1 Thessalonians 4

Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to live a life of increasing sanctification, abstaining from sexual immorality and defrauding others, as this is God's will and call to holiness. He commends their brotherly love but encourages them to grow in it, live quietly, and work diligently. Finally, he provides comfort regarding believers who have died, explaining that at the Lord's coming, the dead in Christ will rise first, followed by living believers being caught up to meet Him in the air, ensuring they will always be with the Lord.

The apostle Paul urges the Thessalonians to abound more in walking and pleasing God, reminding them of the commandments received concerning sanctification. He emphasizes that God's will is their holiness, specifically calling them to abstain from fornication and to possess their bodies in honor, not in lust like those who do not know God. Furthermore, they are to avoid defrauding their brethren, recognizing that the Lord is an avenger of such actions, as God has called them to holiness, not uncleanness. Paul acknowledges their existing brotherly love, which they are taught by God, but encourages them to increase in it, while also striving for a quiet life, attending to their own work, and laboring with their hands. This diligent living ensures an honest walk before outsiders and self-sufficiency. Lastly, Paul addresses their ignorance concerning deceased believers, assuring them not to grieve without hope. He explains that just as Jesus died and rose, God will bring those who sleep in Jesus with Him at His coming, when the dead in Christ will rise first, and living believers will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, to be with Him forever.

Paul begins by earnestly beseeching and exhorting the Thessalonian brethren in the Lord Jesus to continue and abound in the manner of life they had learned from him, which is pleasing to God. He reiterates that the commandments given were from the Lord Jesus, and central among them is God's will for their sanctification. This sanctification specifically entails abstaining from fornication and learning to possess one's body in holiness and honor, rather than in the lustful desires characteristic of Gentiles who do not know God. The apostle also warns against defrauding or going beyond one's brother in any matter, reminding them that the Lord is the avenger of such deeds, a truth he had previously testified to them. He underscores that God's calling is not to uncleanness, but to a life of holiness, implying that to despise these instructions is to despise God Himself, who has given them His Holy Spirit. Transitioning to another virtue, Paul notes that there is no need to write extensively about brotherly love, as they are already divinely taught to love one another and indeed demonstrate this love throughout Macedonia. Nevertheless, he encourages them to increase even more in this love. He further instructs them to diligently strive for a quiet life, to attend to their own affairs, and to work with their own hands, just as he had commanded. This practical advice aims to ensure they conduct themselves honorably before those outside the faith and maintain self-sufficiency, lacking nothing. Finally, Paul addresses a crucial matter concerning believers who have died, wishing to dispel their ignorance so they do not sorrow like those without hope. He grounds this comfort in the core Christian belief: if they believe Jesus died and rose again, then God will likewise bring with Him those who have died in Jesus. He clarifies, by the word of the Lord, that living believers at the Lord's coming will not precede those who have died. Instead, the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, the voice of an archangel, and the trump of God, at which point the dead in Christ will rise first. Subsequently, those believers who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, ensuring an eternal presence with the Lord. These profound truths are given to comfort one another.