For this is the will of God, (A)your sanctification:[a] (B)that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own (C)body[b] in holiness and (D)honor, not in (E)the passion of lust (F)like the Gentiles (G)who do not know God; that no one transgress and (H)wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is (I)an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For (J)God has not called us for (K)impurity, but in holiness. Therefore (L)whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, (M)who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Now concerning (N)brotherly love (O)you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been (P)taught by God (Q)to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what (R)you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to (S)do this more and more,

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 Or your holiness
  2. 1 Thessalonians 4:4 Or how to take a wife for himself; Greek how to possess his own vessel

It is God’s will(A) that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;(B) that each of you should learn to control your own body[a](C) in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust(D) like the pagans,(E) who do not know God;(F) and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.[b](G) The Lord will punish(H) all those who commit such sins,(I) as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.(J) Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.(K)

Now about your love for one another(L) we do not need to write to you,(M) for you yourselves have been taught by God(N) to love each other.(O) 10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia.(P) Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,(Q)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 4:4 Or learn to live with your own wife; or learn to acquire a wife
  2. 1 Thessalonians 4:6 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family.