The Meaning of 1 Thessalonians 5:10 Explained

1 Thessalonians 5:10

KJV: Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

YLT: who did die for us, that whether we wake -- whether we sleep -- together with him we may live;

Darby: who has died for us, that whether we may be watching or sleep, we may live together with him.

ASV: who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Who  died  for  us,  that,  whether  we wake  or  sleep,  we should live  together  with  him. 

What does 1 Thessalonians 5:10 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 - Ready For "the Day Of The Lord"
To the Apostle "the day of the Lord" was near. He expected it in his lifetime, and if we remember that the Lord's words with reference to it were in part fulfilled when Jerusalem fell, it is clear that his expectation was not altogether vain.
The suddenness of the Advent was the theme of Jesus' reiterated assurances. See Matthew 24:38; Matthew 24:43; Luke 17:29-30. The world spends its days in careless indifference (sleep), or in sensual enjoyment (drunkenness); but believers are bidden to be soldier-like in their attire and watchfulness. Ponder that wonderful word in 1 Thessalonians 5:10. Together implies that Christians now living are closely united with those who have died. The state we call death, but which the Apostle calls sleep-because our Lord's resurrection has robbed it of its terror-is as full of vitality as the life which we live day by day in this world. We live together, animated by the same purposes-they on that side and we on this. Whether here or there, life is "in Him." The closer we live to Him, the nearer we are to them. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Thessalonians 5

1  He proceeds in the description of Christ's coming to judgment;
16  and gives various instructions;
23  and so concludes the epistle

Greek Commentary for 1 Thessalonians 5:10

For us [περι ημων]
(περι ημων — peri hēmōn). [source]
Around us []
. So Westcott and Hort, but υπερ — huper (over, in behalf of) as in many MSS. These prepositions often interchanged in N.T. MSS. Whether we wake or sleep (ειτε γρηγορωμεν ειτε κατευδωμεν — eite grēgorōmen eite katheudōmen). Alternative condition of third class with present subjunctive, though εαντεεαντε — eantė̇eante more usual conjunction (Robertson, Grammar, P. 1017). Used here of life and death, not as metaphor. That we should live together with him First aorist active subjunctive constative aorist covering all life (now and hereafter) together with (αμα συν — hama sun as in 1 Thessalonians 5:17) Jesus. [source]
Whether we wake or sleep [ειτε γρηγορωμεν ειτε κατευδωμεν]
Alternative condition of third class with present subjunctive, though εαντεεαντε — eantė̇eante more usual conjunction (Robertson, Grammar, P. 1017). Used here of life and death, not as metaphor. [source]
That we should live together with him [ινα αμα συν αυτωι ζησωμεν]
First aorist active subjunctive constative aorist covering all life (now and hereafter) together with (αμα συν — hama sun as in 1 Thessalonians 5:17) Jesus. [source]
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]
Wake or sleep []
Whether we are alive or dead at Christ's appearing. Comp. Romans 14:9. Καθεύδειν in N.T. always literally of sleep, except here, and possibly Ephesians 5:14. In Mark 5:39; Luke 8:52, it is contrasted with death. In lxx in the sense of death, Psalm 87:5; Daniel 12:2; 2 Samuel 7:12. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Thessalonians 5:10

1 Thessalonians 4:17 Together with them [αμα συν αυτοις]
Note both αμα — hama (at the same time) and συν — sun (together with) with the associative instrumental case αυτοις — autois (the risen saints). Shall be caught up (αρπαγησομετα — harpagēsometha). Second future passive indicative of αρπαζω — harpazō old verb to seize, to carry off like Latin rapio. To meet the Lord in the air This special Greek idiom is common in the lxx like the Hebrew, but Polybius has it also and it occurs in the papyri (Moulton, Proleg., p. 14, n. 3). This rapture of the saints (both risen and changed) is a glorious climax to Paul‘s argument of consolation. And so (και ουτως — kai houtōs). This is the outcome, to be forever with the Lord, whether with a return to earth or with an immediate departure for heaven Paul does not say. To be with Christ is the chief hope of Paul‘s life (1 Thessalonians 5:10; Philemon 1:23; Colossians 3:4; 2 Corinthians 5:8). [source]
1 Thessalonians 4:17 To meet the Lord in the air [εις απαντησιν του Κυριου εις αερα]
This special Greek idiom is common in the lxx like the Hebrew, but Polybius has it also and it occurs in the papyri (Moulton, Proleg., p. 14, n. 3). This rapture of the saints (both risen and changed) is a glorious climax to Paul‘s argument of consolation. And so (και ουτως — kai houtōs). This is the outcome, to be forever with the Lord, whether with a return to earth or with an immediate departure for heaven Paul does not say. To be with Christ is the chief hope of Paul‘s life (1 Thessalonians 5:10; Philemon 1:23; Colossians 3:4; 2 Corinthians 5:8). [source]
1 Thessalonians 4:17 And so [και ουτως]
This is the outcome, to be forever with the Lord, whether with a return to earth or with an immediate departure for heaven Paul does not say. To be with Christ is the chief hope of Paul‘s life (1 Thessalonians 5:10; Philemon 1:23; Colossians 3:4; 2 Corinthians 5:8). [source]
2 Thessalonians 2:1 Touching the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ [υπερ της παρουσιας του Κυριου ̔ημων̓ Ιησου Χριστου]
For ερωτωμεν — erōtōmen to beseech, see note on 1 Thessalonians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:12. υπερ — Huper originally meant over, in behalf of, instead of, but here it is used like περι — peri around, concerning as in 2 Thessalonians 1:4; 1 Thessalonians 3:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:10, common in the papyri (Robertson, Grammar, p. 632). For the distinction between Παρουσια Επιπανεια — ParousiaΑποκαλυπσις — Epiphaneia (Epiphany), and Παρουσια — Apokalupsis (Revelation) as applied to the Second Coming of Christ see Milligan on Thessalonian Epistles, pp. 145-151, in the light of the papyri. επιπανεια — Parousia lays emphasis on the presence of the Lord with his people, αποκαλυπσις — epiphaneia on his manifestation of the power and love of God, και ημων επισυναγωγης επ αυτον — apokalupsis on the revelation of God‘s purpose and plan in the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus. [source]
2 Thessalonians 2:2 Nor yet be troubled [μηδε τροεισται]
Old verb τροεω — throeō to cry aloud (from τροος — throos clamour, tumult), to be in a state of nervous excitement (present passive infinitive, as if it were going on), “a continued state of agitation following the definite shock received Either by spirit (μητε δια πνευματος — mēte dia pneumatos). By ecstatic utterance (1 Thessalonians 5:10). The nervous fear that the coming was to be at once prohibited by μηδε — mēde Paul divides into three sources by μητε μητε μητε — mēte, μητε δια λογου — mēteμητε δι επιστολης ως δι ημων — mēte No individual claim to divine revelation (the gift of prophecy) can justify the statement. Or by word Oral statement of a conversation with Paul (Lightfoot) to this effect as from us. An easy way to set aside Paul‘s first Epistle by report of a private remark from Paul. Or by epistle as from us (ενιστημι — mēte di' epistolēs hōs di' hēmōn). In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:3 Paul had plainly said that Jesus would come as a thief in the night and had shown that the dead would not be left out in the rapture. But evidently some one claimed to have a private epistle from Paul which supported the view that Jesus was coming at once, as that the day of the Lord is now present (τα ενεστωτα — hōs hoti enestēken hē hēmera tou kuriou). Perfect active indicative of τα μελλοντα — enistēmi old verb, to place in, but intransitive in this tense to stand in or at or near. So “is imminent” (Lightfoot). The verb is common in the papyri. In 1 Corinthians 3:22; Romans 8:38 we have a contrast between ως οτι — ta enestōta the things present, and ta mellonta the things future (to come). The use of hōs hoti may be disparaging here, though that is not true in 2 Corinthians 5:19. In the Koiné{[28928]}š it comes in the vernacular to mean simply “that” (Moulton, Proleg., p. 212), but that hardly seems the case in the N.T. (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1033). Here it means “to wit that,” though “as that” or “as if” does not miss it much. Certainly it flatly denies that by conversation or by letter he had stated that the second coming was immediately at hand. “It is this misleading assertion that accounts both for the increased discouragement of the faint-hearted to encourage whom Paul writes 1:3-2:17, and for the increased meddlesomeness of the idle brethren to warn whom Paul writes 3:1-18” (Frame). It is enough to give one pause to note Paul‘s indignation over this use of his name by one of the over-zealous advocates of the view that Christ was coming at once. It is true that Paul was still alive, but, if such a “pious fraud” was so common and easily condoned as some today argue, it is difficult to explain Paul‘s evident anger. Moreover, Paul‘s words should make us hesitate to affirm that Paul definitely proclaimed the early return of Jesus. He hoped for it undoubtedly, but he did not specifically proclaim it as so many today assert and accuse him of misleading the early Christians with a false presentation. [source]
2 Thessalonians 2:2 Either by spirit [μητε δια πνευματος]
By ecstatic utterance (1 Thessalonians 5:10). The nervous fear that the coming was to be at once prohibited by μηδε — mēde Paul divides into three sources by μητε μητε μητε — mēte, μητε δια λογου — mēteμητε δι επιστολης ως δι ημων — mēte No individual claim to divine revelation (the gift of prophecy) can justify the statement. [source]
2 Thessalonians 2:2 Ye be not quickly shaken [μη ταχεως σαλευτηναι υμας]
First aorist passive infinitive of σαλευω — saleuō old verb to agitate, to cause to totter like a reed (Matthew 11:7), the earth (Hebrews 12:26). Usual negative μη — mē and accusative of general reference υμας — humas with the infinitive. From your mind (απο του νοος — apo tou noos). Ablative case of nous, mind, reason, sober sense, “from your witte” (Wycliffe), to “keep their heads.” Nor yet be troubled Old verb τροεω — throeō to cry aloud (from τροος — throos clamour, tumult), to be in a state of nervous excitement (present passive infinitive, as if it were going on), “a continued state of agitation following the definite shock received Either by spirit (μητε δια πνευματος — mēte dia pneumatos). By ecstatic utterance (1 Thessalonians 5:10). The nervous fear that the coming was to be at once prohibited by μηδε — mēde Paul divides into three sources by μητε μητε μητε — mēte, μητε δια λογου — mēteμητε δι επιστολης ως δι ημων — mēte No individual claim to divine revelation (the gift of prophecy) can justify the statement. Or by word Oral statement of a conversation with Paul (Lightfoot) to this effect as from us. An easy way to set aside Paul‘s first Epistle by report of a private remark from Paul. Or by epistle as from us (ενιστημι — mēte di' epistolēs hōs di' hēmōn). In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:3 Paul had plainly said that Jesus would come as a thief in the night and had shown that the dead would not be left out in the rapture. But evidently some one claimed to have a private epistle from Paul which supported the view that Jesus was coming at once, as that the day of the Lord is now present (τα ενεστωτα — hōs hoti enestēken hē hēmera tou kuriou). Perfect active indicative of τα μελλοντα — enistēmi old verb, to place in, but intransitive in this tense to stand in or at or near. So “is imminent” (Lightfoot). The verb is common in the papyri. In 1 Corinthians 3:22; Romans 8:38 we have a contrast between ως οτι — ta enestōta the things present, and ta mellonta the things future (to come). The use of hōs hoti may be disparaging here, though that is not true in 2 Corinthians 5:19. In the Koiné{[28928]}š it comes in the vernacular to mean simply “that” (Moulton, Proleg., p. 212), but that hardly seems the case in the N.T. (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1033). Here it means “to wit that,” though “as that” or “as if” does not miss it much. Certainly it flatly denies that by conversation or by letter he had stated that the second coming was immediately at hand. “It is this misleading assertion that accounts both for the increased discouragement of the faint-hearted to encourage whom Paul writes 1:3-2:17, and for the increased meddlesomeness of the idle brethren to warn whom Paul writes 3:1-18” (Frame). It is enough to give one pause to note Paul‘s indignation over this use of his name by one of the over-zealous advocates of the view that Christ was coming at once. It is true that Paul was still alive, but, if such a “pious fraud” was so common and easily condoned as some today argue, it is difficult to explain Paul‘s evident anger. Moreover, Paul‘s words should make us hesitate to affirm that Paul definitely proclaimed the early return of Jesus. He hoped for it undoubtedly, but he did not specifically proclaim it as so many today assert and accuse him of misleading the early Christians with a false presentation. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Thessalonians 5:10 mean?

the [One] having died for us so that whether we might watch or we might sleep together with Him we may live
τοῦ ἀποθανόντος περὶ ἡμῶν ἵνα εἴτε γρηγορῶμεν εἴτε καθεύδωμεν ἅμα σὺν αὐτῷ ζήσωμεν

τοῦ  the  [One] 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀποθανόντος  having  died 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: ἀποθνῄσκω  
Sense: to die.
ἡμῶν  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἵνα  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
εἴτε  whether 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: εἴτε  
Sense: if … if.
γρηγορῶμεν  we  might  watch 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: γρηγορέω  
Sense: to watch.
καθεύδωμεν  we  might  sleep 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: καθεύδω  
Sense: to fall asleep, drop off to sleep.
ἅμα  together 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἅμα  
Sense: at the same time, at once, together prep.
ζήσωμεν  we  may  live 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: ζάω  
Sense: to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead).