The Meaning of 1 Thessalonians 4:14 Explained

1 Thessalonians 4:14

KJV: For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

YLT: for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also God those asleep through Jesus he will bring with him,

Darby: For if we believe that Jesus has died and has risen again, so also God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.

ASV: For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  if  we believe  that  Jesus  died  and  rose again,  even so  them also  which sleep  in  Jesus  will  God  bring  with  him. 

What does 1 Thessalonians 4:14 Mean?

Verse Meaning

We could translate "If" "Since." This word introduces a first class condition in the Greek text, which in this case is a condition true to reality. The death and resurrection of Christ are among the best attested facts of history. [1] Furthermore the Scriptures predicted these events before they occurred. Therefore we can be equally certain that the events of the Rapture, which Paul predicted here, will also happen. Paul told his readers that God would bring the spirits of Christians who had died back with Jesus when He returned for the saints still living on earth. It is only those who have died "in Jesus" (saints "in Christ," i.e, Christians as contrasted with all the saved of all ages) who will accompany our Lord. The terms "in Christ" and "in Jesus" when used of believers consistently describe believers who are members of the body of Christ, the church.
Pretribulationists identify this return of Christ with the Rapture that, we believe, will occur before the Tribulation. Posttribulationists contend that this return of Christ (the Rapture) will occur at the end of the Tribulation just before the second coming of Christ.

Context Summary

1 Thessalonians 4:9-18 - United Now And Hereafter In The Lord
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 reserved for the Supreme Teacher. Note that recurring more and more, 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:10. The distribution of goods in the early Church may have led to abuses, which the injunctions here given were intended to rectify. It is well to bring up every child to know one means of livelihood, and children are much more likely to grow up into noble and useful people, if they are encouraged to work for their living. Do something in the world!
These disciples anticipated the speedy return of the Lord and feared lest those who had died would be worse off than they: The Apostle bade them dismiss such fears, because they who remained alive until the coming of the Lord would have no precedence over others who had died. Paul assures them that they who had fallen asleep were with Jesus, and that they would accompany Him when He came again; To those who needed to be raised, Jesus would be "the Resurrection"; to those who were living, He would be "the Life." They that believed in Him, though they had died, yet would they live; and they who lived till He came would never die. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Thessalonians 4

1  He exhorts them to go forward in all manner of godliness;
6  to live holily and justly;
9  to love one another;
11  and quietly to follow their own business;
13  and last of all, to sorrow moderately for the dead
17  followed by a brief description of the resurrection, and second coming of Christ to judgment

Greek Commentary for 1 Thessalonians 4:14

For if we believe [ει γαρ πιστευομεν]
Condition of first class, assuming the death and resurrection of Jesus to be true. [source]
In Jesus [δια του Ιησου]
Literally, through or by means of Jesus. It is amphibolous in position and can be taken either with τους κοιμητεντας — tous koimēthentas (that are fallen asleep in or through Jesus) like οι κοιμητεντες εν Χριστωι — hoi koimēthentes en Christōi in 1 Corinthians 15:18 and probably correct or with αχει — axei (through Jesus with God). With him (συν αυτωι — sun autōi). Together with Jesus. Jesus is the connecting link (δια — dia) for those that sleep (κοιμητεντας — koimēthentas first aorist passive, but with middle sense) and their resurrection. [source]
With him [συν αυτωι]
Together with Jesus. Jesus is the connecting link (δια — dia) for those that sleep (κοιμητεντας — koimēthentas first aorist passive, but with middle sense) and their resurrection. [source]
Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him [καὶ ὁ θεὸς τοὺς κοιμηθέντας διὰ τοῦ Ἱησοῦ ἄξει σὺν αὐτῷ]
(1) Which sleep should be, which have been laid asleep or have fallen asleep, giving the force of the passive. (2) Διὰ τοῦ Ἱησοῦ can by no possibility be rendered in Jesus, which would be ἐν Ἱησοῦ :see 1 Corinthians 15:18; 1 Thessalonians 4:16. It must mean through or by means of Jesus. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
(3) The attempt to construe διὰ τοῦ Ἱησοῦ with τοὺς κοιμηθέντας thosewho have fallen asleep by means of Jesus, gives an awkward and forced interpretation. It has been explained by supposing a reference to martyrs who have died by Jesus; because of their faith in him. In that case we should expect the accusative, διὰ τὸν Ἱησοῦν onaccount of or for the sake of Jesus. Moreover Paul is not accentuating that idea. Κοιμηθέντας would be universally understood by the church as referring to the death of Christians, so that by Jesus would be superfluous. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
(4) Διὰ τοῦ Ἱησοῦ should be construed with ἄξει willbring. Rend. the whole: them also that are fallen asleep will God through Jesus bring with him. Jesus is thus represented as the agent of the resurrection. See 1 Corinthians 15:21; John 5:28; John 6:39, John 6:44, John 6:54. Bring ( ἄξει ) is used instead of ἐγειρεῖ shallraise up, because the thought of separation was prominent in the minds of the Thessalonians. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
[source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Thessalonians 4:14

Acts 17:3 That it behoved the Christ to suffer [οτι τον Χριστον εδει πατειν]
The second aorist active infinitive is the subject of εδει — edei with τον Χριστον — ton Christon the accusative of general reference. This is Paul‘s major premise in his argument from the Scriptures about the Messiah, the necessity of his sufferings according to the Scriptures, the very argument made by the Risen Jesus to the two on the way to Emmaus (Luke 24:25-27). The fifty-third chapter of Isaiah was a passage in point that the rabbis had overlooked. Peter made the same point in Acts 3:18 and Paul again in Acts 26:23. The minor premise is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. To rise again from the dead (αναστηναι εκ νεκρων — anastēnai ek nekrōn). This second aorist active infinitive αναστηναι — anastēnai is also the subject of εδει — edei The actual resurrection of Jesus was also a necessity as Paul says he preached to them (1 Thessalonians 4:14) and argued always from Scripture (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) and from his own experience (Acts 9:22; Acts 22:7; Acts 26:8, Acts 26:14; 1 Corinthians 15:8). This Jesus is the Christ More precisely, “This is the Messiah, viz., Jesus whom I am proclaiming unto you.” This is the conclusion of Paul‘s line of argument and it is logical and overwhelming. It is his method everywhere as in Damascus, in Antioch in Pisidia, here, in Corinth. He spoke as an eye-witness. [source]
Acts 17:3 To rise again from the dead [αναστηναι εκ νεκρων]
This second aorist active infinitive αναστηναι — anastēnai is also the subject of εδει — edei The actual resurrection of Jesus was also a necessity as Paul says he preached to them (1 Thessalonians 4:14) and argued always from Scripture (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) and from his own experience (Acts 9:22; Acts 22:7; Acts 26:8, Acts 26:14; 1 Corinthians 15:8). [source]
1 Corinthians 16:22  []
Ανατεμα — AnathemaThe word seems a bit harsh to us, but the refusal to love Christ (ου πιλει — ou philei) on the part of a nominal Christian deservesανατεμα — anathema(see note on1 Corinthians 12:3for this word).Μαραν ατα — Maran athaThis Aramaic phrase means “Our Lord (μαραν — maran) cometh (ατα — atha)” or, used as a proleptic perfect, “has come.” It seems to be a sort of watchword (cf.1 Thessalonians 4:14.;James 5:7.;Philemon 4:5;Revelation 1:7;Revelation 3:11;Revelation 22:20), expressing the lively hope that the Lord will come. It was a curious blunder in the King James Version that connectedΜαραν ατα — Maran athawithΑνατεμα — Anathemasa120 [source]
Philippians 1:23 To be with Christ []
Compare 2 Corinthians 5:6, 2 Corinthians 5:8; Acts 7:59; 1 Thessalonians 4:14, 1 Thessalonians 4:17. [source]
1 Thessalonians 5:10 Who died []
Frequently the resurrection is coupled with the death of Christ by Paul, as 1 Thessalonians 4:14; Philemon 3:10; Colossians 2:12; Colossians 3:1-4. Not so here; but the thought of resurrection is supplied in live together with him. [source]
Revelation 1:5 The first-begotten of the dead [ὁ πρωτότοκος ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν]
Rev., the first-born. The best texts omit ἐκ fromCompare Colossians 1:18. The risen Christ regarded in His relation to the dead in Christ. He was not the first who rose from the dead, but the first who so rose that death was thenceforth impossible for Him (Romans 6:9); rose with that resurrection-life in which He will finally bring with Him those who sleep in Him (1 Thessalonians 4:14). Some interpreters, rendering first-born, find in the phrase the metaphor of death as the womb which bare Him (see on Acts 2:24). Others, holding by the rendering first-begotten, connect the passage with Psalm 2:7, which by Paul is connected with the resurrection of Christ (Acts 13:32, Acts 13:33). Paul also says that Jesus “was declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4). The verb τίκτω which is one of the components of πρωτότοκος first-begottenor born, is everywhere in the New Testament used in the sense of to bear or to bring forth, and has nowhere the meaning beget, unless James 1:15be an exception, on which see note. In classical Greek the meaning beget is common. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Thessalonians 4:14 mean?

If for we believe that Jesus died and rose again so also - God those having fallen asleep through - Jesus will bring with Him
εἰ γὰρ πιστεύομεν ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἀπέθανεν καὶ ἀνέστη οὕτως καὶ Θεὸς τοὺς κοιμηθέντας διὰ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἄξει σὺν αὐτῷ

πιστεύομεν  we  believe 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: πιστεύω  
Sense: to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
Ἰησοῦς  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
ἀπέθανεν  died 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀποθνῄσκω  
Sense: to die.
ἀνέστη  rose  again 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀναπηδάω 
Sense: to cause to rise up, raise up.
οὕτως  so 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὕτως  
Sense: in this manner, thus, so.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Θεὸς  God 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
τοὺς  those 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
κοιμηθέντας  having  fallen  asleep 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Passive, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: κοιμάω  
Sense: to cause to sleep, put to sleep.
διὰ  through 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰησοῦ  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
ἄξει  will  bring 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἄγω  
Sense: to lead, take with one.