Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

William Burkitt's Expository Notes

1 Thessalonians 4:17

Observe here, 1. The triumphant ascension both of the living and sleeping saints, together into the clouds; We which are alive shall be caught up together with them in the clouds. This ascension shall be effected by the power of Christ, by the ministry of angels, and by the spirituality of the saints' own bodies.

Learn hence, that the descent of the saints of God into the grave, is not with so much weakness, ignominy, and abasement, as their ascent after the resurrection, to meet their Lord in the air, shall be with power, triumph, and glory: Christ shall draw them, clouds shall carry them, angels shall conduct them.

Observe, 2. The blessed meeting of all the saints together in one body, to take their flight together to meet the Lord Jesus, who comes from the third heaven to meet them in the lower region of the air, when Christ will own them in their persons, own them in their services, own them in their sufferings, and they shall receive their full and final benediction from the mouth of Christ, and take an everlasting possession of the heavenly kingdom, together with Christ.

Observe, 3. The saints' cohabitation and fellowship with Christ, together with its extent and duration, they shall ever be with the Lord. This implies the saints' presence with Christ, their vision and sight of him, their fruition and enjoyment of him, their delectation of him, their conformity to him.

Learn hence, that the top and height of the saints' blessedness in heaven consists in this, that they shall for ever be there with Christ.

Continues after advertising

See also 1 Thessalonians 4:17 in other biblical comments:

  • A Textual Commentary On The Greek New Testament by Bruce M. Metzger

    1 THESSALONIANS 4:17 oi` perileipo,menoi {A} By some accidental oversight, several Western witnesses (F G itar, b, f, g, o _al_) omit oi` perileipo,menoi....

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THEN WE WHICH ARE ALIVE - Those who shall then be alive; see 1 Thessalonians 4:15. The word here rendered “then” (ἔπειτα epeita), does not necessarily mean that this would occur immediately. It prop...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    IV. THE SEPARATED WALK AND THE BLESSED HOPE CHAPTER 4 _ 1. The separated walk 1 Thessalonians 4:1)_ 2. The coming of the Lord for His saints 1 Thessalonians 4:13)...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    THE CONDITION OF THE DEAD. This paragraph is written to allay a misgiving which had arisen among the Thessalonian Christians that certain of their friends who had died would be deprived of their share...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    We do not wish you to be ignorant, brothers, about those who are asleep, because we do not wish you to sorrow as the rest of people do because they have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE SUMMONS TO PURITY (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    THEN. Greek. _epeita,_ thereupon, thereafter. CAUGHT UP. Greek. _harpazo._ See Acts 8:39; 2 Corinthians 12:2; 2 Corinthians 12:4.

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _then we which are alive and remain_ Better, WE THAT ARE ALIVE, THAT REMAIN (or SURVIVE). The phrase of 1 Thessalonians 4:15 repeated; see note. The Apostle distinguishes, as in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Section VI. The Coming of the Lord Jesus Ch. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 to 1 Thessalonians 5:11 This solemn topic, as we have already seen (note on ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:10, and Intro

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    For ΑΠΑΝΤΗΣΙΝ, ΥΠ- D*G. For ΤΟΥ ΚΥΡΙΟΥ DB, latt vg, most Lat Fathers, read τῳ κυριῳ (_obviam domino_); D*G, with some Latins, τῳ χριστῳ. The dative may be a Latinism; but cf. Acts 28:15. Instead of Σ...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    § 8. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Concerning them that fall asleep Thessalonian faith had its “deficiencies” on the doctrinal as well as the practical side (see note introductory to last section). In rega...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΈΠΕΙΤΑ (G1899) затем, следующий. Это слово обозначает быстрый переход от ранее упомянутого события к последующему (Milligan; Ellicott). ΖΏΝΤΕΣ _praes. act. part. от_ ΖΆΩ (G2198) жить, ΠΕΡΙΛΕΙΠΌΜΕΝΟΙ...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 2202 THE RESURRECTION 1 Thessalonians 4:13. I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For, if w...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    SHALL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM, &C.— A cloud conducted by angels was our Lord's triumphal chariot when he ascended; and such a bright cloud will be his triumphal chariot when he comes down as j...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    TEXT (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18) 17 then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wh...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN SHALL BE CA...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    THE LORD'S PRESENCE 12 Paul gives us the true motive and incentive of a holy life and a steadfast faith. It springs from the overflow of love to our fellow saints and to all others as well. It looks f...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    EXHORTATION TO PURITY AND BROTHERLY LOVE. THE SECOND ADVENT 1. 'You are already walking in the right path. I want you to advance in it more and more.' 3, 4. Translate, 'For this is a thing willed by...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    WHEN JESUS CHRIST COMES 1 THE THESSALONIANS _IAN MACKERVOY_ A word list is at the end. It explains words with a *star by them. CHAPTER 4 HOW YOU OUGHT TO LIVE 4:1-8 V1 Brothers and sisters, y...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    SHALL BE CAUGHT UP. — “Our Assumption,” as Bishop Ellicott well calls it. The spiritualising of our natural bodies without death, as described in 1 Corinthians 15:50, _et seq.,_ will enable us to be “...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 11 THE DEAD IN CHRIST 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (R.V.) THE restlessness of the Thessalonians, which caused some of them to neglect their daily work, was the result of strained expectations of Chr...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    περὶ τῶν κοιμωμένων....

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    ἐν νεφέλαις, the ordinary method of sudden rapture or ascension to heaven (Acts 1:9; Acts 1:11; Revelation 11:12; Slav. En. iii. 1, 2). ἁρπαγησόμεθα. So in Sap....

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    UNITED NOW AND HEREAFTER IN THE LORD 1 Thessalonians 4:9 It is suggested that God Himself is the teacher of love. Others may teach the lower classes in the school of grace, but the highest is reserve...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    At this point in his letter the apostle turned to exhortation. Timothy's report concerning the Thessalonians' condition had indicated that they needed some words of kindly warning. The first subject i...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    PAUL'S DESCRIPTION OF THE SECOND COMING Paul described the Lord's second coming with quick, powerful words. He said the Lord will come down from heaven in a way that will cause all on earth to be able...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be (i) caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (i) Suddenly and in the twinkling of...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (13) В¶ But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose agai...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    There is a special interest in examining the epistles to the Thessalonians, more particularly the first, because, in point of fact, it was the earliest of the letters of the apostles; and as the first...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _WORDS OF COMFORT_ ‘So shall we ever be with the Lord.’ 1 Thessalonians 4:17 These words come to us as words of comfort, words of hope, in our hours of bereavement. They emphasise one of the great...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    17_And so we shall be ever_. To those who have been once gathered to Christ he promises eternal life with him, by which statements the reveries of Origen and of the Chiliasts (588) are abundantly refu...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    The apostle then turns to the dangers that beset the Thessalonians in consequence of their former habits (and which were still those of the persons that surrounded them), habits in direct contradictio...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THEN WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN,.... 1 Thessalonians 4:15. SHALL BE CAUGHT UP; suddenly, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and with force and power; by the power of Christ, and by the mini...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Then we which are alive _and_ remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Ver. 17. _Then we which are alive_] He sp...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _The Lord himself_ The Lord Christ, arrayed in all his own glory, and in that of his Father; _shall descend from heaven_ “This expression does not imply that the Lord Jesus will fix his tribunal on th...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    INFORMATION ABOUT THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THEN WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN SHALL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM IN THE CLOUDS TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR; AND SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    The end of Chapter 3 has encouraged their abounding love. Here the apostle adds to this the entreaty that they abound in obedience. No amount of love can make up for a disobedient walk, for love and o...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    C. The problem about those who had died, 4:13-18 13 BUT I WOULD NOT HAVE YOU TO BE IGNORANT, BRETHREN, CONCERNING THEM WHICH ARE ASLEEP, THAT YE SORROW NOT, EVEN AS OTHERS WHICH HAVE NO HOPE. 14 Fo...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    “THEN WE THAT ARE ALIVE, THAT ARE LEFT, SHALL TOGETHER WITH THEM BE CAUGHT UP IN THE CLOUDS, TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR: AND SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD” “Then we that are alive”: The devil wil...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    13-18 Here is comfort for the relations and friends of those who die in the Lord. Grief for the death of friends is lawful; we may weep for our own loss, though it may be their gain. Christianity doe...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Christ will have a church to the end of the world, and some will be found alive at his coming, and will be CAUGHT UP, or snatched up, to denote its suddenness, it may be in the arms of angels, or by s...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. [Some, mistaking the spiritual resurrect...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Clement of Alexandria Stromata Book VI here in the Church, of bishops, presbyters, deacons, are imitations of the angelic glory, and of that economy which, the Scriptures say, awaits those who, follo...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then G1899 we G2249 who G3588 alive G2198 (G5723) remain G4035 (G5742) up G726 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘For the Lord himself will descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first, then we who are alive, who are left,...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE COMING OF CHRIST FOR HIS OWN (1 THESSALONIANS 4:13). Paul assures the Thessalonians that those who have died in Christ will not be disadvantaged as against those who will be alive at His coming,...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    _Comfort for the Bereaved concerning the Prospects of the Departed._ Paul had preached to the Thessalonians the doctrine of the Second Coming of Christ, and they had apparently taken up the impression...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    1 Thessalonians 4:17. THEN. Immediately after the dead in Christ have risen. SHALL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM IN THE CLOUDS. This Ascension of the Church to her Lord presupposes the ‘change' spo...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    THEN (επειτα). The next step, not the identical time (τοτε), but immediately afterwards.TOGETHER WITH THEM (αμα συν αυτοις). Note both αμα (at the same time) and συν (together with) with the asso...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    CAUGHT UP Not church saints only, but all bodies of the saved, of whatever dispensation, are included in the first resurrection (_ See Scofield) - (1 Corinthians 15:52) _ as here described, but it...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    1 Thessalonians 4:16 The Apostle draws aside yet more the curtain of futurity. He increases and confirms the comfort which "by the word of the Lord" he offers to believers, by revealing additional tru...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    1 Thessalonians 4:13. _But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope._ You cannot help sorrowing, for you...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: The model walk of the believer. The hope of Christ's return. CHARACTERS: God, Christ. CONCLUSION: The design of the Gospel is to teach men not only what they should believe, but also how t...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 Thessalonians 4:1. _We beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us_ the moral maxims of life and conduct, not only in word but also in writing, _how ye ou...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    WILL ALL BE GATHERED UP. All of God's people since the beginning of time will be gathered up, as the dead rise to life and the living are changed (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR....

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 THESSALONIANS—NOTE ON 1 THESSALONIANS 4:16 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 ...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 THESSALONIANS—NOTE ON 1 THESSALONIANS 4:15 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 d...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 THESSALONIANS—NOTE ON 1 THESSALONIANS 4:13 Paul answers the Thessalonians’ questions about Christians who die before Jesus returns. ⇐...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 THESSALONIANS—NOTE ON 1 THESSALONIANS 4:1 Instruction and Exhortation. Paul gives instructions on pleasing God (1 Thessalonians 4:1), the seco

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ 1 Thessalonians 4:15. WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN UNTO THE COMING OF THE LORD.—“We must recognise that Paul here includes himself, along with the Thessalonians, amon...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION CONTENTS.—With this chapter the second portion of the Epistle—its practical application-commences. The apostle exhorts and entreats the Thessalonians to make progress in the Christian life,...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Let's turn to first Thessalonians chapter four. Paul the apostle was called of God by the Spirit to go to Macedonia, as he saw in a vision a man from Macedonia saying, "Come over and help us." It was...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Kings 18:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; 2 Corinthians 12:2;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Together with them [α μ α σ υ ν α υ τ ο ι ς]. %Ama, at the same time, referring to the living. We that are alive shall simultaneously or one and all (comp. Romans 3:12) be caught up. Sun aujtoiv along...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Together — In the same moment. In the air — The wicked will remain beneath, while the righteous, being absolved, shall be assessors with their Lord in the judgment. With the Lord — In heaven....

Continues after advertising

Old Testament