I Thessalonians 4:13-18

I Thessalonians 4:13-18

“If then you seek [the deceased Christian], seek him where the King is, where the army of angels is; not in the grave, not in the earth.” – John Chrysostom, Homily on II Corinthians 1:6

I.                   V. 13

-          Cf. Mark 5:39

-          “that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope”- it is not that we don’t grieve as Christians, but that we grieve differently, understanding that death is not final, or permanent (cf. John 11:35)

-          The story of Augustine’s mother Monica

II.                V. 14

-          Ancient philosophers like Plutarch and Seneca would appeal to reason as a comfort in grief, citing universal mortality as a reality in life

-          What does “fallen asleep” mean in light of “bring with him”?  More than likely, based on Paul’s other references to being “absent from the body, but at home with the Lord” (cf. II Corinthians 5:8), it means that the soul is with God, awaiting the resurrection when it will be reunited with the body

-          “In Jesus” could also refer to those who have died as Christians, or have died “in Jesus”.

-          “Jesus died and rose again” is quite possibly a creedal statement, given its assumed truth and the economy of words

-          God is the one who initiates action, but Jesus is the agent through which is happens (consider also creation, in addition to the resurrection which is in view here)

-          “Paul only spoke of the resurrection of Christ in connection with, and as the beginning of, the resurrection of the dead in general…As the overcoming of death it is for [Paul] the beginning of the rule of the one with whom the kingdom of divine freedom begins.” – Ernst Kasemann, The Saving Significance of the Death of Jesus

III.             V. 15

-          The fact that Paul is referring to Jesus as Lord reaffirms a high Christology, or idea of who Christ is.

-          Paul is not saying he will be alive when Jesus returns.  Rather, he is placing himself in the appropriate category for that moment in time.  As he gets older, it becomes clear that he finds it increasingly unlikely that he will be alive for the Lord’s return

-          Paul is seeking to reassure the Thessalonians that those who have already died as not at a disadvantage when it comes to the resurrection

-          The material here has several parallels with Matthew 24:29-51, which could be the word of the Lord Paul is referring to

-          Cf. Daniel 12:1-2

-          Cf. II Corinthians 5:6-10

IV.             V. 16

-          The picture painted is meant to compete with the image of the advent of the emperor in a town

-          Cf. Exodus 19:16-20; Psalm 47:5; Isaiah 27:13; Joel 2:1; Zechariah 9:14; I Corinthians 15:52

V.                V. 17

-          “Together with them” is the first phrase of the sentence in Greek, placing emphasis on this idea

-          For “in clouds” cf. Daniel 7:13; Mark 13:26; Mark 14:62; Acts 1:9

-          The goal of the meeting is to be with Christ, and thus believers are left “in the air”.  Our home is not a geographical location, but a relational one.

-          While rulers are met outside the city gate, the Lord is met in the air, implying the universality of his dominion

-          To be “caught up”, or “snatched” is in this instance a good thing.  Just as death is often referred to as “snatching away” its victims, here we see the Lord “snatching away” death’s victims from death itself

-          “For when a king drives into a city, those who are honorable go out to meet him; but the condemned await the judge within.  And upon the coming of an affectionate father, his children indeed, and those who are worthy to be his children, are taken out in a chariot, that they may see him and kiss him; but the housekeepers who have offended him remain within.” – John Chrysostom, Homily 8 on I Thessalonians

VI.             V. 18

-          The Thessalonians should find comfort, and hope, in these words