Keraia
1 Thessalonians 4

1 Thessalonians 4:5

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

Translations

Modern
…not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God;
Traditional
Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
Literal
…not in the passion of lust just as also the Gentiles, those not knowing God;
Latin
…non in passione desiderii, sicut et gentes, quæ ignorant Deum:

Original

Greek
English
…not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God;

Notes

1 Thessalonians 4:5

  • Ignoring God and his teachings leads to moral corruption (Romans 1:18–32; Ephesians 4:17–18).

  • lustful passion: In the ancient Mediterranean world, people often tolerated sexual immorality. Prostitution was legal, but having sexual relations with another man's wife was not. Roman marriage customs permitted men, but not women, to have sexual affairs. In contrast to Roman customs, Jewish and Christian writers forbade all sexual activity outside of marriage (Acts 15:20; 1 Corinthians 6:12–20; Colossians 3:5–6).

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 Covet, Covetousness First Letter to the Thessalonians

Topics

Adultery: Forbidden Affections: Carnal, should be Mortified Attraction Blindness: Spiritual Commandments: Precepts of Paul--Explicitly Stated or Implied in Didactic Epistles Dating Dating Non Believers Gentiles: Ignorant of God Girlfriend and Boyfriend Ignorance of God: Leads to Sinful Lusts Immorality Impurity Intimacy Lasciviousness: General Scriptures Concerning Masturbation Premarital Sex Puberty Purity Sex Sexual Immorality Sexual Impurity Sexual Purity Sexual Sin Sinful Thoughts Sins of the Flesh Teenage Pregnancy The Affections: Carnal Affections should be Mortified The Jews: The Only People Who had Knowledge of God Vessels