1 Thessalonians 4:15 net — For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will su…

NET Bible

"For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep."

— 1 Thessalonians 4:15, NET Bible

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1 Thessalonians 4:15 in Other Translations

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1 Thessalonians 4 — Context

12

In this way you will live a decent life before outsiders and not be in need.

13

The Lord Returns for Believers Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope.

14

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians.

15

For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep.

16

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

17

Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

18

Therefore encourage one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:15 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Thessalonians 4:15 say?
1 Thessalonians 4:15 in the NET Bible reads: “For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep.”
Where is 1 Thessalonians 4:15 in the Bible?
1 Thessalonians 4:15 is found in the New Testament, in the book of 1 Thessalonians, chapter 4, verse 15.
Who wrote 1 Thessalonians?
1 Thessalonians is traditionally attributed to Paul the Apostle. It was written c. AD 50–51.
What is the book of 1 Thessalonians about?
One of Paul's earliest letters — encouragement to a baby church doing well under persecution. He commends their faith, instructs them on sexual purity and brotherly love, and answers their questions about believers who have died before Christ's return.
What are the major themes of 1 Thessalonians?
1 Thessalonians explores themes including Hope of Christ's Return, Sanctification, Brotherly Love, Encouragement. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Thessalonians 4:15.
What translation should I read 1 Thessalonians 4:15 in?
1 Thessalonians 4:15 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Thessalonians 4:15?
1 Thessalonians 4:15 reads (NET): “For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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