ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for 1 Thessalonians 4

1 Thess. 4:1–5:28 Instruction and Exhortation. Paul gives instructions on pleasing God (4:1–12), the second coming (4:13–5:11), community conduct (5:12–22), and prayer and assurance (5:23–28).

1 Thess. 4:2 instructions. Originally a military word, it usually conveys authoritative commands.

1 Thess. 4:3 that you abstain from sexual immorality. For former pagans, the lure of sexual sins was strong (see 1 Corinthians 5–6). Paul forbids any sexual activity outside of heterosexual marriage (see Eph. 5:3; 1 Pet. 1:15–22).

1 Thess. 4:4 control his own body. The Greek could be translated “take a wife for himself” (see esv footnote). However, in view of vv. 4–5 and 1 Corinthians 7, sexual self-control is more likely the intended meaning.

1 Thess. 4:5 in the passion of lust like the Gentiles. See Rom. 1:24–27.

1 Thess. 4:6 wrong. Taking advantage of a fellow Christian through sexual sin. the Lord is an avenger. Those who ignore the Christian sexual ethic will face Jesus’ wrath.

1 Thess. 4:8 Therefore. In view of v. 7, to reject Paul’s teaching on sex is to reject God, the source of Paul’s instruction. who gives his Holy Spirit to you. In the OT (e.g., Ezek. 36:26–27), God promised a new covenant in which the Holy Spirit would write the law on people’s hearts and empower them to obey.

1 Thess. 4:9 taught by God to love one another. See Jer. 31:33–34. By love, Christians fulfill the law (Rom. 13:8–10; compare Lev. 19:18; John 13:34).

1 Thess. 4:11 live quietly. Live peacefully with others (see 2 Thess. 3:11–12) instead of interfering in others’ affairs. work with your hands. Earn their own living instead of being supported by wealthier Christians.

1 Thess. 4:12 walk properly before outsiders. For some Christians to be shamelessly exploiting the charity of wealthier Christians would have brought disgrace on the gospel they claimed to believe.

1 Thess. 4:13–18 Paul answers the Thessalonians’ questions about Christians who die before Jesus returns.

1 Thess. 4:13 we do not want you to be uninformed. The Thessalonians are unaware of the things Paul will explain in vv. 14–17 (see note on 3:9–10). those who are asleep. Those who have died. grieve as others do who have no hope. Grieving is not wrong (see Acts 8:2), but it is wrong for Christians to exhibit hopelessness in their grief.

1 Thess. 4:14 rose again. Christ’s resurrection is the center of God’s plan for history. It is the believer’s basis for hope in the future resurrection of the body (1 Cor. 15:42–57). through Jesus, God will bring. Jesus will “bring” deceased Christians with him at his return. those who have fallen asleep. The souls of those who have been in heaven with Christ up to that point.

1 Thess. 4:15 word from the Lord. Probably something the Lord revealed personally to Paul.

1 Thess. 4:15b–17 We who are alive does not mean Paul believed that he would be alive at the second coming. It means all Christians should be prepared for Christ to return during their lifetime. who are left. Still alive. will not precede those who have fallen asleep. It is unclear whether the Thessalonians thought the dead would rise only after the second coming or whether they thought the dead had no hope for salvation at all.

1 Thess. 4:16–17 cry of command . . . voice of an archangel . . . trumpet of God. The three noises summon the dead. The only “archangel” identified in the Bible is Michael (Jude 9). Trumpets in the OT proclaimed the Lord’s presence (Ex. 19:16; Ps. 47:5). In Jewish tradition, the “trumpet” was associated with battle, the day of the Lord, and the resurrection (see 1 Cor. 15:52). first. Then. Dead Christians will rise from their graves, then the living and the dead together are caught up (“to grab or seize suddenly, to take away”) from the earth into the air to meet Christ. together with. The dead Christians and those still alive join Christ at the same time. clouds. Probably the clouds of glory that surround the presence of God (see Ex. 33:9–10; 1 Kings 8:10–11; Ps. 97:2; Matt. 17:5; Mark 13:26). to meet. The Greek term often describes the reception given by the inhabitants of a city for an important visitor. They celebrated their honored guest’s arrival, then led him into the city (see Matt. 25:6; Acts 28:15).

1 Thess. 4:18 Understanding about the Lord’s return should bring comfort and encouragement, not fear and division. These words refers to vv. 13–17.