1 Thessalonians 4:15
What does 1 Thessalonians 4:15 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Thessalonians 4:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Thessalonians 4:15 means
Paul speaks “by the word of the Lord,” underscoring divine authority for this promise. He addresses a specific fear: that living believers might have an advantage over the dead at the Lord’s coming. The opposite is true. “We that are alive… shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep.” God’s plan honors those who have died in Christ; they will not be second-class. This assurance equalizes the church across the boundary of death. The coming of the Lord reunites the whole family of faith in proper order, showing that neither death nor life can sever believers from the blessings of His arrival.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are still living at the coming of the Lord, will not go before those who are sleeping.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for this to you we say in the word of the Lord, that we who are living--who do remain over to the presence of the Lord--may not precede those asleep,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For the Lord himself shall come down from heaven with commandment and with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God: and the dead who are in Christ shall rise first.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890(For this we say to you in [the] word of [the] Lord, that we, the living, who remain to the coming of the Lord, are in no way to anticipate those who have fallen asleep;
Context
On the foundation of Jesus’ resurrection (v. 14), verse 15 provides an authoritative clarification about the order of events at the Lord’s return. It dispels a fear and paves the way for the description in verse 16 of the Lord’s dramatic descent and the resurrection of the dead in Christ. The flow is pastoral and precise: foundation (v. 14), assurance of order (v. 15), then depiction of the event (v. 16), leading to the shared hope of all believers and the everlasting union with the Lord (v. 17).
v.14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
v.15This passage
v.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;
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Corinthians 4:14
knowing that he that raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also with Jesus, and shall present us with you.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:19
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Are not even ye, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?
- 1 Corinthians 15:51
Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed,
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