Bible Study
December 18, 2025
1 Thessalonians 4:13 (CSB)
“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.”
“Grieve What?”
“Those who are asleep” is a common term for those who have died in scripture. It is a euphemism for death which describes the appearance of the deceased.
It describes the physical body not the soul of man. Sleep is used of the daughter of Jarius (Matt. 9:24) whom Jesus raised from the dead. It also describes Stephen who was stoned to death (Acts 7:60, 7:39, 2 Pet. 3:4).
Those who sleep are identified as asleep in Christ. The people of the day thought that if a person had died they would miss the Lord’s return and they were grieved over their absence at His glorious return. Revelation explains this to us in wonderful detail.
There is no reason to grieve the death of a believer. We miss them but they are eternally secure in God’s presence. Zig Ziglar who lost his daughter to death was asked if he would like her to come back? His response was “Oh No.” He goes on to say she is far better off where she is.
There is no doubt we miss those who have passed away and sometimes we try to ease the pain by some of the terms we use. But rest assured as we sleep at night they who slept before us and died as a believer would not trade places with any of us. Sleep in Jesus is simply falling asleep on earth and waking up in paradise. People may try to tell you something different but I am telling you what scripture teaches.
God Bless.
Asbury Chapel 