1 Thessalonians 4 v 13 – 18

Revised English Bible

We wish you not to remain in ignorance, friends, about those who sleep in death; you should not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again; so too will God bring those who died as Christians to be with Jesus.

This we tell you as a word from the Lord: those of us who are still alive when the Lord comes will have no advantage over those who have died; when the command is given, when the archangel’s voice is heard, when God’s trumpet sounds, then the Lord himself will descend from heaven; first the Christian dead will rise, then we who are still alive shall join them, caught up in clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord. Console one another, then, with these words.

About This Reading

1 Thessalonians 4 v 13–18 is a Christian Bible reading that speaks about grief, hope and the promise of being with the Lord. It acknowledges the sadness of loss, but offers comfort through the belief in resurrection and eternal life. This can make it a meaningful choice for a funeral service where faith is central.

The reading may be especially suitable for a traditional Christian funeral or a service led by a minister. Its message is reassuring rather than sorrowful, encouraging mourners to find comfort in the hope of reunion and in the promise that those who have died are in God’s care.

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