Not Ignorant Concerning the Asleep 1 Thessalonians 4:13

Paul the apostle instructed the Thessalonians in “brotherly love”. He desired for them to “increase more and more” in their love toward each other and others, and he wanted them to demonstrate their faith by studying to “be quiet”, do their “own business”, “work” with their “own hands” and “walk honestly toward them that are” outside of the faith. In chapter four and verse thirteen, Paul transitions his comments toward those “which are asleep” where we read:

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

The verse begins, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep,...” Paul began with the word, “But” which is a disassociation conjunction which means “moreover, and, also and now” “I would not have” which in Greek is the phrase “thelō ou thelō” and means “to will, have in mind, intend, be resolved or determined and to purpose” “you to be ignorant” or “not to know, understand, err, be wrong or sin through mistake” “brethren” which refers to “a brother, whether born of the same two parents or only of the same father or mother or a fellow believer who is united to another by the bond of affection” “concerning” which means “about, on account of, because of, around and near” “them which are asleep” or “are still, calm, quiet and die”. Paul did not want the Thessalonian church members to be in error about people who had already died in the faith.

The verse continues, “...that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.” Paul added, “that you sorrow not” which in Greek is “hina mē lypeō hina mē” and means “lest you are made sorrowful, affected with sadness, caused to grieve, are offended and made uneasy” “even as others” which means “the remaining or rest of any number or class under consideration” “which have” or “these hold, own and possess” “no hope” which means “expectation of good and a joyful, confident expectation of eternal salvation”. Paul did not desire for the Thessalonians to be without an expectation of good and joyful consideration when it came to those who already passed to the next life.

When we meditate upon this verse from Paul, we see his compassion and care for the church members in Thessalonica. Evidently Paul heard they were concerned about people who already died, and when he understood they were mistaken in what happened to them, he addressed the problem. We shall see what the Thessalonians were concerned about in the next few verses, however, let us stop a moment and think about Paul caring for every aspect of the church members' lives. May the Lord Jesus help us “not to be ignorant” about any truth He desires for us to know, and may we also “increase in our love more and more” as we apply everything He shares.

Next time Paul shares how those who believe in Jesus “will God bring with him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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