Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [1 Thessalonians: Chapter 4].
may have spoken on this subject though it has not been preserved
to us (cf. Mr 9:1). {Ye that are alive} (\h•meis hoi z•ntes\).
Paul here includes himself, but this by no means shows that Paul
knew that he would be alive at the Parousia of Christ. He was
alive, not dead, when he wrote. {Shall in no wise precede} (\ou
m• phthas•men\). Second aorist active subjunctive of \phthan•\,
to come before, to anticipate. This strong negative with \ou m•\
(double negative) and the subjunctive is the regular idiom
(Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 929). Hence there was no ground for
uneasiness about the dead in Christ.
4:16 {With a shout} (\en keleusmati\). Note this so-called
instrumental use of \en\. Old word, here only in N.T., from
\keleu•\, to order, command (military command). Christ will come
as Conqueror. {With the voice of the archangel} (\en ph•n•i
archaggelou\). Further explanation of \keleusmati\ (command). The
only archangel mentioned in N.T. is Michael in Jude 1:9. But
note absence of article with both \ph•n•i\ and \archaggelou\. The
reference may be thus indefinite. {With the trump of God} (\en
salpiggi theou\). Trumpet. See same figure in 1Co 15:52. {The
dead in Christ shall rise first} (\hoi nekroi en Christ•i
anast•sontai pr•ton\). {First} here refers plainly to the fact
that, so far from the dead in Christ having no share in the
Parousia, they will rise before those still alive are changed.
4:17 {Then} (\epeita\). The next step, not the identical time
(\tote\), but immediately afterwards. {Together with them} (\hama
sun autois\). Note both \hama\ (at the same time) and \sun\
(together with) with the associative instrumental case \autois\
(the risen saints). {Shall be caught up} (\harpag•sometha\).
Second future passive indicative of \harpaz•\, old verb to seize,
to carry off like Latin _rapio_. {To meet the Lord in the air}
(\eis apant•sin tou Kuriou eis aera\). This special Greek idiom
is common in the LXX like the Hebrew, but Polybius has it also
and it occurs in the papyri (Moulton, _Proleg_., p. 14, n. 3).
This rapture of the saints (both risen and changed) is a glorious
climax to Paul's argument of consolation. {And so} (\kai
hout•s\). This is the outcome, to be forever with the Lord,
whether with a return to earth or with an immediate departure for
heaven Paul does not say. To be with Christ is the chief hope of
Paul's life (1Th 5:10; Php 1:23; Col 3:4; 2Co 5:8).
4:18 {With these words} (\en tois logois toutois\). In these
words. They were a comfort to the Thessalonians as they still
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