帖撒罗尼迦前书 4
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
上帝喜悦的生活
4 最后，弟兄姊妹，既然你们领受了我们的教导，知道怎样行才能讨上帝的喜悦，如你们现在所行的，我们靠着主耶稣恳求、劝勉你们要更加努力。 2 你们都知道我们靠着主耶稣传给你们的诫命。 3 上帝的旨意是要你们圣洁，远避淫乱的事， 4 要你们人人都知道持守身体的圣洁和尊贵， 5 不可荒淫纵欲，像那些不认识上帝的外族人一样。 6 你们在这种事上不可越轨，亏负弟兄姊妹。我们曾经对你们说过，并且郑重地警告过你们，主必惩治犯这种罪的人。 7 因为上帝呼召我们不是要我们沾染污秽，而是要我们圣洁。 8 所以，人若拒绝遵行这命令，他不是拒绝人，而是拒绝赐圣灵给你们的上帝。
9 关于弟兄姊妹彼此相爱的事，我就不必多写了，因为你们自己从上帝那里领受了要彼此相爱的教导。 10 你们对马其顿全境的弟兄姊妹已经做到了这一点。不过，我劝各位要再接再厉。 11 你们要立志过安分守己的生活，亲手做工，正如我们以前吩咐你们的。 12 这样，你们可以得到外人的尊敬，不必依赖任何人。
复活的盼望
13 弟兄姊妹，关于安息的信徒[a]，我不愿意你们一无所知，免得你们像那些没有盼望的人一样悲伤。 14 我们既然相信耶稣死了，又复活了，也要相信上帝必把那些安息的信徒和耶稣一同带来。
15 我们把主耶稣的话告诉你们：主再来的那天，我们还活着的人不会比已安息的信徒先见到主。 16 因为主必在号令声、天使长的呼喊声和上帝的号角声中亲自从天降临，已经离世的基督徒必先复活。 17 然后，我们还活着的人要和他们一起被提到云里，在空中与主相会，永远和主在一起。 18 所以你们要用这些话彼此鼓励。
Footnotes
- 4:13 “安息的信徒”希腊文是“睡了的人”，圣经常用“睡了”作为“死了”的委婉说法，参见约翰福音十一章11—14节。
帖 撒 羅 尼 迦 前 書 4
Chinese New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version
令上帝满意的生活
4 兄弟们，现在我要告诉你们另外一些事。你们做为主耶稣的信徒，我们请求和督促过你们并教导过你们如何生活会令上帝喜悦，（你们也的确在这样做），现在我们请求你们再接再励。 2 你们知道，我们是通过主耶稣的权威给你们下达指示的。 3 这是上帝的意愿，他要你们圣洁，摆脱不道德的性行为。 4 他要你们每一个人都学会用圣洁和荣誉的方式来支配自己的身体， 5 而不要像不知道上帝的异教徒那样，放纵情欲。 6 他还希望你们所有的人，在这方面不要做对不起或欺骗兄弟的事情。正像我们警告过你们的那样，上帝将惩罚犯这种罪的人。 7 因为上帝召唤我们不是要我们生活在罪孽之中，而是要我们圣洁。 8 所以，抵制这些教导的人，不是在抵制人而是在抵制赋予你们圣灵的上帝。
9 关于兄弟间的爱，不需要我们向你们写什么，因为上帝已经教导你们要彼此相爱。 10 实际上，你们在全马其顿地区的确是在这样对待兄弟的，但我们督促你们要再接再励。
11 把过和平安宁的生活看作是一种荣誉，要像我们吩咐你们的那样，关心自己份内的工作，用自己的双手工作。 12 这样，非信徒会尊重你们的生活方式，而且，你们也不用依赖他人给你们提供所需的东西。
主即将来临
13 兄弟们，我们希望你们了解那些死者的情况，免得你们像其余没有盼望的人一样悲伤和失望。 14 既然我们相信耶稣死后又复活了，那么，我们也相信上帝将会使那些信仰过耶稣的死者与他一起复活。 15 我们现在告诉你们来自主的信息，当主再来时，我们这些活着的人绝对不会比那些死者先与主同在。 16 当响亮的命令伴随着大天使的声音和上帝的号角发出时，主将亲自从天而降。那些信仰过主的死者将会首先复活， 17 然后我们这些活着的人才会与他一起被升到云端，在空中与主相会。从此我们将与主永远同在。 18 用这些话互相鼓励吧。
1 Thessalonians 4
King James Version
4 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
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:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4
New English Translation
A Life Pleasing to God
4 Finally then, brothers and sisters,[a] we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us about how[b] you must live and please God (as you are in fact living)[c] that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is God’s will: that you become holy,[d] that you keep away from sexual immorality, 4 that each of you know how to possess his own body[e] in holiness and honor, 5 not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God. 6 In this matter no one should violate the rights of his brother or take advantage of him,[f] because the Lord is the avenger in all these cases,[g] as we also told you earlier and warned you solemnly. 7 For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness. 8 Consequently the one who rejects this is not rejecting human authority[h] but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
9 Now on the topic of brotherly love[i] you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. 10 And indeed you are practicing it toward all the brothers and sisters[j] in all of Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,[k] 11 to aspire to lead a quiet life, to attend to your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you. 12 In this way you will live[l] a decent life before outsiders and not be in need.[m]
The Lord Returns for Believers
13 Now we do not want you to be uninformed,[n] brothers and sisters,[o] about those who are asleep,[p] so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that[q] God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians.[r] 15 For we tell you this by the word of the Lord,[s] that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel,[t] and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left,[u] will be suddenly caught up[v] together[w] with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Footnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1 sn As you received instruction from us about how (Grk “as you received from us how”). The Greek word translated received is used for accepting instructions passed on as fixed traditions from teacher to follower. Paul speaks in these terms about doctrinal traditions as well as ethical instruction that he passes on to his converts and expects them to keep (cf. 1 Cor 11:2, 23; 15:1-3; Gal 1:9; Phil 4:9; 2 Thess 2:15; 3:6).
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1 tc This parenthetical clause is absent in several later witnesses (D2 Ψ 1175 1241 2464vid M al), but it may have been expunged for sounding redundant. The longer text, in this instance, is solidly supported by א A B D* F G 0183vid 0278 33 81 104 326 365 629 al co and should be unquestionably preferred.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:3 tn Or “your sanctification.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:4 tn Grk “to gain [or possess] his own vessel.” “Vessel” is most likely used figuratively for “body” (cf. 2 Cor 4:7). Some take it to mean “wife” (thus, “to take a wife for himself” or “to live with his wife”), but this is less likely. See J. Smith, “1 Thess 4:4—Breaking the Impasse,” BBR 10 (Fall 2000), who argues that “vessel” in this context is very likely a euphemism for the sexual organs.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:6 tn Grk “not to transgress against or defraud his brother in the matter,” continuing the sentence of vv. 3-5.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:6 tn Grk “concerning all these things.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:8 tn Grk “rejecting man.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:9 tn Grk “concerning brotherly love.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:10 tn Grk “brothers”; this applies to the second occurrence as well. See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:10 sn To do so more and more. See a similar phrase in 1 Thess 4:1.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:12 tn Grk “that you may live,” continuing the sentence of 4:10b-11.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:12 tn Or “not be dependent on anyone”; Grk “and have need of nothing,” “of no one.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13 tn Grk “ignorant.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13 tc Most witnesses have the perfect participle κεκοιμημένων here (“who have fallen asleep” [D (F G) Ψ 1241 1505 1881 2464 M al]), but the present participle κοιμωμένων (“who are asleep”) is better supported by early and significant mss (א A B 0278 33 81 1175 1739 al) and should be considered the Ausgangstext. tn The verb κοιμάω (koimaō) literally means “sleep,” but it is often used in the Bible as a euphemism for death when speaking of believers. This metaphorical usage by its very nature emphasizes the hope of resurrection: Believers will one day “wake up” out of death. Here the term refers to death, but “sleep” was used in the translation to emphasize the metaphorical, rhetorical usage of the term. This word also occurs in vv. 14 and 15.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:14 tn “we believe that” is understood from the first clause of the verse, which is parallel. Grk “so also God will bring.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:14 tn Grk “those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.” It is possible that “through Jesus” describes “bring,” but this gives the unlikely double reference, “through Jesus God will bring them with Jesus.” Instead it describes their “falling sleep,” since through him their death is only sleep and not the threat it once was. Also Christians are those whose total existence—life and death—is in and through and for Christ (1 Cor 8:6).
- 1 Thessalonians 4:15 sn The word of the Lord is a technical expression in OT literature, often referring to a divine prophetic utterance (e.g., Gen 15:1, Isa 1:10, Jonah 1:1). In the NT it occurs 15 times: 3 times as ῥῆμα τοῦ κυρίου (rhēma tou kuriou; Luke 22:61, Acts 11:16, 1 Pet 1:25) and 12 times as λόγος τοῦ κυρίου (logos tou kuriou; here and in Acts 8:25; 13:44, 48, 49; 15:35, 36; 16:32; 19:10, 20; 1 Thess 1:8; 2 Thess 3:1). As in the OT, this phrase focuses on the prophetic nature and divine origin of what has been said.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16 tn Neither noun in this phrase (ἐν φωνῇ ἀρχαγγέλου, en phōnē archangelou, “with the voice of the archangel”) has the article in keeping with Apollonius’ Canon. Since ἀρχάγγελος (archangelos) is most likely par excellence, both nouns are translated as definite in keeping with Apollonius’ Corollary (see ExSyn 250-51).
- 1 Thessalonians 4:17 tc The words οἱ περιλειπόμενοι (hoi perileipomenoi, “[the ones] who are left”) are lacking in F G 0226vid ar b as well as a few fathers, but the rest of the textual tradition has the words. Most likely, the Western mss omitted the words because of perceived redundancy with οἱ ζῶντες (hoi zōntes, “[the ones] who are alive”).
- 1 Thessalonians 4:17 tn Or “snatched up.” The Greek verb ἁρπάζω implies that the action is quick or forceful, so the translation supplied the adverb “suddenly” to make this implicit notion clear.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:17 tn Or “simultaneously,” but this meaning does not fit as well in the parallel in 5:10.
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