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1 Thessalonians 4
English Standard Version

A Life Pleasing to God

4 Finally, then, brothers,[a] we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you (A)received from us (B)how you ought to walk and (C)to please God, just as you are doing, that you (D)do so more and more. 2 For (E)you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, (F)your sanctification:[b] (G)that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own (H)body[c] in holiness and (I)honor, 5 not in (J)the passion of lust (K)like the Gentiles (L)who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and (M)wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is (N)an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For (O)God has not called us for (P)impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore (Q)whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, (R)who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

9 Now concerning (S)brotherly love (T)you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been (U)taught by God (V)to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what (W)you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to (X)do this more and more, 11 and to aspire (Y)to live quietly, and (Z)to mind your own affairs, and (AA)to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may (AB)walk properly before (AC)outsiders and be dependent on no one.

The Coming of the Lord

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, (AD)that you may not grieve as others do (AE)who have no hope. 14 For (AF)since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him (AG)those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you (AH)by a word from the Lord,[d] that (AI)we who are alive, who are left until (AJ)the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For (AK)the Lord himself will descend (AL)from heaven (AM)with a cry of command, with the voice of (AN)an archangel, and (AO)with the sound of the trumpet of God. And (AP)the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be (AQ)caught up together with them (AR)in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so (AS)we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 10, 13
  2. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 Or your holiness
  3. 1 Thessalonians 4:4 Or how to take a wife for himself; Greek how to possess his own vessel
  4. 1 Thessalonians 4:15 Or by the word of the Lord
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1 Thessalonians 4
Lexham English Bible

Appeal for Continuing Sanctification

4 Finally therefore, brothers, we ask you and appeal to you in the Lord Jesus that, just as you have received from us how it is necessary for you to live and to please God, just as indeed you are living, that you progress even more. 2 For you know what commands we gave to you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in lustful passion, just as also the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 not to transgress and to exploit his brother in the matter, because the Lord is the one who avenges concerning all these things, just as also we told you beforehand and testified solemnly. 7 For God did not call us to impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore the one who rejects this is not rejecting man, but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Affirmation of Continuing Love

9 But concerning brotherly love, I do not have need to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another, 10 for indeed you are practicing it toward all the brothers in all of Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to progress even more, 11 and to aspire to live a quiet life, and to attend to your own business,[a] and to work with your hands,[b] just as we commanded you, 12 so that you may live decently toward those outside, and may have need of nothing.

The Comfort of the Lord’s Return

13 Now we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you will not grieve as also the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, thus also God will bring those who have fallen asleep through Jesus together with him. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who remain until the Lord’s coming, will not possibly precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who remain, will be snatched away at the same time together with them in the clouds for a meeting with the Lord in the air, and thus we will be together with the Lord always. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 Literally “your own things”
  2. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 Some manuscripts have “your own hands”
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1 Thessalonians 4
Holman Christian Standard Bible

The Call to Sanctification

4 Finally then, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us how you must walk and please God—as you are doing[a]—do so even more. 2 For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

3 For this is God’s will,(A) your sanctification:(B) that you abstain(C) from sexual immorality, 4 so that each of you knows how to control his own body[b] in sanctification and honor, 5 not with lustful desires,(D) like the Gentiles who don’t know God. 6 This means one must not transgress against and defraud(E) his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses,[c] as we also previously told and warned you. 7 For God has not called us to impurity(F) but to sanctification. 8 Therefore, the person who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who also gives you His Holy Spirit.(G)

Loving and Working

9 About brotherly love: You don’t need me to write you because you yourselves are taught by God(H) to love one another.(I) 10 In fact, you are doing this toward all the brothers in the entire region of Macedonia.(J) But we encourage you, brothers, to do so even more, 11 to seek to lead a quiet life,(K) to mind your own business,[d] and to work(L) with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 so that you may walk properly[e](M) in the presence of outsiders[f] and not be dependent on anyone.[g](N)

The Comfort of Christ’s Coming

13 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.(O) 14 Since we believe that Jesus died and rose(P) again,(Q) in the same way God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through[h] Jesus.(R) 15 For we say this to you by a revelation from the Lord:[i](S) We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming(T) will certainly have no advantage over[j] those who have fallen asleep.(U) 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,[k](V) with the archangel’s(W) voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ(X) will rise first. 17 Then(Y) we who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds(Z) to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage[l] one another with these words.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Lit walking
  2. 1 Thessalonians 4:4 Or to acquire his own wife; lit to possess his own vessel
  3. 1 Thessalonians 4:6 Lit things
  4. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 Lit to practice one’s own things
  5. 1 Thessalonians 4:12 Or may live respectably
  6. 1 Thessalonians 4:12 Non-Christians
  7. 1 Thessalonians 4:12 Or not need anything, or not be in need
  8. 1 Thessalonians 4:14 Or in
  9. 1 Thessalonians 4:15 Or a word of the Lord
  10. 1 Thessalonians 4:15 Or certainly not precede
  11. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 Or command
  12. 1 Thessalonians 4:18 Or comfort
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1 Thessalonians 3
1 Thessalonians 5
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