Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Thessalonians 5:10

"who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him." — 1 Thessalonians 5:10 (ASV)

This verse is noteworthy. Here for the first time in Paul’s writings, he states the specific means by which Jesus Christ procures our salvation: “He died for us”—though the death of Christ had undoubtedly been presented as the basis of all his teaching about salvation (cf. Acts 17:2–3). Though Paul’s purpose here does not call for an extended discussion of that death, it is important in establishing the definite historical basis of our salvation. His death was “for us” or “on our behalf”—i.e., it was the sole condition whereby God procured as his peculiar possession a people destined for salvation when the rest of the world is plunged into the wrath of the future day.

“Awake [GK 1213] or asleep [GK 2761]” can be interpreted as metaphorical terms for the living and the dead. This would be consistent with Paul’s discussion in 4:13–18 and match Jesus’ use of “sleep” in raising Jairus’s daughter (Matthew 9:24). Yet this use of “asleep” is rare. It is better to take these two words in an ethical sense as in v.6. Since future salvation has been so fully provided by Christ’s finished work, it cannot be cancelled by lack of readiness. Moral preparedness or unpreparedness does not affect the issue one way or the other; believers are secure in their salvation. Though this suggestion seems to nullify Paul’s earlier exhortation to alertness (v.6), it must be acknowledged that this meaning is well established in other places in Scripture (Matthew 24:42; Matthew 25:13; Mark 13:35, 37; Revelation 3:3; Revelation 16:15).

But what about the seeming nullification of the exhortation of vv.6–8? This is a problem only if these exhortations are understood as relating just to watchfulness. We have not, however, found this to be the case. The Thessalonians were already watchful, and Paul warns them against extremes of overreaction. “Self-control” or “soberness” (vv.6, 8) serves as a complementary emphasis. Paul seeks to restore a proper balance between future anticipations and present obligations. In helping the Thessalonians, therefore, he had to calm their fears by convincing them of their participation in the parousia regardless of their degree of watchfulness. Every contingency has been met through the work done at Calvary by God himself. Christians need not fear missing the Lord’s return, because they are “sons of the light and sons of the day” (vv.4–5). Their enjoyment of the future resurrection life in union with Christ is certain.