1 Finally then, brothers, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, that you abound more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, 4 that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who don't know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother or sister in this matter; because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified. 7 For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification. 8 Therefore he who rejects this doesn't reject man, but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to you. 9 But concerning brotherly love, you have no need that one write to you. For you yourselves are taught by God to love one another, 10 for indeed you do it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brothers, that you abound more and more; 11 and that you make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, even as we instructed you; 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and may have need of nothing. 13 But we don't want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don't grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left to the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God's trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, 17 then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Analysis Of The Chapter
This chapter, properly, comprises two parts: First, various practical exhortations, 1-Thessalonians 4:1-12; and secondly, suggestions designed to console those who have been bereaved; 1-Thessalonians 4:13-18
The first part embraces the following topics:
(1) An exhortation to increase and abound in the Christian virtues which they had already manifested; 1-Thessalonians 4:1-2.
(2) a particular exhortation on the subject of sanctification 1-Thessalonians 4:3-8, in which two points are specified, probably as illustrations of the general subject, and embracing those in regard to which they were exposed to special danger. The first was fornication, the other was fraud.
(3) an exhortation to brotherly love; 1-Thessalonians 4:9-10.
(4) an exhortation to quiet industry, and to honesty in their dealings. particularly with those who were Christians; 1-Thessalonians 4:11-12.
The second part is designed to comfort the Thessalonians who had been bereaved; 1-Thessalonians 4:13-18. Some of their number had died. They appear to have been beloved members of the church, and dear friends of those to whom the apostle wrote. To console them he brings into view the doctrine of the second coming of the Saviour, and the truth that they would be raised up to live with him for ever. He reminds them that those who had died were "asleep" - reposing in a gentle slumber, as if they were to be awakened again 1-Thessalonians 4:13; that they should not sorrow as they did who have no hope 1-Thessalonians 4:13; that if they believed that Jesus died and rose again, they ought to believe that God would raise up all those who sleep in Jesus 1-Thessalonians 4:14; that in the last day they would rise before the living should be changed, and that the living would not be taken up to heaven and leave their departed friends in their graves 1-Thessalonians 4:15-16, and that both the living and the dead would be raised up to heaven and would be forever with the Lord 1-Thessalonians 4:17. With this prospect, they had every ground of comfort which they could desire, and they should sustain each other in their trials by this bright hope; 1-Thessalonians 4:18.
The apostle exhorts them to attend to the directions which he had already given them, that they might know how to walk and please God, 1-Thessalonians 4:1, 1-Thessalonians 4:2. Gives them exhortations concerning continence, chastity, and matrimonial fidelity, 1-Thessalonians 4:3-8. Speaks concerning their love to each other, and love to the Churches of Christ; and exhorts them to continue and increase in it, 1-Thessalonians 4:9, 1-Thessalonians 4:10. Counsels them to observe an inoffensive conduct, to mind their own affairs, to do their own business, and to live honestly, 1-Thessalonians 4:11, 1-Thessalonians 4:12. Not to sorrow for the dead, as persons who have no hope of a resurrection; because to Christians the resurrection of Christ is a proof of the resurrection of his followers, 1-Thessalonians 4:13, 1-Thessalonians 4:14. Gives a short but awful description of the appearing of Christ to judge the world, 1-Thessalonians 4:15.
INTRODUCTION TO 1 THESSALONIANS 4
In this chapter the apostle proceeds to exhort in general to the performance of good works, particularly to purity of life, to brotherly love, to quietness, diligence, and industry in the several callings of life, and not to mourn in an excessive and immoderate manner for deceased friends; which leads him to say some things concerning the second coming of Christ, and the resurrection of the dead. The general exhortation to holiness is in 1-Thessalonians 4:1 which is pressed in a way of entreaty for the sake of Christ; and the duties urged to were the commandments of Christ, and which the apostles had given them, and they had received, and were well acquainted with; and besides, a walk according to these commands was well pleasing to God, and sanctification in general was his will: and in particular the apostle exhorts to abstain from fornication, and all uncleanness; since it is a dishonouring the body of man; acting the part of the ignorant Gentiles that know not God; a defrauding another man, as is uncleanness with another man's wife; the vengeance of God will light on such; it is contrary to that calling with which the saints are called, that being to holiness, and not uncleanness; and to despise this exhortation, is casting contempt, not upon man, but God himself, 1-Thessalonians 4:4. Brotherly love is the next thing exhorted to, which seemed needless to write about, since, in regeneration, these saints were taught to exercise it, and had exercised it towards all the brethren throughout Macedonia, though it was necessary to exhort them to abound more and more in it, 1-Thessalonians 4:9 and to study peace and quietness, and be industrious in their business, that so they might live an honest life among their carnal neighbours, and not be in want of anything from them, 1-Thessalonians 4:11 and whereas some of them had lost some of their dear friends and relations by death, and were ready to exceed due bounds in their sorrow for them, he dehorts from such immoderate sorrow, as being like that of those that had no hope of a resurrection from the dead; whereas, seeing it was an article of their faith, that Christ was risen from the dead, they might assure themselves that those that sleep in him shall be brought along with him when he shall appear a second time, 1-Thessalonians 4:13 which will not be prevented by those that are alive when Christ comes; for as they will be changed, the dead in Christ will be raised at his coming; which coming of his will be in person, from heaven, with a shout, the voice of the archangel, and trump of God; and then both shall be caught up together to meet him in the air, and be for ever with him; and therefore they had no need to sorrow as others, since they should meet again, and never part more, and with which words they should comfort one another under their present loss, 1-Thessalonians 4:15.
(1-Thessalonians 4:1-8) Exhortations to purity and holiness.
(1-Thessalonians 4:9-12) To brotherly love, peaceable behaviour, and diligence.
(1-Thessalonians 4:13-18) Not to sorrow unduly for the death of godly relations and friends, considering the glorious resurrection of their bodies at Christ's second coming.
SUMMARY.--Continence Commanded. Brotherly Love Required. Each Should Quietly Follow His Own Business. Not to Sorrow Without Hope for the Dead. They, as well as the Living Saints, shall Meet the Lord at His Coming.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.