1 Thessalonians 4
American Standard Version
4 Finally then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even as ye do walk,—that ye abound more and more. 2 For ye know what [a]charge we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye abstain from fornication; 4 that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who know not God; 6 that no man [b]transgress, and wrong his brother in the matter: because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we [c]forewarned you and testified. 7 For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification. 8 Therefore he that rejecteth, rejecteth not man, but God, who giveth his Holy Spirit unto you.
9 But concerning love of the brethren ye have no need that one write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another; 10 for indeed ye do it toward all the brethren that are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brethren, that ye abound more and more; 11 and that ye [d]study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your hands, even as we charged you; 12 that ye may walk becomingly toward them that are without, and may have need of nothing.
13 But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep [e]in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the [f]coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen 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 that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore [g]comfort one another with these words.
Footnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 4:2 Greek charges.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:6 Or, overreach
- 1 Thessalonians 4:6 Or, told you plainly
- 1 Thessalonians 4:11 Greek be ambitious. See Rom. 15:20 margin.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:14 Greek through. Or, will God through Jesus.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:15 Greek presence.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:18 Or, exhort. 5:11
1 Thessalonians 4
New American Standard Bible 1995
Sanctification and Love
4 (A)Finally then, (B)brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to [a](C)walk and (D)please God (just as you actually do [b]walk), that you (E)excel still more. 2 For you know what commandments we gave you [c]by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you (F)abstain from [d]sexual immorality; 4 that (G)each of you know how to [e]possess his own [f](H)vessel in sanctification and (I)honor, 5 not in [g](J)lustful passion, like the Gentiles who (K)do not know God; 6 and that no man transgress and (L)defraud his brother (M)in the matter because (N)the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also (O)told you before and solemnly warned you. 7 For (P)God has not called us for (Q)the purpose of impurity, but [h]in sanctification. 8 So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who (R)gives His Holy Spirit to you.
9 Now as to the (S)love of the brethren, you (T)have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are (U)taught by God to love one another; 10 for indeed (V)you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to (W)excel still more, 11 and to make it your ambition (X)to lead a quiet life and (Y)attend to your own business and (Z)work with your hands, just as we commanded you, 12 so that you will [i](AA)behave properly toward (AB)outsiders and [j](AC)not be in any need.
Those Who Died in Christ
13 But (AD)we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who (AE)are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do (AF)the rest who have (AG)no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, (AH)even so God will bring with Him (AI)those who have fallen asleep [k]in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you (AJ)by the word of the Lord, that (AK)we who are alive [l]and remain until (AL)the coming of the Lord, will not precede (AM)those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord (AN)Himself (AO)will descend from heaven with a [m](AP)shout, with the voice of (AQ)the archangel and with the (AR)trumpet of God, and (AS)the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then (AT)we who are alive [n]and remain will be (AU)caught up together with them (AV)in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always (AW)be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Footnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Or conduct yourselves
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Or conduct yourselves
- 1 Thessalonians 4:2 Lit through the Lord
- 1 Thessalonians 4:3 Or fornication
- 1 Thessalonians 4:4 Or acquire
- 1 Thessalonians 4:4 I.e. body; or wife
- 1 Thessalonians 4:5 Lit passion of lust
- 1 Thessalonians 4:7 I.e. in the state or sphere of
- 1 Thessalonians 4:12 Lit walk
- 1 Thessalonians 4:12 Lit have need of nothing
- 1 Thessalonians 4:14 Lit through
- 1 Thessalonians 4:15 Lit who
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16 Or cry of command
- 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Lit who
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New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
