1 Thessalonians 4
Legacy Standard Bible
Sanctification and Love
4 (A)Finally then, (B)brothers, we ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us 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 through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you (F)abstain from [c]sexual immorality; 4 that (G)each of you know how to [d]possess his own [e](H)vessel in sanctification and (I)honor, 5 not in [f](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 did not call us to (Q)impurity, but [g]in sanctification. 8 Consequently, he who sets this aside is not setting aside man but the God who (R)gives His Holy Spirit to you.
9 Now concerning (S)love of the brothers, 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 brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, 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 (AA)walk properly toward (AB)outsiders and [h](AC)not be in any need.
The Dead in Christ Will Rise
13 But (AD)we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, 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 [i]in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you (AJ)by the word of the Lord, that (AK)we who are alive [j]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 [k](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 [l]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 4:3 Or fornication
- 1 Thessalonians 4:4 Or acquire
- 1 Thessalonians 4:4 Body, wife
- 1 Thessalonians 4:5 Lit passion of lust
- 1 Thessalonians 4:7 In the state or sphere of
- 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
1 Thessalonians 4
New International Reader's Version
Living in a Way That Pleases God
4 Now I want to talk about some other matters, brothers and sisters. We taught you how to live in a way that pleases God. In fact, that is how you are living. In the name of the Lord Jesus we ask and beg you to do it more and more. 2 You know the directions we gave you. They were given by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3 God wants you to be made holy. He wants you to stay away from sexual sins. 4 He wants all of you to learn to control your own bodies. You must live in a way that is holy. You must live with honor. 5 Don’t desire to commit sexual sins like people who don’t know God. 6 None of you should sin against your brother or sister by doing that. You should not take advantage of your brother or sister. The Lord will punish everyone who commits these kinds of sins. We have already told you and warned you about this. 7 That’s because God chose us to live pure lives. He wants us to be holy. 8 Suppose someone refuses to accept our teaching. They are not turning their back on us. They are turning their back on God. This same God gives you his Holy Spirit.
9 We don’t need to write to you about your love for one another. God himself has taught you to love one another. 10 In fact, you do love all God’s family all around Macedonia. Brothers and sisters, we are asking you to love one another more and more. 11 And do everything you can to live a quiet life. You should mind your own business. And work with your hands, just as we told you to. 12 Then unbelievers will have respect for your everyday life. And you won’t have to depend on anyone.
What Happens to Believers Who Have Died
13 Brothers and sisters, we want you to know what happens to those who die. We don’t want you to mourn, as other people do. They mourn because they don’t have any hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again. When he returns, many who believe in him will have died already. We believe that God will bring them back with Jesus. 15 This agrees with what the Lord has said. When the Lord comes, many of us will still be alive. We tell you that we will certainly not go up before those who have died. 16 The Lord himself will come down from heaven. We will hear a loud command. We will hear the voice of the leader of the angels. We will hear a blast from God’s trumpet. Many who believe in Christ will have died already. They will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them. We will be taken up in the clouds. We will meet the Lord in the air. And we will be with him forever. 18 So encourage one another with these words of comfort.
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