1 Thessalonians 4:3-10

4:3 For this is God’s will: that you become holy, ¹  that you keep away from sexual immorality, 4:4 that each of you know how to possess his own body ²  in holiness and honor, 4:5 not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God. 4:6 In this matter no one should violate the rights of his brother or take advantage of him, ³  because the Lord is the avenger in all these cases, ⁴  as we also told you earlier and warned you solemnly. 4:7 For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness. 4:8 Consequently the one who rejects this is not rejecting human authority ⁵  but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

4:9 Now on the topic of brotherly love ⁶  you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. 4:10 And indeed you are practicing it toward all the brothers and sisters ⁷  in all of Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, ⁸ 

¹ tn Or “your sanctification.”

² 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.

³ tn Grk “not to transgress against or defraud his brother in the matter,” continuing the sentence of vv. 3-5.

⁴ tn Grk “concerning all these things.”

⁴ tn Grk “rejecting man.”

⁵ tn Grk “concerning brotherly love.”

⁶ tn Grk “brothers”; this applies to the second occurrence as well. See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:4.

⁷ sn To do so more and more. See 1 Thess 4:1.