By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep.
Parallel translations
- WEB 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.
- KJV For 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.
- NKJV For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
- NASB For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
- NLT We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
By the Lord's word, living believers at Christ's coming will not precede those who have died. The dead in Christ lose nothing at his return.
Overview
Paul speaks "by the word of the Lord," claiming divine authority for this teaching. He assures them that those still alive at Christ's coming will gain no advantage over the dead. The departed believers will fully share in the glory of the Lord's return, easing the Thessalonians' grief.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- 1 Cor 15:51–53Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—
- 2 Cor 4:14knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence.
- 1 Th 2:19After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?
- 1 Kgs 13:17–18For I have been told by the word of the LORD: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water there or return by the way you came.’”
- Ps 88:13But to You, O LORD, I cry for help; in the morning my prayer comes before You.
- Matt 17:25“Yes,” he answered. When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?”
- 1 Kgs 13:1Suddenly, as Jeroboam was standing beside the altar to burn incense, there came a man of God from Judah to Bethel by the word of the LORD.
- 1 Kgs 20:35Meanwhile, by the word of the LORD, one of the sons of the prophets said to his companion, “Strike me, please!” But the man refused to strike him.
- Ps 119:147–148I rise before dawn and cry for help; in Your word I have put my hope.
- 1 Kgs 13:9For this is what I was commanded by the word of the LORD: ‘You must not eat bread or drink water or return by the way you came.’”
- 1 Kgs 13:22but you went back and ate bread and drank water in the place where He told you not to do so, your body shall never reach the tomb of your fathers.’”
- Job 41:11Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Everything under heaven is Mine.
- 1 Kgs 22:14But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever the LORD tells me.”
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Christ at the center
The believer waits for God's Son from heaven, Jesus who delivers from the wrath to come and who will return to gather his people to himself.
How 1 Thessalonians 4:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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