1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • "Jesus' Apocalyptic Return," The Jesus Database, an online annotated inventory of the traditions concerning the life and teachings of Jesus. Dr. Gregory C. Jenks, FaithFutures Foundation.
  • Chapter XXIX, On Prayer,  Tertullian (c. 199)
  • VI.13, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • Chapter IX, On Patience, Tertullian (c. 202)
  • II.7, On The Apparel of Women, Tertullian (c. 202)
  • III.25, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 209)
  • Chapter LV, On The Soul, Tertullian (c. 210)
  • Chapter XXIV, Chapter XLI, Chapter LVII, On the Resurrection of the Flesh,  Tertullian (c. 211)
  • V.15, V.20, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 212)
  • II.XI.5, First Principles (De Principiis), Origen. (c.225)
  • II.LXV, Against Celsus, Origen. (c.246)
  • On the Mortality -- Cyprian of Carthage (c. 252)
  • Commentary by St John Chrysostom: 
    • Homily VII
    • Homily VIII
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "We must take heed that we do not immoderately mourn for the dead, that is, as those do who think that the dead are utterly perished."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "Christianity does not forbid, and grace does not do away, our natural affections. Yet we must not be excessive in our sorrows; this is too much like those who have no hope of a better life."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "Believers of all ages and nations make up, as it were, one body; in consideration of which, the believers of that age might put themselves in the place, and speak in the person, of them who were to live till the coming of the Lord. Not that St. Paul hereby asserted (though some seem to have imagined so) that the day of the Lord was at hand."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "The leading topic of Paul's preaching at Thessalonica having been the coming kingdom (Ac 17:7), some perverted it into a cause for fear in respect to friends lately deceased, as if these would be excluded from the glory which those found alive alone should share."
  • From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
    • "It seems that the Thessalonian brethren, expecting the speedy coming of the Lord, mourned over some of their number who had died, counting it a great loss that they did not live to meet Jesus."
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies and Exegesis:
  • Commentary, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Karoline Lewis, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2008.
    • "At the same time that Paul offers this extraordinary vision of consolation, he locates the act of consolation within the community as an ongoing (present imperative) expression of hope."
  • "First Thoughts on Year A Epistle Passages in the Lectionary," Pentecost 26, William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
    • "There is a pastoral trap in the opening verse of our passage which if misread or misheard will inspire people to guilt about grief."
  • "The Art of Final Judgment," study guide, Robert B. Kruschwitz, (other resources at) "Heaven and Hell," Christian Reflection, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2002.
  • "Hopeful Grieving," James Howell, The Christian Century, 2005.
    • "Jesus is coming. Look busy -- busy grieving and busy working. We will begin to recover that 'heartfelt expectation' of our Lord’s return."
  • "Hope in Resurrection," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Catholic Resource for This Sunday's Gospel.
    • "Reflect on your experiences of death. What funerals or wakes have you attended? What hope did they inspire in the resurrection? If you could plan your own funeral, how could you encourage hope in the resurrection?"
  • "The Lord's Coming," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
  • The Comfort of His Coming from An Exegetical and Devotional Commentary on 1 Thessalonians, by J. Hampton Keathley III at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
    • "But this is not just to give comfort or reassurance in the face of death; it is to have a transforming affect on the way we live—on values, priorities, pursuits, and on moral behavior in general."
• Articles & Background:
  • Jesus Now, Proper (Ordinary) 31A, lectionary, study and worship resources from Faith Futures Jesus Then & Now.
  • "Aging from the Perspective of the Cross," Stephen Sapp, The Center for Christian Ethics at Baylor University, 2003.
    • "The discipleship of the cross recognizes that the cross Jesus Christ bids his followers to take up includes the ordinary, everyday sufferings of human life—including those associated with aging—that are borne as Jesus bore his sufferings."
  • "Apocalyptic Discourse in I Thessalonians," by  James D. Hester. Pre-print article at Corpus Paulinum. (Not to be cited without permission of the author.)
  • "1 Thessalonians 4:17; The Bringing in of the Lord or the Bringing in of the Faithful?" J. Plevnik, Biblica 80 (1999), 537-546.
    • "Hellenistic parousias depict the citizens making the royal visitor welcome in their city, whereas 1 Thess 4,13-18 depicts the effect of the Lord’s coming on them. The faithful are raised; the faithful are taken up. 1 Thess 4,13-18 really depicts the bringing in of the faithful, not of the Lord. The implication is that they do not return to the earth, but stay with the Lord forever."
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  • Ascough, Richard S., "A Question of Death: Paul's Community-Building Language in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18," Journal of Biblical Literature, 2005.
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  • Gillman, John, "Signals of Transformation in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 1985.
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  • Harrison, J.R., "Paul and the Imperial Gospel at Thessaloniki," Journal for the Study for the New Testament, 2002.
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  • Howell, James, "Hopeful Grieving," The Christian Century, 2005.
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  • Lüdemann, Gerd, "The Hope of the Early Paul: From the Foundation-Preaching at Thessalonika to 1 Corinthians 15:51-57," Perspectives in Religious Studies, 1980.
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  • Kettner, Edward G., "Time, Eternity, and the Intermediate State," Concordia Journal, 1986.
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  • Konstan, David, and Ilaria Ramelli, "The Syntax of CHRISTW in 1 Thessalonians 4:16," Journal of Biblical Literature, 2007.
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  • Krentz, Edgar, "Great Expectations, Great Choices," The Christian Century, 1996.
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  • Malherbe, Abraham J., "Paul: Hellenistic Philosopher or Christian Pastor?" American Theological Library Association Summary of Proceedings, 1985.
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  • Oakes, Peter, "Re-mapping the Universe: Paul and the Emperor in 1 Thessalonians and Philippians," Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2005.
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  • Plevnik, Joseph, S.J., "The Destination of the Apostle and of the Faithful: Second Corinthians 4:13b-14 and First Thessalonians 4:14," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2000.
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  • Quanbeck, Philip A, II, "Preaching Apocalyptic Texts," Word & World, 2005.
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  • Scott, J. Julius, "Paul and Late-Jewish Eschatology: A Case Study, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 1972.
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  • Still, Todd D., "Eschatology in the Thessalonian Letters," Review & Expositor, 1999.
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  • Turner, Seth, "The Interim, Earthy Messianic Kingdom in Paul," Journal for the Study for the New Testament, 2003.
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  • van Houwelingen, P.H.R., "The Great Reunion: The Meaning and Significance of the 'Word of the Lord' in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18," Calvin Theological Journal, 2007.
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• Reviews:
• Sermons:
• With Children:
  • "Ticket to Ride," Jim Kerlin, childrensermons.com.
  • "The Day of the Lord," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
• Drama:
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • 1 Thessalonians 4:14, Heartlight - Free Christian PowerPoint Backgrounds.
  • Ready or Not, Reverend Fun Cartoon, gospelcom.net. Check for printing permissions at right-hand side of destination page
• Hymns and Music:
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: 1 Thessalonians 4:14, 16, 17. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • Hymnal Scripture References, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship.
  • At Digital Hymnal (midi files, guitar chords, karaoke files, projection text):
    • He Hideth My Soul
    • It May Be at Morn
    • My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of 1 Thessalonians