4:14b

we…believe that: These words are implied in the Greek text and may need to be made explicit in your translation.

also: This connects this part of the verse back to 4:14a. In 4:14a, Paul stated the basis for what he said in 4:14b. Another way to translate this connection would be:

Because we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then certainly God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep with him.

God will bring with Jesus: Most English versions are ambiguous in the way they translate this part of the verse. The Greek verb agō, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as bring, is a general verb of motion and means “bring, take, lead, go.” The commentators suggest many different ways of understanding this part of the verse. The two most likely interpretations are:

(1) Paul was focusing on the fact that when Jesus returns, the bodies of Christians who have died will be resurrected. He therefore meant that God would bring these resurrected bodies from earth to be with Jesus as he returns.

(2) Paul was focusing on the fact that after a Christian dies, his soul is with Jesus. He therefore meant here that God would bring these people from heaven back to earth with Jesus.

Paul did not specify which of these possibilities he was thinking of. What Paul wrote in 4:14–17 makes it clear that God will cause both the resurrected believers and the ones still living to ascend into the sky to meet Jesus as he is descending to earth. This seems to favor the first interpretation. However, Paul’s main point was that from that moment all Christians would be with Jesus, whether on earth or in heaven. So if possible, you should avoid making your translation too explicit at this point.

those who have fallen asleep: See the note on 4:13a.

in Him: In Greek, the phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in Him could mean either “in him” or “with him.” It is not clear from the Greek word order to which verb this phrase should be connected. There are two possibilities:

(1) It should be attached to the verb “fallen asleep,” which comes earlier in the sentence it in the Greek text. The majority of commentators also support this. The meaning of the phrase “those who have fallen asleep in Him” therefore is “those who were believers when they died.”

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), Good News Translation, NET Bible, King James Version, Revised English Bible, SSA, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), New American Standard Bible, Contemporary English Version, New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) It should be attached to the verb “will bring” which directly precedes it in the Greek text. The meaning is therefore that it is “through Jesus” that God will cause believers to live again.

(Revised Standard Version, God’s Word, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow the first option (1), as do the majority of English versions and commentaries. It is the most probable grammatically.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.