Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [1 Thessalonians: Chapter 4].
4:12 {That ye may walk honestly} (\hina peripat•te eusch•mon•s\).
Present subjunctive (linear action). Old adverb from \eusch•m•n\
(\eu, sch•ma\, Latin _habitus_, graceful figure), becomingly,
decently. In N.T. only here and Ro 13:13. This idea includes
honest financial transactions, but a good deal more. People
outside the churches have a right to watch the conduct of
professing Christians in business, domestic life, social life,
politics.
4:13 {We would not have} (\ou thelomen\). We do not wish. {You
ignorant} (\humas agnoein\). Old word, not to know (\a\
privative, \gno-\, root of \gin•sk•\). No advantage in ignorance
of itself. {Concerning them that fall asleep} (\peri t•n
koim•men•n\). Present passive (or middle) participle (Aleph B)
rather than the perfect passive \kekoim•men•n\ of many later MSS.
From old \koima•\, to put to sleep. Present tense gives idea of
repetition, from time to time fall asleep. Greeks and Romans used
this figure of sleep for death as Jesus does (Joh 11:11) and
N.T. generally (cf. our word _cemetery_). Somehow the
Thessalonians had a false notion about the dead in relation to
the second coming. {Even as the rest which have no hope} (\kath•s
hoi loipoi hoi m• echontes elpida\). This picture of the
hopelessness of the pagan world about the future life is amply
illustrated in ancient writings and particularly by inscriptions
on tombs (Milligan). Some few pagans clung to this hope, but most
had none.
4:14 {For if we believe} (\ei gar pisteuomen\). Condition of
first class, assuming the death and resurrection of Jesus to be
true. {In Jesus} (\dia tou I•sou\). Literally, through or by
means of Jesus. It is amphibolous in position and can be taken
either with \tous koim•thentas\ (that are fallen asleep in or
through Jesus) like \hoi koim•thentes en Christ•i\ in 1Co 15:18
and probably correct or with \axei\ (through Jesus with God).
{With him} (\sun aut•i\). Together with Jesus. Jesus is the
connecting link (\dia\) for those that sleep (\koim•thentas\
first aorist passive, but with middle sense) and their
resurrection.
4:15 {By the word of the Lord} (\en log•i Kuriou\). We do not
know to what word of the Lord Jesus Paul refers, probably Paul
meaning only the point in the teaching of Christ rather than a
quotation. He may be claiming a direct revelation on this
important matter as about the Lord's Supper in 1Co 11:23. Jesus
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