The Divine Lamp

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Note 2: the subject of this post was originally treated in two separate entries but have been combined here.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 is the second section of the final part (i.e., 4:1-5:28) of the letter.  It deals with the subjects of the resurrection and second coming. Because I’m pressed for time this morning I’ll comment on 4:13-18 and leave the remainder of the section (5:1-11) for another time.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18  But we would not have you ignorant, brothers, concerning those who fall asleep, that you not grieve like the others who have no hope. Apparently Paul had given them instructions concerning the second coming and the resurrection of the dead but they were in confusion on a certain point: will the dead (Those who fell asleep) not see the glory of the coming of the Lord?  Paul will emphatically assert that they will (vs 15), and that it is a matter of faith (vs 14: Since we believe that Jesus died and rose…).  The living will not precede the dead in returning to the Lord, rather, the dead will precede the living in this matter; Paul is emphatic on  this point (vs. 15 shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. The “shall not” is a double negative in Greek, giving emphasis).

The apocalyptic imagery of verses 16-17 is often interpreted quite literally, but it should be noted that what Paul is here describing is basically the visit of a king to a city.  Josephus give the following description of the Emperor Titus’s entry into Antioch (boldface type represents parallels with 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17):

“When the people of Antioch learned that Titus was coming to the city, their joy was such that they could not rest within the city walls until he came.  Instead they went out to meet him, going a distance of more than thirty stadia.  Not only the men went, but a multitude of women also, with the children, and when they saw Titus coming ,they stood on either side of the road saluting him with their hands raised.  They brought him to the city with acclamations of all sorts, and while they applauded him, they did not cease to ask that the Jews be expelled from the city.”  (Quoted in SEVEN PAULINE LETTERS by Peter  F. Ellis).

For more on the over-literal interpretation of this passage see HERE.

In 4:13-18 St Paul dealt with the status of the faithful departed at the coming of our Lord. In 5:1-11 he deals with the suddenness of that coming.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 The first verse echoes what was said in 1 Thess 4:9 concerning love. The two verses together show that the Thessalonians had received previous instructions concerning the subject treated here (as in 1 Thess 4:2 regarding holiness). Ironically, false teachings concerning the coming of Christ-possibly in letter form-caused the Thessalonians problems a latter time, causing Paul to write a second letter to the Church (see 2 Thess 2:1-2), wherein he more forcefully appeals to the traditional faith they received (2 Thess 2:5, 13-15).

Like a thief in the night. It may seem odd that Paul is comparing the coming of Christ to the unexpected and terrifying discovery of a thief in one’s home in the dead of night, but the subject of verses 3&4 makes its usage clear.

1 Thess 5:3-5 A man who gets falling-down-drunk even though he know that a thief is going to break into his house deserves all the terror that event could have. Who in their right mind would not stay alert for such an event? But Christians know full well that Christ will come in judgment, therefore they ought to be prepared for the coming of Christ; a day of destruction upon the lax, but a day of salvation for those who are ready. There will be no terror for those who are the sons of the light and the day. The reference to sons calls to mind the image of motherhood and fatherhood Paul had applied to himself and his co-missionaries in relation to the Thessalonians (1 Thess 2:5-12). Notice that the imagery ends with the words “…we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.” Children ought to imitate their holy parents for their own good.

1 Thess 5:6-7 The missionaries had toiled day and night among the Thessalonians (1 Thess 2:9), not sleeping on the job or seeking worldly comforts like lazy drunkards. Unfortunately, some of the Thessalonians, perhaps in a misguided attempt to prepare for the coming of Christ, had given up work (1 Thess 4:11), and become idle (1 Thess 5:14 see also 2 Thess 3:6-11). Not without reason does the Church insist on the sanctity of work (CCC 2427-2428).

1 Thess 5:8 Using military imagery, Paul once again makes reference to the theological virtues (see 1 Thess 1:3 note the reference to work and labor). Christianity is something we live by, not something we lounge in. As in the first usage, hope is mentioned last, giving us an “eschatological order” (i.e., end-time order) to the virtues. This ordering is explained by the following verses.

1 Thess 5:9-11 In 1 Thess 1:10 Paul had spoken of Jesus who “delivers us from the coming wrath.” There he had used the present tense in referring to deliverance, but the future tense in relation to wrath. The moral imperatives and warnings which litter this letter make it quite clear that we cannot presume our salvation as assured. Our current status as righteous is not our final deliverance; it it were, the moral exhortations and warnings would have no meaning, and one can leave the way of righteousness (2 Peter 2:20-22).

Sleep in verse ten refers to the faithful departed. Paul had dealt with the status of those Christians who “sleep” in death in 1 Thess 4:13-18. In the present chapter, sleep had decidedly negative connotations. The dead in Christ (1 Thess 4:16 i.e., the faithful who have fallen asleep in death), will rise to new life, whereas those who take their rest now, not engaging in the “work of faith, labor of love, and endurance of hope” will essentially endure a second death (see Revelation 2:20, 20:13-15). It will, however, be a sleep without rest (revelation 14:11). It is this which sustains those who keep the commandments of God (Revelation 14:12).