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.

Read full chapter

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

God’s will is that your lives are dedicated to him.[a] This means that you stay away from sexual immorality and learn how to control your own body in a pure[b] and respectable way. Don’t be controlled by your sexual urges like the Gentiles who don’t know God. No one should mistreat or take advantage of their brother or sister in this issue. The Lord punishes people for all these things, as we told you before and sternly warned you. God didn’t call us to be immoral but to be dedicated to him.[c] Therefore, whoever rejects these instructions isn’t rejecting a human authority. They are rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 Or holy, sanctified
  2. 1 Thessalonians 4:4 Or holy, sanctified
  3. 1 Thessalonians 4:7 Or holy, sanctified