The big picture
1 Thessalonians 4 opens in verse 1 with “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 9 with “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are…”, and closes in verse 18 with “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” Repeated or prominent terms include Lord, brethren, Jesus, know, alive. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Thessalonians · King James Version · 181 Thessalonians 4:1-6
1–6: Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord…
1 Thessalonians 4:1–6 opens with “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have…” and reaches “That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Believers practicing holiness, brotherly love, quiet work, and honorable conduct in daily community life, with particular weight carried by know, Lord, Jesus.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye…” Naming Furthermore keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-6
King James Version1Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
2For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
3For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
4That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
5Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
6That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
1 Thessalonians 4:7-12
7–12: For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
1 Thessalonians 4:7–12 opens with “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.” and reaches “That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Believers practicing holiness, brotherly love, quiet work, and honorable conduct in daily community life, with particular weight carried by brethren, despiseth, love.
Context that brings the passage to life
“For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
1 Thessalonians 4:7-12
King James Version7For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
8He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
9But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
10And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
11And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
12That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13–18: I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are…
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 opens with “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye…” and reaches “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Believers practicing holiness, brotherly love, quiet work, and honorable conduct in daily community life, with particular weight carried by Lord, alive, asleep.
Context that brings the passage to life
“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as…” The line’s distinctive content terms include asleep, brethren, concerning. Its relationship to verses 14 shows what work it does in this passage.
“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
King James Version13But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Thessalonians 4:1 begins with “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye…”
Where the chapter turns
1 Thessalonians 4:9 forms a natural hinge: “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.”
The final note
1 Thessalonians 4:18 leaves the reader with “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Lord, brethren, Jesus, know, alive, asleep help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What opportunity exists before the murder?
Cain receives a warning and a call to resist sin in verse 7. Anger is not treated as an irresistible excuse.
What do the two speeches about vengeance reveal?
God limits retaliation against Cain; Lamech celebrates escalation.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- hath
- has
- wherefore
- for that reason
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.