1 Thessalonians 4:15

Text (1 Thessalonians 4:15)

15 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.

Translation and Paraphrase

15.

For this we tell you (not by our own guesses or hopes, but) by the (very) word of the Lord, that we which are living (and) remaining (alive on earth) until the coming of the Lord, (that) we shall most certainly not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep.

Notes (1 Thessalonians 4:15)

1.

If we had only Paul's hopes or opinions as support for our hope that the dead will be raised, it would not be very solid assurance. But Paul informs us that what he speaks is the very word of the Lord. Since the Lord Himself informed Paul about this matter, we place our total reliance upon it.

2.

The expression, word of the Lord, is often used to describe the prophetic messages which God gave to various men. See Micah 1:1; Hosea 1:1; Jeremiah 1:2; Luke 3:2, and many other such references.

3.

Paul uses the phrase, We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord. But the we in this verse does not indicate that Paul expected to be living when Christ returned. In 2 Corinthians 4:14, Paul used the word us in such a manner that indicates that he expected to be resurrected: Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus, shall raise up us also by Jesus.

Neither here, nor elsewhere in the New Testament is the coming (parousia) of the Lord stated to be very soon (by human standards of time). Some people in New Testament times assumed that it would be that way, but Paul never said so.

4.

Concerning the word coming (parousia), see notes on 1 Thessalonians 2:19, par. 7.

5.

What did Paul mean when he said that we which are alive when the Lord comes back shall not prevent them which are asleep? The word prevent now means to hinder or restrain. But in 1611, when the King James version was translated, it meant to go before or come before. It is from the Latin wotd praevenio, meaning to come before, to get the start of.

David said in Psalms 119:147: I prevented the dawning of the morning and cried. David did not keep the morning from dawning. What he meant was that he got up before the dawning of the morning to pray.

Paul meant, then, that those who are alive when Christ returns will not go ahead of, or have a head start on, those who will have died before that time.

6.

Paul uses a very strong negative (ou me) to affirm that we who are living will most certainly NOT go ahead of those who have died before the Lord's coming.

8.

For the significance of the word sleep as applied to the dead, see notes on 1 Thessalonians 4:13, par. 4.