Is 1 Thessalonians 4:15 a failed prophecy?

[AgnosticBoy]

In 1 Thessalonians 4:15, the apostle Paul says that Jesus would return while he was alive. The apostle died and Jesus did not return.

1 Thessalonians 4:15
"According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep."

Paul says "we" who are alive which would include himself. He also says that this information is according to the "Lord's word" which to me means he's not giving his personal view, but something from God. But he does further qualify his statement "we who are sill alive" with this statement, "who are left until the coming of the Lord". That could leave room for that passage to mean that he was referring to those who are alive during the time Jesus would return.

For Debate:
1. Was Paul speaking on behalf of God or offering his personal opinion?
2. If speaking on behalf of God, then is this a failed prophecy?

 

[Scooter]

No, this is not a failed prophecy. Paul obviously believed Jesus would come back during his lifetime but he was not prophesying that He would. When Paul said “we which are alive” he was including all believers. His words, therefore, are still relevant 2,000 years later. If he had said “those who are alive” he would have been omitting himself and those of his generation.

Jesus said no man knows the day and hour of His return, but He also said for believers to watch because we know not the hour. Every believer for the last 2,000 years should have lived expecting Christ to return any moment. Just because I personally believe Jesus will come back during my lifetime does not mean I am prophesying that He will.

In Paul’s last letter, he tells Timothy his own end is near. I believe Paul realized he would probably die before Jesus’ return. Paul does not regret his position in his letter to the Thessalonians concerning Jesus’ second coming. Instead, Paul says he fought the good fight and was ready to be offered. So I don’t see Paul’s explanation about Jesus’ return as a failed prophecy. I see it as an unfilled prophecy.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

@Scooter

That's a good explanation. Here's a similar one I came across:

https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/a/24726 from Wyatt Timmins

It seems like maybe we are making this one more complex than need be...Paul says "We" and "Them" in this passage and he could easily be including himself in either category but speaking from his present 'Alive' status. It looks pretty clear to me that Paul is simply laying out the two scenarios. Either we will rise from the grave or be taken while still in our body. Also, I am thinking that entertaining the notion that Paul made some sort of mistake in the way he worded things is a non-starter. Is the scripture inspired by the Holy Spirit or not? Certainly we can argue interpretations of the original manuscripts but there are times when we make things a little too complex.

And a similar one from Joshua... was a reply to Wyatt's post...

He's talking about people who are alive and people who are dead. He is alive and speaking to people who are alive. What group do you think he's going to include himself in? It would be more of a prophecy if he predicted he would be dead, but Paul simply didn't know when so included himself with those alive.