1 Thessalonians 4:12-14

New English Translation

Footnotes

1. 1 Thessalonians 4:12 tn Grk “that you may live,” continuing the sentence of 4:10b-11.
2. 1 Thessalonians 4:12 tn Or “not be dependent on anyone”; Grk “and have need of nothing,” “of no one.”
3. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 tn Grk “ignorant.”
4. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.
5. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 tc Most witnesses have the perfect participle κεκοιμημένων here (“who have fallen asleep” [D (F G) Ψ 1241 1505 1881 2464 M al]), but the present participle κοιμωμένων (“who are asleep”) is better supported by early and significant mss (א A B 0278 33 81 1175 1739 al) and should be considered the Ausgangstext. tn The verb κοιμάω (koimaō) literally means “sleep,” but it is often used in the Bible as a euphemism for death when speaking of believers. This metaphorical usage by its very nature emphasizes the hope of resurrection: Believers will one day “wake up” out of death. Here the term refers to death, but “sleep” was used in the translation to emphasize the metaphorical, rhetorical usage of the term. This word also occurs in vv. 14 and 15.
6. 1 Thessalonians 4:14 tn “we believe that” is understood from the first clause of the verse, which is parallel. Grk “so also God will bring.”
7. 1 Thessalonians 4:14 tn Grk “those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.” It is possible that “through Jesus” describes “bring,” but this gives the unlikely double reference, “through Jesus God will bring them with Jesus.” Instead it describes their “falling sleep,” since through him their death is only sleep and not the threat it once was. Also Christians are those whose total existence—life and death—is in and through and for Christ (1 Cor 8:6).