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Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to him."

Do the lurkers a favor and please tell them what your church's official teaching is on the phrase, found in the bible, The Dead in Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:16
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

"Do the lurkers a favor and please tell them what your church's official teaching is on the phrase, found in the bible, The Dead in Christ.

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Elsie, let me explain something to you about the Catholic faith. The Catholic Church does not maintain some kind of gigantic reference work, where every single text and phrase in the Bible is fully and precisely explained. Rather, the Church realizes we are continually getting a deeper appreciation of everything in the written "Word of God".

I would, however, refer the lurkers (and you Elsie) to some sources which will be a big help to all in gaining a better understanding of that text and phrase.

Start here:

"Catechism of the Catholic Church - ARTICLE 11 'I BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY'"

and read the whole section (Paragraphs 988-1065), including Paragraph 1001, which references 1 Thessalonians 4:6.

These Bible Commentaries and this book by Taylor Marshall will be a good place to go next, for a deeper understanding of that passage and related ones:

"The Letters of St. Paul to the Thessalonians, Timothy, and Titus" (with commentary by Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch)

"The Navarre Bible: St Paul's Letters to the Thessalonians and Pastoral Letters: Second Edition Paperback – by Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarre"

"The Catholic Perspective on Paul: Paul and the Origins of Catholic Christianity" - By Taylor Marshall

One final thing: the following text casts light on the separation of the body and soul at death:

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We are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:8
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