1 TH 4:14 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) because if we believe that Yeshua died and came back to life, then we can also believe that when he returns, Yeshua will be bringing with him those who have died.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, thus also God will bring the ones having slept through Jesus with him.

UST Certainly, we apostles are convinced that Jesus died and resurrected. This is why we also are convinced that God will resurrect the dead people who are united to Jesus. Then God will send them back with Jesus when he returns to earth again.

BSB For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with [Jesus] those who have fallen asleep in [Him].

BLB For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those having fallen asleep.

AICNT For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.

OEB For, as we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring, with Jesus, those who through him have passed to their rest.

WEBBE For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

WMBB For if we believe that Yeshua died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Yeshua.

MSG ^(13-14)And regarding the question, friends, that has come up about what happens to those already dead and buried, we don’t want you in the dark any longer. First off, you must not carry on over them like people who have nothing to look forward to, as if the grave were the last word. Since Jesus died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back to life those who died in Jesus.

NET For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians.

LSV for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also God will bring with Him those asleep through Jesus,

FBV Since we're convinced that Jesus died and rose again, we're also sure that God will bring[fn] with Jesus those who have died trusting in him.

4:14 “Bring… those,” obviously those who are resurrected from the earth, from the context of the two following verses.

TCNT For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

T4T We believers know that it is true that Jesus died and that he came back to life again. So we also know well that when Jesus returns, God will cause those believers who died [EUP] to live again and to come with Jesus.

LEB For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, thus also God will bring those who have fallen asleep through Jesus together with him.

BBE For if we have faith that Jesus underwent death and came back again, even so those who are sleeping will come again with him by God's power.

Moff Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then it follows that by means of Jesus God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

Wymth For if we believe that Jesus has died and risen again, we also believe that, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who shall have passed away.

ASV For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

DRA For this we say unto you in the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them who have slept.

YLT for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also God those asleep through Jesus he will bring with him,

Drby For if we believe that Jesus has died and has risen again, so also [fn]God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.

4.14 Elohim

RV For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

SLT For if we believe that Jesus died and rose up, so also God by Jesus Christ will bring with him them having slept.

Wbstr For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

KJB-1769 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

KJB-1611 For if we beleeue that Iesus died, and rose againe: euen so them also which sleepe in Iesus, will God bring with him.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps For yf we beleue that Iesus dyed and rose agayne: euen so them also whiche sleepe by Iesus, wyll God bryng with hym.
(For if we believe that Yesus/Yeshua died and rose again: even so them also which sleep by Yesus/Yeshua, will God bring with him.)

Gnva For if we beleeue that Iesus is dead, and is risen, euen so them which sleepe in Iesus, will God bring with him.
(For if we believe that Yesus/Yeshua is dead, and is risen, even so them which sleep in Yesus/Yeshua, will God bring with him. )

Cvdl For yf we beleue that Iesus dyed and rose agayne, euen so the also which slepe by Iesus, shal God brynge with him.
(For if we believe that Yesus/Yeshua died and rose again, even so the also which sleep by Yesus/Yeshua, shall God bring with him.)

TNT For yf we beleve that Iesus dyed and rose agayne: even so them also which slepe by IeIesus will God brynge agayne with him.
(For if we believe that Yesus/Yeshua died and rose again: even so them also which sleep by YeYesus/Yeshua will God bring again with him. )

Wycl And we seien this thing to you in the word of the Lord, that we that lyuen, that ben left in the comyng of the Lord, schulen not come bifor hem that ben deed.
(And we said this thing to you in the word of the Lord, that we that living, that been left in the coming of the Lord, should not come before hem that been deed.)

Luth Denn so wir glauben, daß JEsus gestorben und auferstanden ist, also wird GOtt auch, die da entschlafen sind durch JEsum, mit ihm führen.
(Because so we/us believe, that Yesus died and risen is, also becomes God also, the there fell_asleep are through Yesum, with him lead.)

ClVg Si enim credimus quod Jesus mortuus est, et resurrexit: ita et Deus eos qui dormierunt per Jesum, adducet cum eo.[fn]
(When/But_if because we_believe that Yesus dead it_is, and rose_again: so/thus and God them who/which sleeperunt through Yesus, will_bring when/with by_him. )

4.14 Eos. Non solum eos qui vivi invenientur, sed et mortuos, de quibus dubitatis. Qui dormierunt. Christum dicit mortuum, fideles dormientes, ut magis credant resurrectionem: Christum mortuum appellat, ut dum audivimus illum mortuum fuisse et resurrexisse, nos quoque speremus resurrecturos per virtutem divinitatis ejus.

4.14 Eos. Not/No only them who/which alive will_be_found, but and the_dead, from/about to_whom doubtsis. Who sleeperunt. Christ/Messiah he_says dead, faithful sleeping, as more credant resurrection: Christ/Messiah dead appeals, as while we_heard him dead to_have_been and resurrexisse, us too speremus resurrecturos through virtue of_divinity his.

UGNT εἰ γὰρ πιστεύομεν ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἀπέθανεν καὶ ἀνέστη, οὕτως καὶ ὁ Θεὸς τοὺς κοιμηθέντας διὰ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἄξει σὺν αὐτῷ.
(ei gar pisteuomen hoti Yaʸsous apethanen kai anestaʸ, houtōs kai ho Theos tous koimaʸthentas dia tou Yaʸsou axei sun autōi.)

SBL-GNT εἰ γὰρ πιστεύομεν ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἀπέθανεν καὶ ἀνέστη, οὕτως καὶ ὁ θεὸς τοὺς κοιμηθέντας διὰ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἄξει σὺν αὐτῷ.
(ei gar pisteuomen hoti Yaʸsous apethanen kai anestaʸ, houtōs kai ho theos tous koimaʸthentas dia tou Yaʸsou axei sun autōi.)

RP-GNT Εἰ γὰρ πιστεύομεν ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἀπέθανεν καὶ ἀνέστη, οὕτως καὶ ὁ θεὸς τοὺς κοιμηθέντας διὰ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἄξει σὺν αὐτῷ.
(Ei gar pisteuomen hoti Yaʸsous apethanen kai anestaʸ, houtōs kai ho theos tous koimaʸthentas dia tou Yaʸsou axei sun autōi.)

TC-GNT Εἰ γὰρ πιστεύομεν ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἀπέθανε καὶ ἀνέστη, οὕτω καὶ ὁ Θεὸς τοὺς κοιμηθέντας διὰ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἄξει σὺν αὐτῷ.
(Ei gar pisteuomen hoti Yaʸsous apethane kai anestaʸ, houtō kai ho Theos tous koimaʸthentas dia tou Yaʸsou axei sun autōi. )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:13–5:11: Paul taught about when the Lord Jesus would return

Paul explained that when the Lord Jesus returns, God will cause both the Christians who have died and those who will still be alive to ascend to meet the Lord Jesus in the sky. He also explained how the Thessalonians should behave as they waited for the Lord to return.

Paragraph 4:13–18

While Paul was in Thessalonica, he had probably taught the Thessalonians that Jesus would soon return, and the Thessalonians may have assumed that they would all survive until then. But as time passed, some of them died. Those who remained alive had begun to worry whether those believers who had died would see Jesus return. This is the issue Paul was addressing in this paragraph.

4:14a

For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again,

Do not mourn as they do, because we^(incl) believe as a fact that Jesus died and became alive again,

4:14b

we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.

and therefore we^(incl) believe/know that when Jesus returns to earth, God will cause all those believers in Jesus who have died to come to be with Jesus.

we…believe that: These words are implied in the Greek text and may need to be made explicit in your translation.

also: This connects this part of the verse back to 4:14a. In 4:14a, Paul stated the basis for what he said in 4:14b. Another way to translate this connection would be:

Because we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then certainly God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep with him.

God will bring with Jesus: Most English versions are ambiguous in the way they translate this part of the verse. The Greek verb agō, which the BSB translates as bring, is a general verb of motion and means “bring, take, lead, go.” The commentators suggest many different ways of understanding this part of the verse. The two most likely interpretations are:

Paul was focusing on the fact that when Jesus returns, the bodies of Christians who have died will be resurrected. He therefore meant that God would bring these resurrected bodies from earth to be with Jesus as he returns.
Paul was focusing on the fact that after a Christian dies, his soul is with Jesus. He therefore meant here that God would bring these people from heaven back to earth with Jesus.

Paul did not specify which of these possibilities he was thinking of. What Paul wrote in 4:14–17 makes it clear that God will cause both the resurrected believers and the ones still living to ascend into the sky to meet Jesus as he is descending to earth. This seems to favor the first interpretation. However, Paul’s main point was that from that moment all Christians would be with Jesus, whether on earth or in heaven. So if possible, you should avoid making your translation too explicit at this point.

those who have fallen asleep: See the note on 4:13a.

in Him: In Greek, the phrase that the BSB translates as in Him could mean either “in him” or “with him.” It is not clear from the Greek word order to which verb this phrase should be connected. There are two possibilities:

It should be attached to the verb “fallen asleep,” which comes earlier in the sentence it in the Greek text. The majority of commentators also support this. The meaning of the phrase “those who have fallen asleep in Him” therefore is “those who were believers when they died.” (BSB, NIV, GNT, NET, KJV, REB, SSA, NLT, NASB, CEV, NJB)
It should be attached to the verb “will bring” which directly precedes it in the Greek text. The meaning is therefore that it is “through Jesus” that God will cause believers to live again. (RSV, GW, NCV)

It is recommended that you follow the first option (1), as do the majority of English versions and commentaries. It is the most probable grammatically.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Γάρ πιστεύομεν ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἀπέθανεν καί ἀνέστη οὕτως καί ὁ Θεός τούς κοιμηθέντας διά τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἄξει σύν αὐτῷ)

Here, the word For introduces a reason why the Thessalonians should not grieve like other people do. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a reason or basis for a claim, or you could leave For untranslated. Alternate translation: [You should not grieve in those ways because,] or [Indeed,]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-condition-fact

εἰ

Paul speaks as if this were a hypothetical situation, but he means that it must be true. If your language does not state something as a condition if it is certain or true, and if your readers might think that what Paul is saying is uncertain, then you could translate his words as an affirmative statement. Alternate translation: [because]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

πιστεύομεν

˱we˲_˓are˒_believing

Here, the word we includes Paul, his fellow workers, and the Thessalonians, so use the inclusive form of that word in your translation if your language marks that distinction.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἀνέστη

rose_up

Here, the word rose refers to how Jesus came back to life after he died. If your language does not use rose to describe coming back to life, you could use a comparable idiom or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [came back to life] or [lived again]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

οὕτως καὶ ὁ Θεὸς

thus (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Γάρ πιστεύομεν ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἀπέθανεν καί ἀνέστη οὕτως καί ὁ Θεός τούς κοιμηθέντας διά τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἄξει σύν αὐτῷ)

Paul is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You could supply these words from earlier in the sentence if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: [we believe that thus also God]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

οὕτως καὶ ὁ Θεὸς

The phrase thus also could go with: (1) God will bring. In this case, thus also indicates that believers will experience something that is similar to how Jesus died and rose again. Alternate translation: [we can also believe that, in a similar way, God] (2) the implied phrase “we believe.” In this case, thus also indicates that believing that Christians will resurrect is based on believing in Jesus’ resurrection. Alternate translation: [thus also we believe that God]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ὁ Θεὸς τοὺς κοιμηθέντας διὰ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἄξει σὺν αὐτῷ

¬the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἰ Γάρ πιστεύομεν ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἀπέθανεν καί ἀνέστη οὕτως καί ὁ Θεός τούς κοιμηθέντας διά τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἄξει σύν αὐτῷ)

Here Paul does not explicitly state all the elements in his comparison between Jesus and the the ones having slept. He states that Jesus died and rose, and he implies that this will be true for the ones having slept. He states that the ones having slept will be brought with Jesus, and he implies that Jesus is coming back to this world. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make these two implicit ideas more explicit. Alternate translation: [God will raise the ones having slept through Jesus and will bring them with him when he comes back]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἄξει

˓will_be˒_bringing

Here, the phrase will bring could mean that: (1) God will send resurrected believers with Jesus when Jesus comes back to this world. Alternate translation: [will send back to earth] (2) God will bring resurrected believers to be with Jesus in heaven. Alternate translation: [will bring to heaven]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / euphemism

τοὺς κοιμηθέντας

See how you translated the similar phrase in [4:13](../04/13.md). Alternate translation: [the ones having passed away] or [the ones who are dead]

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

ὁ Θεὸς τοὺς κοιμηθέντας διὰ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἄξει σὺν αὐτῷ

Here, the phrase through Jesus could go with: (1) will bring. In this case, God acts through Jesus. Alternate translation: [through Jesus God will bring with him the ones having slept] (2) having slept. In this case, Paul is describing people who died while they were believing in Jesus. Alternate translation: [God will bring with him the ones having slept in Jesus] or [God will bring with him the believers who have slept]

Note 11 topic: writing-pronouns

αὐτῷ

him

The pronoun him refers to Jesus. If this is not clear for your readers, you could use the person’s name here. Alternate translation: [with Jesus]

Parallel 1 TH 4:14

Section 4:13–5:11: Paul taught about when the Lord Jesus would return

Paragraph 4:13–18

4:14a

4:14b

Parallel 1 TH 4:14