1 Thessalonians 4
New American Standard Bible
Sanctification and Love
4 (A)Finally then, (B)brothers and sisters, we request and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction 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 even more. 2 For you know what instructions 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 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 one violate the rights and (L)take advantage of his brother or sister (M)in the matter, because (N)the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also (O)told you previously and solemnly warned you. 7 For (P)God has not called us for [g](Q)impurity, but in sanctification. 8 Therefore, the one 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 brothers and sisters, 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 practice it toward all the brothers and sisters who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to (W)excel even 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 instructed you, 12 so that you will [h](AA)behave properly toward (AB)outsiders and [i](AC)not be in any need.
Those Who Died in Christ
13 But (AD)we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who [j](AE)are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed (AF)the rest of mankind do, who have (AG)no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, (AH)so also God will bring with Him (AI)those who have fallen asleep [k]through Jesus. 15 For we say this 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, who remain, will be (AU)caught up together with them (AV)in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always (AW)be with the Lord. 18 Therefore, [n]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 4:4 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., moral corruption
- 1 Thessalonians 4:12 Lit walk
- 1 Thessalonians 4:12 Lit have need of nothing
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13 I.e., have died
- 1 Thessalonians 4:14 I.e., as believers
- 1 Thessalonians 4:15 Lit who
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16 Or cry of command
- 1 Thessalonians 4:18 Or encourage
1 Thessalonians 4
Expanded Bible
A Life that Pleases God
4 [L Finally; or Now then; Furthermore] Brothers and sisters, we taught you how to ·live [walk] in a way that will please God, and you are living that way. Now we ask and ·encourage [urge; appeal to] you in the Lord Jesus to ·live that way [excel; abound] even more. 2 [L For] You know what ·we told [instructions/commands we gave] you to do ·by the authority of [L through] the Lord Jesus. 3 ·God wants you to be holy and [or For this is God’s will, your sanctification:] to stay away from sexual sins. 4 He wants each of you to ·learn to control your own body [or take a wife for yourself; or live with your own wife; L gain/possess his own vessel] in a way that is holy and honorable. 5 ·Don’t use your body for sexual sin [L …not in lustful passion] like the ·people [L Gentiles] who do not know God. 6 Also, do not ·wrong [exploit; transgress] or ·cheat [take advantage of] another ·Christian [L brother (or sister)] in this way. The Lord ·will punish people who do those [L is the avenger concerning these] things as we have already told you and ·warned [solemnly testified to] you. 7 [L For] God did not call us to ·a life of sin [L impurity], but to holiness. 8 ·So [Therefore] the person who ·refuses to obey [disregards; rejects; despises] this teaching is not simply ·disobeying [disregarding; rejecting; despising] ·a human being [human authority], but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
9 We do not need to write you about ·having love for your Christian family [L brotherly love], because God has already taught you to love each other. 10 And truly you do love the ·Christians [L brothers (and sisters)] in all of Macedonia [1:7]. Now we encourage you, brothers and sisters, to ·love them [excel; abound; v. 1] even more. 11 ·Do all you can […and to aspire] to live a peaceful life. ·Take care of [Attend to; Mind] your own business, and ·do your own work [L work with your hands] as we have already ·told [instructed; commanded] you. 12 If you do, then you will ·win the respect of [or live a respectable/proper life before] ·unbelievers [L outsiders], and you will not have to depend on others for what you need.
The Lord’s Coming
13 Brothers and sisters, we ·want you to know [do not want you to be uninformed] about those ·Christians who have died [L who sleep; C a euphemism for death] so you will not ·be sad [grieve], as ·others [L the rest] who have no hope. 14 [L For] We believe that Jesus died and that he rose again. ·So, through him, God will raise with Jesus those who have died [or So God will bring with Jesus those who have died/L fallen asleep in him]. 15 What we tell you now is ·the Lord’s own message [L by the word of the Lord]. We who are ·living [still alive] when the Lord comes again will [L certainly; surely] not go before those who have ·already died [L fallen asleep]. 16 The Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud ·command [or shout], ·with [or accompanied by; or preceded by] the voice of the archangel [C a leading or ruling angel; Dan. 10:13; Jude 9], and with the trumpet call of God. And ·those who have died believing [L the dead] in Christ will rise first [1 Cor. 15:51–57]. 17 After that, we who are ·still alive [or alive and are left] will be ·gathered [caught; taken] up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And [L so; in this way] we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So ·encourage [comfort] each other with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4
New International Version
Living to Please God
4 As for other matters, brothers and sisters,(A) we instructed you how to live(B) in order to please God,(C) as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3 It is God’s will(D) that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;(E) 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body[a](F) in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust(G) like the pagans,(H) who do not know God;(I) 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.[b](J) The Lord will punish(K) all those who commit such sins,(L) as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.(M) 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.(N)
9 Now about your love for one another(O) we do not need to write to you,(P) for you yourselves have been taught by God(Q) to love each other.(R) 10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia.(S) Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,(T) 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands,(U) just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders(V) and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Believers Who Have Died
13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed(W) about those who sleep in death,(X) so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.(Y) 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again,(Z) and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.(AA) 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,(AB) will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.(AC) 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,(AD) with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel(AE) and with the trumpet call of God,(AF) and the dead in Christ will rise first.(AG) 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left(AH) will be caught up together with them in the clouds(AI) to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord(AJ) forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another(AK) with these words.
Footnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 4:4 Or learn to live with your own wife; or learn to acquire a wife
- 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.
帖撒罗尼迦前书 4
Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified)
劝门徒远避淫行
4 弟兄们,我还有话说,我们靠着主耶稣求你们劝你们:你们既然受了我们的教训,知道该怎样行可以讨神的喜悦,就要照你们现在所行的更加勉励。 2 你们原晓得我们凭主耶稣传给你们什么命令。 3 神的旨意就是要你们成为圣洁,远避淫行, 4 要你们各人晓得怎样用圣洁、尊贵守着自己的身体, 5 不放纵私欲的邪情,像那不认识神的外邦人。 6 不要一个人在这事上越分,欺负他的弟兄,因为这一类的事主必报应,正如我预先对你们说过,又切切嘱咐你们的。 7 神召我们本不是要我们沾染污秽,乃是要我们成为圣洁。 8 所以,那弃绝的不是弃绝人,乃是弃绝那赐圣灵给你们的神。
蒙神教训彼此相爱
9 论到弟兄们相爱,不用人写信给你们,因为你们自己蒙了神的教训,叫你们彼此相爱。 10 你们向马其顿全地的众弟兄固然是这样行,但我劝弟兄们要更加勉励。 11 又要立志做安静人,办自己的事,亲手做工,正如我们从前所吩咐你们的, 12 叫你们可以向外人行事端正,自己也就没有什么缺乏了。
为信徒死了的安慰话
13 论到睡了的人,我们不愿意弟兄们不知道,恐怕你们忧伤,像那些没有指望的人一样。 14 我们若信耶稣死而复活了,那已经在耶稣里睡了的人,神也必将他们与耶稣一同带来。 15 我们现在照主的话告诉你们一件事:我们这活着还存留到主降临的人,断不能在那已经睡了的人之先。 16 因为主必亲自从天降临,有呼叫的声音和天使长的声音,又有神的号吹响,那在基督里死了的人必先复活, 17 以后我们这活着还存留的人必和他们一同被提到云里,在空中与主相遇;这样,我们就要和主永远同在。 18 所以,你们当用这些话彼此劝慰。
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