1 Thessalonians 4:3-8
New English Translation
3 For this is God’s will: that you become holy,[a] that you keep away from sexual immorality, 4 that each of you know how to possess his own body[b] in holiness and honor, 5 not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God. 6 In this matter no one should violate the rights of his brother or take advantage of him,[c] because the Lord is the avenger in all these cases,[d] as we also told you earlier and warned you solemnly. 7 For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness. 8 Consequently the one who rejects this is not rejecting human authority[e] but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 4:3 tn Or “your sanctification.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:4 tn Grk “to gain [or possess] his own vessel.” “Vessel” is most likely used figuratively for “body” (cf. 2 Cor 4:7). Some take it to mean “wife” (thus, “to take a wife for himself” or “to live with his wife”), but this is less likely. See J. Smith, “1 Thess 4:4—Breaking the Impasse,” BBR 10 (Fall 2000), who argues that “vessel” in this context is very likely a euphemism for the sexual organs.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:6 tn Grk “not to transgress against or defraud his brother in the matter,” continuing the sentence of vv. 3-5.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:6 tn Grk “concerning all these things.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:8 tn Grk “rejecting man.”
1 Thessalonians 4:3-8
Common English Bible
3 God’s will is that your lives are dedicated to him.[a] This means that you stay away from sexual immorality 4 and learn how to control your own body in a pure[b] and respectable way. 5 Don’t be controlled by your sexual urges like the Gentiles who don’t know God. 6 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. 7 God didn’t call us to be immoral but to be dedicated to him.[c] 8 Therefore, whoever rejects these instructions isn’t rejecting a human authority. They are rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 4:3 Or holy, sanctified
- 1 Thessalonians 4:4 Or holy, sanctified
- 1 Thessalonians 4:7 Or holy, sanctified
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible