Keraia
1 Thessalonians 4

1 Thessalonians 4:3

Living to Please God · 1 Thessalonians 4:1–12
Read 1 Thessalonians 4

Translations

Modern
For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality;
Traditional
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
Literal
For this is the will of God—your sanctification: for you to abstain from sexual immorality;
Latin
Hæc est enim voluntas Dei, sanctificatio vestra: ut abstineatis vos a fornicatione,

Original

Greek
English
For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality;

Notes

1 Thessalonians 4:3

it is God’s will that you should be holy: Christian ethics focus on doing God's will, not on philosophical ideas about virtue (Romans 12:1–2; Ephesians 6:6; Hebrews 10:36; 13:20–21). Holiness affects every part of a person's life (1 Thessalonians 4:4, 7; 5:23). Here, it means restraint from sexual sin (Greek porneia, meaning any sexual union or activity outside marriage).

1 Thessalonians 4:1–5:22

The second part of the letter discusses Timothy's news about the church and the questions the Christians had for Paul.

Paul addresses:

  • the problem of sexual immorality (4:3–8) before responding to the Thessalonians’ questions about love for other Christians (4:9–12),

  • the fate of Christians who have died (4:13–18), and

  • the timing of "the Day of the Lord" (5:1–11).

Paul offers advice on topics such as leadership and community relations, the relationship with the Lord, and prophecy (5:12–22).

Glossary

Biblical Concept of Law First Letter to the Thessalonians Sex, Sexuality

Topics

Abstinence Adultery: Forbidden Attraction Chastity: Commanded Chastity: General Scriptures Concerning Clean Bodies Commandments: Precepts of Paul--Explicitly Stated or Implied in Didactic Epistles Dating Dating Non Believers Discerning God's Will Doing God's Will Girlfriend and Boyfriend Holiness: General Scriptures Concerning Immorality Impurity Intimacy Masturbation Premarital Relations Premarital Sex Puberty Purity Sanctification: God Wills all Saints to Have Sanctification: Ministers: should Exhort Their People to Walk In Sanctification: should Lead to Mortification of Sin Sanctification: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Sex Sex before Marriage Sexual Immorality Sexual Impurity Sexual Purity Sexual Sin Sinful Thoughts Sins of the Flesh Teenage Pregnancy The Will of God Vessels Word of God: Inspiration of