What role does "the Lord's word" play in understanding 1 Thessalonians 4:15? Verse in Focus “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord: We who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep.” —1 Thessalonians 4:15 What “the Lord’s word” Means Here • Not Paul’s personal opinion; it is a direct, authoritative message from Jesus Himself, delivered through Paul. • Anchors the teaching in infallible revelation—placing it on the same footing as Jesus’ own recorded sayings. • Signals that every detail about the resurrection order is guaranteed by the Lord who cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Why Paul Highlights This Authority • To comfort believers grieving loved ones (4:13); assurance is strongest when grounded in the Lord’s own word. • To silence speculation: the sequence of events is settled, not up for debate. • To underscore inspiration: Paul writes as an apostle “entrusted with the gospel” (1 Thessalonians 2:4), yet here he explicitly points beyond himself. Echoes in Other Scriptures • John 5:28-29 — Jesus foretells the dead hearing His voice and rising; the same voice governs 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17. • 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 — “I tell you a mystery… we will all be changed,” another revelation “from the Lord.” • Acts 1:11 — Angels affirm Christ’s personal return, matching Paul’s description of “the coming of the Lord.” • 2 Peter 1:21 — Prophecy never had its origin in human will; men spoke from God as carried by the Spirit, validating Paul’s claim. Implications for Understanding the Passage • Certainty of sequence: the dead in Christ rise first; the living follow. Doubt is removed because the Lord Himself has decreed it. • Reliability of timing: while the exact day remains unknown (5:2), the order is fixed by divine proclamation. • Comfort rooted in truth: grief gives way to hope when anchored in an unbreakable promise (4:18). Living Under This Word Today • Trust the Lord’s timetable for loved ones who have “fallen asleep”; His word guarantees their resurrection. • Let assurance banish fear—if He spoke it, He will fulfill it (Isaiah 55:11). • Share this hope confidently, knowing you stand on the Lord’s own proclamation, not mere human optimism. |
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