1 Thessalonians 4:13 (ASV)

Passage

But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope.

Nearby Context

1 Thessalonians 4:11 and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your hands, even as we charged you;

1 Thessalonians 4:12 that ye may walk becomingly toward them that are without, and may have need of nothing.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope.

1 Thessalonians 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "ignorant", "brethren", "concerning", "fall", "asleep", "sorrow", "even", and "rest". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "ignorant" and "brethren", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 12's "that ye may walk becomingly toward them..." into verse 14's "For if we believe that Jesus died...", so "ignorant" and "brethren" belong inside that flow. In 1 Thessalonians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "ignorant" and "brethren" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.