Chapter 4

A Life Pleasing to God

4 Finally, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God, just as you are doing, you do so more and more. 

Paul praises the community and calls them to excel even further.

2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 

Paul is referring here to the oral teaching he gave the congregation when he founded the Christian community there.

3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from 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 heathen who do not know God; 6 that no man transgress, and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we solemnly forewarned you. 7 For God has not called us for uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to holy living, with particular reference to bodily control.

9 But concerning love of the brethren you have no need to have any one write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another; 10 and indeed you do love all the brethren throughout Macedo′nia.

Paul says they’re doing really well with regards to brotherly love. The indwelling of the Spirit is inspiring this charity and affection for Christians throughout the surrounding area.

But we exhort you, brethren, to do so more and more, 11 to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we charged you; 12 so that you may command the respect of outsiders, and be dependent on nobody.

Paul hints that something has been going on in the Thessalonian community. It appears that some people have not been working and that some people have become busybodies. Paul sees this as a terrible witness.

The Coming of the Lord

13 But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, …

Paul now comes to the subject he’s hinted at throughout this letter – the second coming of Christ.

…concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.

Paul tells them not to grieve for the dead as non-Christians do – Christians have hope of the Resurrection.

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. 

As sure as Jesus rose again, when the Lord returns He will bring with him those who have already died.

15 For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. 

Some people suggest that because of these words that Paul thinks that he’s going to be alive at the Second Coming. However, he doesn’t explicitly say this. In this sentence he is simply communicating that those who are alive at the time of the Second Coming don’t have any advantage over those who had previously died.

16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.

Jesus will return as a triumphant king, heralded by an archangel and trumpet.

This verse is misunderstand by Jehovah Witnesses to mean that Jesus IS the Archangel Michael.

And the dead in Christ will rise first; 17 then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord.

The dead rise and those who alive will be gathered together with the Lord and be with him for all eternity.

Many Protestants base their belief in “The Rapture” on this verse.

18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

This eschatological teaching should bring comfort to the Thessalonian mourners.

Introduction | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5