will come down from heaven in all the pomp and power of the upper world (Th1 4:16): The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout. He ascended into heaven after his resurrection, and passed through these material heavens into the third heaven, which must retain him till the restitution of all things; and then he will come again, and appear in his glory. He will descend from heaven into this our air, Th1 4:17. The appearance will be with pomp and power, with a shout - the shout of a king, and the power and authority of a mighty king and conqueror, with the voice of the archangel; an innumerable company of angels will attend him. Perhaps one, as general of those hosts of the Lord, will give notice of his approach, and the glorious appearance of this great Redeemer and Judge will be proclaimed and ushered in by the trump of God. For the trumpet shall sound, and this will awaken those that sleep in the dust of the earth, and will summon all the world to appear. For, (2.) The dead shall be raised: The dead in Christ shall rise first (Th1 4:16), before those who are found alive at Christ's coming shall be changed; and so it appears that those who shall then be found alive shall not prevent those that are asleep, Th1 4:15. The first care of the Redeemer in that day will be about his dead saints; he will raise them before the great change passes on those that shall be found alive: so that those who did not sleep in death will have no greater privilege or joy at that day than those who fell asleep in Jesus. (3.) Those that shall be found alive will then be changed. They shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, Th1 4:17. At, or immediately before, this rapture into the clouds, those who are alive will undergo a mighty change, which will be equivalent to dying. This change is so mysterious that we cannot comprehend it: we know little or nothing of it, Co1 15:51. Only, in the general, this mortal must put on immortality, and these bodies will be made fit to inherit the kingdom of God, which flesh and blood in its present state are not capable of. This change will be in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye (Co1 15:52), in the very instant, or not long after the raising up of those that sleep in Jesus. And those who are raised, and thus changed, shall meet together in the clouds, and there meet with their Lord, to congratulate him on his coming, to receive the crown of glory he will then bestow upon them, and to be assessors with him in judgment, approving and applauding the sentence he will then pass upon the prince of the power of the air, and all the wicked, who shall be doomed to destruction with the devil and his angels. (4.) Here is the bliss of the saints at that day: they shall be ever with the Lord, Th1 4:17. It will be some part of their felicity that all the saints shall meet together, and remain together for ever; but the principal happiness of heaven is this, to be with the Lord, to see him, live with him, and enjoy him, for ever. This should comfort the saints upon the death of their friends, that, although death has made a separation, yet their souls and bodies will meet again; we and they shall meet together again: we and they shall meet together again: we and they with all the saints shall meet our Lord, and be with him for ever, no more to be separated wither from him or from one another for ever. And the apostle would have us comfort one another with these words, Th1 4:18. We should endeavour to support one another in times of sorrow, not deaden one another's spirits, nor weaken one another's hands, but should comfort one another; and this may be done by serious consideration and discourse on the many good lessons to be learned from the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, the second coming of Christ, and the glory of the saints in that day.
"Wherefore comfort one another with these words."
"Who shall speak of the mightinesses of the Lord, and make all His praises to be heard?" (Ps. cvi. 2, Sept) How many blessings has He vouchsafed to the human race! Those who are dead are raised first, and thus the meeting takes place together. So that they in this respect will have no advantage, but he who is corrupted, and has been so many years in the earth, shall meet Him with them, and so all the others. For if they awaited us, that we might be crowned, as elsewhere he says in an Epistle, "God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect" (Heb. xi. 40), much more shall we also await them; or rather, they indeed awaited, but we not at all. For the Resurrection takes place "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye."
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SUMMARY
The Apostle Paul concludes his profound teaching on the resurrection of believers and the Lord's return by urging the Thessalonian Christians to actively comfort one another with the eschatological truths he has just revealed. This verse serves as a pastoral imperative, emphasizing that the hope of Christ's second coming and the future reunion with deceased loved ones is not merely theological doctrine but a powerful, communal source of solace and encouragement in the face of grief and uncertainty.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs Imperative Mood ("comfort"), which functions as a direct command, underscoring the urgency and importance of Paul's instruction. This imperative is immediately followed by a Reciprocal Pronoun ("one another"), highlighting the communal and mutual nature of the action. The phrase "with these words" serves as a Referential Pointer, directing the reader back to the specific theological content that forms the foundation of the comfort, thereby emphasizing the Didactic purpose of the preceding passage. The verse also functions as a Summary Exhortation, encapsulating the practical application of the eschatological teaching.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Thessalonians 4:18 profoundly connects the certainty of future eschatological events—the resurrection of the dead in Christ and the Lord's glorious return—with the present-day pastoral responsibility of believers. It establishes that Christian hope is not a passive expectation but an active, shared resource for enduring grief and uncertainty. The passage elevates the truth of Christ's ultimate victory over death and His promise of eternal fellowship with His people as the supreme source of comfort, far surpassing any worldly consolation. This truth transforms sorrow into hope, not by denying the pain of loss, but by placing it within the larger, glorious narrative of God's redemptive plan.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse offers a timeless and deeply practical directive for the Christian community. In a world permeated by loss, fear, and uncertainty, the command to "comfort one another with these words" reminds us that the most profound and lasting solace comes from the revealed truths of God concerning our eternal future. It calls us to be active ministers of hope, not just recipients. When we encounter fellow believers who are grieving, anxious, or struggling with the reality of death, our primary response should be to remind them of Christ's victory over the grave, the promise of resurrection, and the certainty of being forever with the Lord and with one another. This isn't about offering trite platitudes, but about grounding our comfort in the unshakeable promises of God, thereby strengthening faith and fostering a resilient hope that transcends earthly sorrow. It encourages us to internalize these truths so deeply that they become the wellspring from which we draw and share comfort.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does Paul mean by "these words"?
Answer: By "these words," Paul is directly referring to the detailed explanation he has just provided in the preceding verses, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17. This passage describes the future resurrection of deceased believers, their reunion with living believers, and the collective meeting of all believers with the Lord in the air, followed by their eternal presence with Him. The comfort is specifically rooted in these revealed truths about the Lord's return and the destiny of His people.
Why was this comfort necessary for the Thessalonian believers?
Answer: The Thessalonian believers were experiencing grief and anxiety over fellow Christians who had died, fearing that these individuals might miss out on the blessings of Christ's anticipated return. As new converts from paganism, they likely lacked a clear understanding of the Christian doctrine of resurrection and eternal life. Paul's teaching was therefore vital to alleviate their sorrow and provide them with a sure hope, assuring them that those who had died in Christ would indeed participate fully in His glorious return and eternal fellowship.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While 1 Thessalonians 4:18 directly speaks of comforting one another with the hope of Christ's return, its ultimate fulfillment and power are deeply rooted in the person and work of Jesus Christ Himself. The "words" of comfort are not abstract theological concepts but promises made possible by Christ's own resurrection from the dead, which serves as the firstfruits and guarantee of our own future resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). Jesus conquered death and the grave, and it is His sovereign power that will call forth the dead and transform the living (Philippians 3:20-21). The promise of being "forever with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:17) is the ultimate expression of the believer's union with Christ, a union established through His atoning sacrifice on the cross and secured by His resurrection and ascension. Thus, the comfort we share is not merely a future hope, but a present reality grounded in the finished work of the "resurrection and the life" (John 11:25), Jesus Christ, who is Himself the very embodiment of the "blessed hope" (Titus 2:13).