1 Thessalonians 4

What’s happening

Finally, brothers, Paul urges and exhorts them in the Lord Jesus that, as they received from him how they must walk and please God, they should abound more and more. They know what instructions he gave them through the Lord Jesus. "For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who don't know God; that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified. For God didn't call us for uncleanness, but in sanctification. Therefore he who rejects this doesn't reject man, but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to you." About brotherly love they have no need for anyone to write, for they themselves are taught by God to love one another, and they do this toward all the brothers in all Macedonia; but Paul urges them to abound more and more, and to "aspire to lead a quiet life, and to mind your own business, and to work with your hands, even as we instructed you; that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and may have need of nothing." Then, concerning those who have fallen asleep: "We don't want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, so that you don't grieve, even as the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left to the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore comfort one another with these words."

Who’s in this chapter

Talk it through

1. Paul says holiness is "the will of God." What do the practical examples (sex, work, love) tell you about what holiness looks like?
2. He says "aspire to live quietly... work with your hands." Why might ordinary, unglamorous living be a goal?
3. Paul doesn't say believers shouldn't grieve, only not to grieve "as those who have no hope." What does hope change about grief?
4. The passage ends with "comfort one another with these words." How would you use it that way?