1 Thessalonians 2:3

2:3 For the appeal we make ¹  does not come ²  from error or impurity or with deceit,

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4

4:3 For this is God’s will: that you become holy, ³  that you keep away from sexual immorality, 4:4 that each of you know how to possess his own body ⁴  in holiness and honor,

1 Thessalonians 4:8

4:8 Consequently the one who rejects this is not rejecting human authority ⁵  but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

¹ tn Grk “For our exhortation.” Paul here uses παράκλησις (paraklhsis) to speak in broad terms about his preaching of the gospel, in which he urges or appeals to people to respond to God’s salvation (cf. the verb form παρακαλοῦντος [parakalounto"] in 2 Cor 5:20).

² tn Grk “[is] not” (the verb “to be” is implied in the Greek construction).

³ tn Or “your sanctification.”

⁵ 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.

⁷ tn Grk “rejecting man.”