1Thess 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep

[Caleb]

1Th 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
1Th 5:7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
1Th 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Th 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
1Th 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

I put the whole passage here, but I wanted to look at v10 in particular:

1Th 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

"whether we wake or sleep"

This could mean the living or the dead, or it could mean those who watch (wake) and those who do not watch (asleep)

I am tending to lean to the later understanding, because the word used for 'wake' (v10) is the same word used for watch in (v6) [G1127 γρηγορεύω grēgoreuō]

Also the word 'sleep' (v10) [G2518 καθεύδω katheudō] is not the same word used to mean dead in 1Thess_4:13-15 [G2837 κοιμάω koimaō]

[Slug1]

Reminds me of the two who were with Jesus when He had to pray in the garden. They fell asleep, didn't remain alert and watchful for the enemy (soldiers). Well, MANY Christians are asleep and don't watch for the enemy (satan)... so, even though many Christians don't even BELIEVE satan is actively (personally) messing up the lives of all in the world through the utilization of all his legions of darkness, wickedness, wiles of, etc.

So NOW, if a person is "in" Christ, whether they are alert or awake (as those two SHOULD have been with eyes open for the enemy) or they are not alert or asleep like those two WERE... if a person is to ALERT others of the enemy's movement (as a Watchmen), well... they need to be awake and alert themselves FIRST and not be ASLEEP to the truth that the enemy is out there, looking for those he'll devour.

[John 8:32]

1Th 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
1Th 5:7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
1Th 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Th 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
1Th 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

I put the whole passage here, but I wanted to look at v10 in particular:

1Th 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

"whether we wake or sleep"

This could mean the living or the dead, or it could mean those who watch (wake) and those who do not watch (asleep)

I am tending to lean to the later understanding, because the word used for 'wake' (v10) is the same word used for watch in (v6) [G1127 γρηγορεύω grēgoreuō]

Also the word 'sleep' (v10) [G2518 καθεύδω katheudō] is not the same word used to mean dead in 1Thess_4:13-15 [G2837 κοιμάω koimaō]

1Th 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
1Th 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Th 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
1Th 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

The context indicates that your understanding is very correct here. I have held this view for quite a while, especially since the dead are dead and will not live again until the resurrection.

[ZDOxcar]

1Th 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

"whether we wake or sleep"

This could mean the living or the dead, or it could mean those who watch (wake) and those who do not watch (asleep)

I am tending to lean to the later understanding, because the word used for 'wake' (v10) is the same word used for watch in (v6) [G1127 γρηγορεύω grēgoreuō]

Also the word 'sleep' (v10) [G2518 καθεύδω katheudō] is not the same word used to mean dead in 1Thess_4:13-15 [G2837 κοιμάω koimaō]

I think you are definitely correct - I noticed that γρηγορῶμεν is in the subjunctive mood (which is the mood of uncertainty). So if one is physically alive or dead in the grave, one would never use the subjunctive mood to describe this (since there would be no uncertainty whether a person is physically alive or dead in the grave).

Another thing that supports what you mentioned is that γρηγορεω means, atleast in my Greek dictionary, means "to be alert, to be watchful"

[Old man]

Actually the “whole passage" begins at 4:1 where Paul say “and finally.” This is a good example of the problem caused by how the letters and book of the Bible were divided into chapters and verses. The way they are divided sometimes leads to a misunderstanding of where different context sections begin and end. The original manuscript had no chapter or verse divisions these were later added (rather poorly sometimes).

But even if it did start at 5:1 lets examine what is being said.

Paul says
1. you are not in darkness (vs 4)
2. you are sons of light and sons of day (vs 5)
3. we are not of night nor of darkness (vs 5)

4. Those who sleep, sleep at night
5. those who get drunk get drunk at night

There is a contrast here between night and day. Everything of the night is given a negative implication including sleeping which is done at night which we are not of (night vs 5). Therefore Paul instructs us not to do it; not to sleep. But he also says that we are not destined for wrath (vs 9) just as we are not of the night (vs 5). If those who are sons of light and sons of day and are not of night, nor of darkness are not destined for wrath then who is? Could it be those who are of the night and are of the darkness are the ones destined for wrath? (those who sleep at night or get drunk at night).

Therefore if those who are asleep is referring to simply to those who are not watchful (Paul equates them as though they are of the night and who are destined for wrath) why would it matter if we sleep or remain awake? If those who sleep and are of the night who are also destined for wrath how can they also live together with Him? According to your train of thought whether we sleep (are of the night) or are awake (of the day) both end in salvation; “whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.” However this whole section is just part of the context started in chapter 4 regarding the Day of the Lord and His gathering of His people to Himself. Those who sleep here are those do not pay attention to or ignore the “times and the epochs” (vs 1) they are like those who Jesus referenced to in

Luk 12:36 "Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks.
Luk 12:37 "Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them.
Luk 12:38 "Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
Luk 12:39 "But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
Luk 12:40 "You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect."

Luk 12:54 And He was also saying to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, 'A shower is coming,' and so it turns out.
Luk 12:55 "And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, 'It will be a hot day,' and it turns out that way.
Luk 12:56 "You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time?

The context of this small passage (5:1-5:11) is just part of the passage that covers 4:1-5:11 and those who are asleep in 5:11 are those who have died prior to the day of the Lord (vs 2) (vs 4:14-17).