1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

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.

[4:3]  ¹ tn Or “your sanctification.”

[4:4]  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.