1 Thessalonians 4:18 (KJV)

What does 1 Thessalonians 4:18 mean?

1 Thessalonians 4:18 tells the believers in Thessalonica to comfort each other with Paul’s words about those who have died and the coming of the Lord. Their comfort rests on his assurance that those who have died will not miss out when the Lord comes.

“Wherefore” means that Paul’s instruction follows from what he has just said. After describing believers being with the Lord in verse 17, Paul tells his listeners what they are to do with that message: speak it to one another.

The Greek behind 1 Thessalonians 4:18

• “comfort” — παρακαλέω (parakaleō): This word can carry the sense of encouraging as well as comforting. Here, it points to words shared among people who are grieving or concerned.
• “another” — ἀλλήλων (allēlōn): This word means “one another.” It shows that Paul addresses the group as people who can give comfort to each other, not just receive it from him.

Why 1 Thessalonians 4:18 matters

• Paul’s concern includes people who have died. Earlier, he says he does not want his readers to be uninformed “concerning them which are asleep,” a phrase he uses for those who have died (verse 13).
• “These words” points back to Paul’s specific message, rather than to comforting words of any kind. His account includes both those who have died and those still living when the Lord comes (verses 15–17).