1 Thessalonians 4:15 BSB

1 Thessalonians 4:15

By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep.

KJV

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

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Commentary

3 voices

Ambrose of Milan

On the Death of Satyrus 2.92-93 (397)

All men shall rise again, but let no one lose heart, and let not the just grieve at the common lot of rising again, since he awaits the chief fruit of his virtue. All indeed shall rise again, but, as says the apostle, "each in his own order." The fruit of the divine mercy is common to all, but the order of merit differs. The day gives light to all, the sun warms all, the rain fertilizes the possessions of all with genial flowers. We are all born, and we shall all rise again.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

Tertullian

Against Marcion Book V (220)

He says that those who "remain unto the coming of Christ," along with "the dead in Christ, shall rise first," being "caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

By the word of the Lord - By a particular Revelation. We who are left - This intimates the fewness of those who will be then alive, compared to the multitude of the dead.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

23 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
Τοῦτο	Touto	This	G3778 →
γὰρ	gar	for	G1063 →
ὑμῖν	humin	to you	G4771 →
λέγομεν	legomen	we declare	G3004 →
ἐν	en	in	G1722 →
λόγῳ	logō	[the] word	G3056 →
κυρίου	kuriou	of [the] Lord	G2962 →
ὅτι	hoti	that	G3754 →
ἡμεῖς	hēmeis	we ourselves	G3165 →
οἱ	hoi	the	G3588 →
ζῶντες	zōntes	living	G2198 →
οἱ	hoi	who	G3588 →
περιλειπόμενοι	perileipomenoi	are remaining	G4035 →
εἰς	eis	untill	G1519 →
τὴν	tēn	the	G3588 →
παρουσίαν	parousian	coming	G3952 →
τοῦ	tou	of the	G3588 →
κυρίου	kuriou	Lord	G2962 →
οὐ	ou	certainly	G3756 →
μὴ	mē	not	G3361 →
φθάσωμεν	phthasōmen	may precede	G5348 →
τοὺς	tous	those	G3588 →
κοιμηθέντας·	koimēthentas	having fallen asleep;	G2837 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
1 Thessalonians 2:19
After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?
leads to
- Philippians 4:1
  Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you must stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:13
  so that He may establish your hearts in blamelessness and holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.
- Philippians 2:16
  as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:23
  Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through
2 Corinthians 4:14
knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence.
leads to
- Romans 8:11
  And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His…
- 1 Thessalonians 4:14
  For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.
Through
Psalms 88:13
But to You, O LORD, I cry for help; in the morning my prayer comes before You.
leads to
- Psalms 5:3
  In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; at daybreak I lay my plea before You and wait in expectation.
- Mark 1:35
  Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary place to pray.