Christian Hope
CHRISTIAN HOPE
1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-18
Death remains an enemy to Christians, but it has been conquered by the Lord of life.
Even though only a few months had passed since Paul left Thessalonica, some from the fellowship had died. Death was an awesome reality in the ancient world. Grim inscriptions along the roads reminded travelers that it was the common experience of everyone. The anxiety of “the fainthearted” concerning those who had died is understandable. Paul had proclaimed the death and resurrection of Jesus (1:10), yet he may have neglected to instruct the Thessalonians that they would participate in the resurrection. The apostle had spoken much about the glorious event of Jesus’ coming with all his saints. Did the death of Christians exclude them from sharing in the triumphant climax to history?
The encouragement provided by Paul’s response to these concerns can be appreciated when his words are contrasted with a pagan letter of consolation dating from the second century: “Irene to Taonnophris and Philo, good comfort. I am as sorry and weep over the departed one as I wept for Didymas. And all things which were fitting I have done … But, nevertheless, against such things one can do nothing. Therefore, comfort one another. Fare ye well” (Oxyrhynchus Papyrus No. 115). While this letter both opens and closes on the note of comfort, its most striking feature is a frank recognition that no real basis for comfort has been provided. After the expression of sincere sympathy and the appropriate memorials, after the grief and tears, the fact of utter helplessness remains.
How different is the encouragement Paul offers to the fainthearted. The reason they are not to “grieve as others who have no hope” is that God who raised Jesus from the dead will also raise believers who have “fallen asleep” (4:13f.). For them, death is no ultimate catastrophe. Not even Jesus, the Lord of life, had been spared the experience of death. But he rose again! Because of his resurrection “sleep” is no longer a euphemism for the finality of the grave, but a description of a rest which is followed by an awakening.
The fourth-century preacher, John Chrysostom, helps us to sense the majesty of 4:17: “When a king made his entrance into a city, certain ones among the dignitaries, the chief officials and those who were in the good graces of the sovereign, would go out from the city in order to meet him, while the guilty and the criminals are kept in the city where they await the sentence which the king will pronounce. In the same manner, when the Lord will come, the first group will go forth to meet him with assurance in the midst of the air, while the guilty and those who are conscious of having committed many sins will await below their Judge” (Homily 8 on First Thessalonians). For Paul’s readers, who were familiar with the Greek ceremony described by Chrysostom, the language evoked deep feelings and was readily understood. The final encouragement to “comfort one another” therefore rings with confidence and joy based on the character of Christian hope.