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.
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- 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
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;(A) 4 that each one of you know how to control your own body[a] in holiness and honor, 5 not with lustful passion, like the gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one wrong or exploit a brother or sister in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, just as we have already told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.(B) 7 For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever rejects this rejects not human authority but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.
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- 4.4 Or control your own vessel or take a wife for yourself
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