1 Thessalonians 4 ESV
1 Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so 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 control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. 9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming [Parousia] of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And 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, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Discussion Questions
What lifestyle behaviors was the Apostle Paul expecting the Thessalonian brethren to have?
What was the Apostle Paul’s end-time scenario that he shared with the Thessalonian brethren?
Discussion Summary
Question 1:
Paul is emphasizing the importance of a proper lifestyle to the believers in Thessalonica. He calls this their “sanctification.” Sanctification means to be set apart for holy service.” Jewish priests could not serve in the tabernacle or in the temple if they were in a ritually impure condition.
Paul is not just commanding the believers to abstain from sexual immorality but to develop holy behaviour. This even goes so far as to “live quietly” meaning that they should not aspire to greatness, but they should aspire to humility and to be content in the background. Believers are answerable to God and he sees us at all times.
Other translations of verses 4 and 5 indicate Paul gave counsel to these believers on how they can live in holiness. “…that each of you shall know how to procure himself a wife in purity and honour.” (Weymouth translation)
Question 2:
Paul is emphasizing the Lord’s return. This doctrine is mentioned in every chapter of 1 Thessalonians.
Paul is adding to this understanding that was first spoken of by Jesus. An example is Matthew 24:1-31, “And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” These verses should be carefully read to note the timing of each event.
Jesus ‘s own death and resurrection led to not only greater understanding of this doctrine but it also led to greater faith in its fulfillment. See 1 Corinthians 15. “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:17-19)
The brethren in Thessalonica seem to have been shaken by recent deaths of Christians. They had been expecting the Lord’s return to happen first. They were trying to fit these deaths into the scenario of the Lord’s return. Would those who die prior to his return receive their reward at Christ’s return or would they just be resurrected at the general resurrection? Paul by revelation (verse 15) assures the brethren that those who died would be rewarded with Christ at his return. They would be “forever with the Lord.”
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