1 Thessalonians 4:14

1 Thessalonians 4:14

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

a. NLT: For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

b. NIV: For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

    

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

d. Amplified Bible Classic: For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will also bring with Him through Jesus those who have fallen asleep [[h]in death].

e. Worrell Translation: For, if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also those who fell asleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.

f. Wuest Translation: For in view of the fact that we believe that Jesus died and arose, thus also will God bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through the intermediate agency of Jesus

1. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again…”

a. For [Strong 1063 gar gar a primary particle; properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles):--and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.]

b. if [Strong: 1487 ei i a primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.:--forasmuch as, if, that, (al-)though, whether. Often used in connection or composition with other particles, especially as in 1489, 1490, 1499, 1508, 1509, 1512, 1513, 1536, 1537.]

c. [we] believe [Strong: 4100 pisteuo pist-yoo'-o from 4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ):--believe(-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.]

d. that [Strong: 3754 hoti hot'-ee neuter of 3748 as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.]

e. Jesus [Strong: 2424 Iesous ee-ay-sooce' of Hebrew origin (3091); Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites:--Jesus.]

f. died [Strong: 599 apothnesko ap-oth-nace'-ko from 575 and 2348; to die off (literally or figuratively):--be dead, death, die, lie a-dying, be slain (X with).]

g. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

h. rose again [Strong: 450 anistemi an-is'-tay-mee from 303 and 2476; to stand up (literal or figurative, transitive or intransitive):--arise, lift up, raise up (again), rise (again), stand up(-right).]

1). This phrase is the gospel, believing it is how we enter into salvation.

a). Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

2. “…even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”

a. even so [Strong: 3779 houto hoo'-to, or (before a vowel houtos hoo'-toce adverb from 3778; in this way (referring to what precedes or follows):--after that, after (in) this manner, as, even (so), for all that, like(-wise), no more, on this fashion(-wise), so (in like manner), thus, what.]

b. [them] also [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

c. [which] sleep [Strong: 2837 koimao koy-mah'-o from 2749; to put to sleep, i.e. (passively or reflexively) to slumber; figuratively, to decease:--(be a-, fall a-, fall on) sleep, be dead.] [Thayer: to cause to sleep, put to sleep, metaphorically to still, calm, quiet, to fall asleep, to sleep, to die.]

d. in [Strong: 1223 dia dee-ah' a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional):--after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) ... fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.]

e. Jesus [Strong: 2424 Iesous ee-ay-sooce' of Hebrew origin (3091); Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites:--Jesus.]

f. will…bring [Strong: 71 ago ag'-o a primary verb; properly, to lead; by implication, to bring, drive, (reflexively) go, (specially) pass (time), or (figuratively) induce:--be, bring (forth), carry, (let) go, keep, lead away, be open.]

g. God [Strong: 2316 theos theh'-os of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).]

h. with [Strong: 4862 sun soon a primary preposition denoting union; with or together (but much closer than 3326 or 3844), i.e. by association, companionship, process, resemblance, possession, instrumentality, addition, etc.:--beside, with. In composition it has similar applications, including completeness.]

i. him [Strong: 846 autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

1). Whenever studying Scripture we must always take the whole of the word and not just isolated verses. The above section is a perfect case in point. Looking at this phrase by itself gives support for the doctrine of ‘soul sleep’, the teaching that says after we die we “sleep” in the grave until the resurrection . When the whole counsel of God is studied we see a different teaching. At death the body goes into the ground, but the spirit and soul go to either heaven or hell, there is no intermediate state, no purgatory. Paul made this clear in the following two witnesses.

a). Philippians 1:21-24 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

1:22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

1:24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

b). 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

2). Before the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus there were no human beings in heaven, all of the righteous dead who died in Covenant with God went to a place called Abraham’s bosom. Abraham’s bosom was in the center of the earth next to hell. Those in hell could actually see Abraham’s bosom and those in Abraham’s bosom could see hell. This is made clear in Jesus’ story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke’s gospel. This is not a parable, it is a true account of where the dead, righteous and unrighteous went after leaving this life. Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man…”

a). Luke 16:19-26 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

16:20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

16:24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

16:26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

3). After Jesus rose from the dead and as he ascended to heaven he took all the righteous dead who were held in Abraham’s bosom to heaven with him.

a). Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

4). When Jesus put his blood on the heavenly mercy seat, the New Covenant was finalized and the righteous who died in Covenant with God under the Old Covenant were taken from Abraham’s bosom to heaven, where all who die in Christ go to at death.

a). Hebrews 9:11, 12 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

5). The use of the word “sleep” is a term referring to the physical body only, for it is obvious from what Jesus said in Luke concerning the rich man and Lazarus that neither of them were “asleep”. The rich man was fully conscious.

a). Daniel 12:2And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 

6). The phrase, “…will God bring with him”, clearly says those who have died are already with Jesus when he comes back. They come back with him in order to receive their glorified body; the resurrection is speaking of the remains of the physical body that will be glorified .