1 Thessalonians 4
New Catholic Bible
God Wills Your Sanctification[a]
Chapter 4
Respect for the Body.[b] 1 Finally, brethren, you learned from us how you ought to live so that you may be pleasing to God—and as you are indeed doing. Now we ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus to do so even more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3 It is the will of God that you should lead a life of sanctity. You must refrain from sexual immorality. 4 Each of you must learn to acquire a wife from pure and honorable motives, 5 not to gratify passion[c] like the Gentiles who do not know God. 6 No one is ever to wrong or take advantage of a brother in this regard.
As we have previously instructed you and solemnly warned you, the Lord is the avenger in all this. 7 For God has called us to holiness, not to impurity. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects these instructions[d] rejects not human authority but the God who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.
An Honorable Life.[e] 9 In respect to brotherly love, there is no necessity to write to you about that, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. 10 And indeed you have shown your love to all the brethren throughout Macedonia. However, we urge you, brethren, to make even greater progress in this regard.
11 Strive to live quietly, to attend to your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you.[f] 12 In this way, you will earn the respect of outsiders and not have to be dependent on anyone.
13 The Dead and the Living at the Lord’s Coming.[g] We do not wish you to be uncertain, brethren, about those who have fallen asleep.[h] You should not grieve as do those who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so too do we believe that God will bring forth with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
15 Indeed, we can assure you, on the word of the Lord himself, that we who are still alive at the coming of the Lord will not have any advantage over those who have fallen asleep.[i] 16 When the command is given, at the sound of the archangel’s voice and the call of God’s trumpet, the Lord himself will descend from heaven, and those who have died in Christ will be the first to rise.
17 Then those of us who are still alive and are left will be caught up[j] together with them on clouds in the air to meet the Lord. And so, we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore, comfort one another[k] with these words.
Footnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Conversion to Christ involves a total rejection of the values and the way of life that one previously led. Speaking of sanctification and holiness in Biblical language, we are conscious of being in the presence of the Lord. This gives new value to the destiny, action, and relationships of human beings—nothing is any longer lost in insignificance. In his correspondence, Paul always underlines some important traits for one’s way of life, in keeping with the needs of the community. He does so usually by way of a warm exhortation, but sometimes also by way of a warning. The Christian life is a journey toward a goal: union with God in Christ.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1 In the language of the period, two interpretations are possible: that each person should take a spouse in order to live honorably (see 1 Cor 7:2); or that each should exercise self-control and self-respect. In either case, and in light of the dissolute morals of the period, the affirmation of marriage and of sexual morality was a rejection of a meaningless and sordid existence. Paul has a high idea of human beings, for he views them in the call of God addressed to him. The effort of Christians arises from living ties with the divine Persons.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:5 Acquire a wife . . . gratify passion: another possible translation is: “control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable and not to succumb to lustful passion.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:8 Instructions: this word does not necessarily refer to the sayings of Jesus but rather to guidelines set forth in the Holy Spirit.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:9 God pours the Spirit into the hearts of believers and that Spirit guides them in God’s ways. However, other questions remain: certain Christians, awaiting the imminent coming of the Lord, experience a crisis of laziness (see 2 Thes 3:6-12); they must be seriously reminded of the personal and social life, without which love is but a futile word.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:11 The early Church strongly believed in the need of Christians to earn their living. However, some of the converts—possibly as a result of their belief in Christ’s imminent return (see 2 Thes 3:11)—were not working and so were letting others support them.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13 We are now at the heart of the Letter. Some Christians of Thessalonica have a few difficulties. One or other believer has died, and they cannot shake the image of those beautiful cemeteries built at the edge of cities like “high places” of despair. Christ must appear; this definitive coming mobilizes the hope of all; but will not Christians who have died be deprived of this grand and triumphant coming?
In speaking of this resurrection, Paul uses the images and symbols of the Jewish apocalypses, just as in describing the return of Christ he compares it to the “parousias” or official visits of the emperors to the great cities, where the people escorted them in a lengthy procession. The scene has its grandeur, but the essential is to be found elsewhere: the solid conviction of believers that they are with Christ forever. These words sum up the final message of Christian hope. - 1 Thessalonians 4:13 Those who have fallen asleep: sleep was an especially apt metaphor for death, since the finality and horror of death disappear in the assurance of the resurrection.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:15 Here Paul seems to be hoping that the parousia would take place within his own lifetime. We can say that while entertaining the possibility of his own death (see 2 Tim 4:6-8) and not wanting to go against Christ’s teaching about the date of the parousia (see Mt 24:48; 25:5; Lk 19:11-27), Paul (and all the first Christians) reckoned on the prospect of remaining alive until Christ’s return (Rom 13:11; 1 Cor 7:26, 29; 10:11; 15:51-52; 16:22; Phil 4:5). The word of the Lord: this may refer to a special revelation or simply be a general reference to the teachings of Jesus.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Will be caught up: literally, “will be carried away,” which in the Vulgate is translated by rapiemur. This Latin word has given birth to the idea of the “Rapture,” i.e., that believers will be carried away from the troubles of this world. It simply means that those who are alive on the Last Day will not have to die; they will be transformed.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:18 Comfort one another: vv. 13-18 are not primarily intended to provide a chronology of future events but rather to urge the Thessalonians to comfort one another.
1 Thessalonians 4
New English Translation
A Life Pleasing to God
4 Finally then, brothers and sisters,[a] we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us about how[b] you must live and please God (as you are in fact living)[c] that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is God’s will: that you become holy,[d] that you keep away from sexual immorality, 4 that each of you know how to possess his own body[e] in holiness and honor, 5 not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God. 6 In this matter no one should violate the rights of his brother or take advantage of him,[f] because the Lord is the avenger in all these cases,[g] as we also told you earlier and warned you solemnly. 7 For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness. 8 Consequently the one who rejects this is not rejecting human authority[h] but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
9 Now on the topic of brotherly love[i] you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. 10 And indeed you are practicing it toward all the brothers and sisters[j] in all of Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,[k] 11 to aspire to lead a quiet life, to attend to your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you. 12 In this way you will live[l] a decent life before outsiders and not be in need.[m]
The Lord Returns for Believers
13 Now we do not want you to be uninformed,[n] brothers and sisters,[o] about those who are asleep,[p] so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that[q] God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians.[r] 15 For we tell you this by the word of the Lord,[s] that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel,[t] and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left,[u] will be suddenly caught up[v] together[w] with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Footnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1 sn As you received instruction from us about how (Grk “as you received from us how”). The Greek word translated received is used for accepting instructions passed on as fixed traditions from teacher to follower. Paul speaks in these terms about doctrinal traditions as well as ethical instruction that he passes on to his converts and expects them to keep (cf. 1 Cor 11:2, 23; 15:1-3; Gal 1:9; Phil 4:9; 2 Thess 2:15; 3:6).
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1 tc This parenthetical clause is absent in several later witnesses (D2 Ψ 1175 1241 2464vid M al), but it may have been expunged for sounding redundant. The longer text, in this instance, is solidly supported by א A B D* F G 0183vid 0278 33 81 104 326 365 629 al co and should be unquestionably preferred.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:3 tn Or “your sanctification.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:4 tn Grk “to gain [or possess] his own vessel.” “Vessel” is most likely used figuratively for “body” (cf. 2 Cor 4:7). Some take it to mean “wife” (thus, “to take a wife for himself” or “to live with his wife”), but this is less likely. See J. Smith, “1 Thess 4:4—Breaking the Impasse,” BBR 10 (Fall 2000), who argues that “vessel” in this context is very likely a euphemism for the sexual organs.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:6 tn Grk “not to transgress against or defraud his brother in the matter,” continuing the sentence of vv. 3-5.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:6 tn Grk “concerning all these things.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:8 tn Grk “rejecting man.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:9 tn Grk “concerning brotherly love.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:10 tn Grk “brothers”; this applies to the second occurrence as well. See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:10 sn To do so more and more. See a similar phrase in 1 Thess 4:1.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:12 tn Grk “that you may live,” continuing the sentence of 4:10b-11.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:12 tn Or “not be dependent on anyone”; Grk “and have need of nothing,” “of no one.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13 tn Grk “ignorant.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13 tc Most witnesses have the perfect participle κεκοιμημένων here (“who have fallen asleep” [D (F G) Ψ 1241 1505 1881 2464 M al]), but the present participle κοιμωμένων (“who are asleep”) is better supported by early and significant mss (א A B 0278 33 81 1175 1739 al) and should be considered the Ausgangstext. tn The verb κοιμάω (koimaō) literally means “sleep,” but it is often used in the Bible as a euphemism for death when speaking of believers. This metaphorical usage by its very nature emphasizes the hope of resurrection: Believers will one day “wake up” out of death. Here the term refers to death, but “sleep” was used in the translation to emphasize the metaphorical, rhetorical usage of the term. This word also occurs in vv. 14 and 15.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:14 tn “we believe that” is understood from the first clause of the verse, which is parallel. Grk “so also God will bring.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:14 tn Grk “those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.” It is possible that “through Jesus” describes “bring,” but this gives the unlikely double reference, “through Jesus God will bring them with Jesus.” Instead it describes their “falling sleep,” since through him their death is only sleep and not the threat it once was. Also Christians are those whose total existence—life and death—is in and through and for Christ (1 Cor 8:6).
- 1 Thessalonians 4:15 sn The word of the Lord is a technical expression in OT literature, often referring to a divine prophetic utterance (e.g., Gen 15:1, Isa 1:10, Jonah 1:1). In the NT it occurs 15 times: 3 times as ῥῆμα τοῦ κυρίου (rhēma tou kuriou; Luke 22:61, Acts 11:16, 1 Pet 1:25) and 12 times as λόγος τοῦ κυρίου (logos tou kuriou; here and in Acts 8:25; 13:44, 48, 49; 15:35, 36; 16:32; 19:10, 20; 1 Thess 1:8; 2 Thess 3:1). As in the OT, this phrase focuses on the prophetic nature and divine origin of what has been said.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16 tn Neither noun in this phrase (ἐν φωνῇ ἀρχαγγέλου, en phōnē archangelou, “with the voice of the archangel”) has the article in keeping with Apollonius’ Canon. Since ἀρχάγγελος (archangelos) is most likely par excellence, both nouns are translated as definite in keeping with Apollonius’ Corollary (see ExSyn 250-51).
- 1 Thessalonians 4:17 tc The words οἱ περιλειπόμενοι (hoi perileipomenoi, “[the ones] who are left”) are lacking in F G 0226vid ar b as well as a few fathers, but the rest of the textual tradition has the words. Most likely, the Western mss omitted the words because of perceived redundancy with οἱ ζῶντες (hoi zōntes, “[the ones] who are alive”).
- 1 Thessalonians 4:17 tn Or “snatched up.” The Greek verb ἁρπάζω implies that the action is quick or forceful, so the translation supplied the adverb “suddenly” to make this implicit notion clear.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:17 tn Or “simultaneously,” but this meaning does not fit as well in the parallel in 5:10.
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