1 Thessalonians 4
King James Version (1769) · Tap a verse to see it in context
About this chapter
AI-assisted, sourcedPaul writes that "this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication," for "God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." He urges them to grow in brotherly love, "to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands." About believers who have died, he says not to sorrow "as others which have no hope": "the dead in Christ shall rise first," then the living will be "caught up together with them... and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:31 Thessalonians 4:71 Thessalonians 4:91 Thessalonians 4:101 Thessalonians 4:111 Thessalonians 4:131 Thessalonians 4:161 Thessalonians 4:171 Thessalonians overview
Who, where, when, and the key verses
Who
Paul and his fellow writers, writing to the Thessalonian believers about "them which are asleep." 1 Thessalonians overview1 Thessalonians 4:13
Where
Thessalonica; their love reaches "all the brethren which are in all Macedonia." 1 Thessalonians 4:10Macedonia1 Thessalonians overview
When
Traditionally about AD 50-51, during Paul's second missionary journey, soon after the church was founded. Nearly all scholars accept that Paul wrote it, and many count it his earliest surviving letter. 1 Thessalonians overview
How it fits
Chapter 3 prayed that their hearts would be "unblameable in holiness"; this chapter spells out that holiness. Chapter 5 continues about "the times and the seasons" and the day of the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 3:131 Thessalonians 4:31 Thessalonians 4:71 Thessalonians 5:11 Thessalonians 5:2
Key verses
- Verse 3
"This is the will of God, even your sanctification." Leviticus 11:44 also says, "ye shall be holy; for I am holy." 1 Thessalonians 4:31 Thessalonians 4:7Leviticus 11:44
- Verse 13
"That ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." 1 Thessalonians 4:131 Thessalonians 4:14
- Verse 16
"The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout... and the dead in Christ shall rise first." 1 Corinthians 15:52 also speaks of "the last trump," when "the dead shall be raised incorruptible." 1 Thessalonians 4:161 Thessalonians 4:171 Corinthians 15:52
Takeaway
Live in holiness and quiet, honest work, and grieve with hope: those who died in Christ will rise, and all his people will be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:71 Thessalonians 4:111 Thessalonians 4:131 Thessalonians 4:171 Thessalonians 4:181 Thessalonians 4:121 Thessalonians overview
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a separate AI reader. Updated 2026-10-29.
Living in holiness
1Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
Brotherly love and quiet work
9But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 10And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; 11And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
The dead in Christ shall rise first
13But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.