It is God’s will(A) that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;(B) that each of you should learn to control your own body[a](C) in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust(D) like the pagans,(E) who do not know God;(F) and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.[b](G) The Lord will punish(H) all those who commit such sins,(I) as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.(J) Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.(K)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Thessalonians 4:4 Or learn to live with your own wife; or learn to acquire a wife
  2. 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.

For this is God’s will,(A) your sanctification:(B) that you keep away(C) from sexual immorality, that each of you knows how to control his own body[a] in holiness and honor, not with lustful passions,(D) like the Gentiles, who don’t know God. This means one must not transgress against and take advantage(E) of a brother or sister in this manner, because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses, as we also previously told and warned you. For God has not called us to impurity(F) but to live in holiness. Consequently, anyone who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.(G)

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Footnotes

  1. 4:4 Or to acquire his own wife; lit to possess his own vessel