A G 4:1-12. Exhortation.
H 4:13-5:11. Instruction.
G 5:12-22. Exhortation.
G J 1. Walk, as before God.
K 2. Commandments.
L p 3-5. God's will: sanctification [positive and negative].
q 6. Brethren: not to be defrauded [negative].
L p 7,8. God's call: sanctification [negative and positive].
K 11. Commandments.
J 12. Walk, as regards man.
1 Thessalonians 4)
1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, in order that that as you have received of us how you ought to walk and to please God, so you would abound the more. (Continue to grow in the Word.)
2 For you know what commandments (charge. See 1 Tim. 1:18) we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification (see Rom. 6:19), that you should abstain from fornication:
4 That each one of you should know how to possess his own vessel (cp. 1 Pet. 3:7) in sanctification and honor;
5 Not in the lust of desire, even as the Gentiles also which know not God:
6 That he [should] not go beyond and defraud his brother in the matter: because that the Lord is the avenger concerning all such [sins], as we forewarned also you and testified.
7 For God called us not to uncleanness, but to holiness. (He called us to Him.)
8 He therefore that despises (to reject), despises not man, but God, who has also given to us His holy Spirit. (the reference is to Acts 2:4, the Spirit being always the Giver)
9 But as touching brotherly love (Gr. philadelphia. See Rom. 12;10) you need not that I write to you: for you yourselves are taught of God (natural instinct) to love one another.
10 And indeed you do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that you increase (same as abound) more and more;
11 And that you study (Gr. phlotimeomai. See Rom. 15:20) to be quiet (stable), and to attend to your own affairs (cp. 2 Thess. 3:11), and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; (Don't be a busy-body, be an example. Protect your credibility.)
12 That you may walk honestly toward them that are without (cp. 1 Cor. 5;12,13. Col. 4:5), and that you may have lack of nothing. (Christianity isn't a religion, it's a reality.)
H r 4:13. Instruction necessary as to those who are asleep.
s 4:14.1st reason. For God will bring them from the dead.
t 4:15. 2nd reason. For those who are alive shall not proceed them.
u 4:16,17. 3rd reason. Because both shall be caught up together.
v 4:18. Wherefore comfort one another.
r 5:1. Instruction not necessary as to times and seasons.
s 5:2-6. 1st reason. For they knew already the character of the day of the Lord.
t 5;7,8. 2nd reason. For they that sleep sleep in the night.
u 5:9,10. 3rd reason: Because we are appointed to live together with Him.
v 5:11. Wherefore comfort one another.
13 But we would not have you to be ignorant (unlearned. See Rom. 1:13), brethren, concerning them which are falling asleep (passed away), that you sorrow not, even as the rest also which have not hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so [we believe] also that them which are fallen asleep God will through Jesus (through the Lord Jesus Christ we have peace, reconciliation, son-ship, the Holy Spirit's gifts, victory, and many other blessings; Rom. 8:37. 1 Cor. 15;57. 2 Cor. 5:18. Eph. 1:5. Col. 1:20. Tit. 3:6. Death is not a blessing, but an enemy. Inflicted by the Lord [Rev. 2:23; 19:21], and permitted by Him, it is the work of the devil [Heb. 2:14. Rev. 2:10], whose work He came to destroy. It is better therefore) will bring Him. (See Ecc. 12:7)
15 For this we say to you by word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain to the coming of the Lord shall not anticipate (stand in the way of) them which are fallen asleep. (We cannot precede them because they are already there. To be absent from the flesh is to be present with the Lord. See 1 Cor. 15:51-54. John 6:43.)
16 Because the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a word of command, with the voice of the archangel (Michael. See Jude 9. Dan. 12:1), and with the trump (the last trump, the 7th) of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (Because they are already with Him.)
17 Then (thereupon, thereafter) we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in clouds (fig. of speech, throng, great crowd. See Heb. 12:1), to meet the Lord in the air (not atmosphere, but spiritual body): and so (i.e. by resurrection, or transition)shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 So then comfort one another with these words.