“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13).
If the book of 1 Thessalonians is the earliest chronological letter among Paul the Apostle’s Biblical writings, then 1 Thessalonians 4:13 marks the first appearance of a literary device he often used to introduce an important topic: “…we do not want you to be uninformed” (ESV). Variations of this phrase also appear in Paul’s letters to the churches at Rome and Corinth and serve to draw our attention to the critical information that follows.
In this instance, Paul felt the need to clarify the state of those believers who had passed from this life…
“When Paul first went to Thessalonica, he taught the Christians about Christ’s coming to reign and the events that would follow. But in the meantime, problems had arisen regarding those saints who had died. Would their bodies remain in the graves until the last day? Would they be excluded from participation in Christ’s coming and in His glorious kingdom? To answer their questions and to allay their fears, Paul now describes the order of events at the time of Christ’s coming for his people.” (1)
Paul also explained his motive in seeking to address this subject: “…so you will not grieve like people who have no hope” (NLT). This passage provides us with some valuable insight, for human beings react to the presence of death in a variety of ways. For instance, some become highly emotional in response to the passing of a loved one while others are quiet and reflective. Some weep silently alone and others prefer to gather together to honor the life of the deceased.
No matter how we handle the grieving process, there are two underlying views that ultimately influence the way we respond when others pass from this life. The first is a sense that we have lost the deceased forever. The second is the belief that his or her passing is simply “goodbye for now.” Paul sought to encourage the Thessalonians (and modern-day readers by extension) in the form of this response: “…I want you to know what happens to a Christian when he dies so that when it happens, you will not be full of sorrow, as those are who have no hope” (TLB).
We are sure to find strength and comfort regarding this difficult subject as we go on to examine the final verses of this chapter.
(1) William Macdonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary (p.2037) Edited by Arthur Farstad Thomas Nelson Publishers