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1 Thessalonians 4

World English Bible

WEB

1Finally then, brothers, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, that you abound more and more. 2For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, 4that each one of you know how to control his own body in sanctification and honor, 5not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who don’t know God, 6that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother or sister in this matter; because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified. 7For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification. 8Therefore he who rejects this doesn’t reject man, but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to you. 9But concerning brotherly love, you have no need that one write to you. For you yourselves are taught by God to love one another, 10for indeed you do it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brothers, that you abound more and more; 11and that you make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, even as we instructed you, 12that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and may have need of nothing. 13But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, 17then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore comfort one another with these words.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

1 Thessalonians Chapter 4 addresses the importance of living a life that pleases God, particularly in the context of sexual purity and love for one another. The Apostle Paul encourages the Thessalonian believers to continue growing in their faith and to live according to the teachings they received from him. He emphasizes that God's will for them is their sanctification, urging them to abstain from sexual immorality and to control their bodies in holiness and honor, not in passionate lust like the Gentiles who do not know God. This call to purity is rooted in the understanding that God has called them to a holy life, and that violating this call is a serious matter, as it is ultimately against God Himself (#sanctification, #sexualpurity).

The chapter also addresses the topic of love among believers, encouraging them to love one another more and more. Paul reminds them that they are already doing well in this area, but he urges them to excel even further. He then shifts to the comforting message regarding those who have died in Christ. Paul reassures the Thessalonians that they should not grieve like those who have no hope, for just as Jesus died and rose again, so too will God bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. This promise of resurrection provides hope and assurance of eternal life, emphasizing the importance of being prepared for the return of the Lord (#resurrection, #hope). The chapter concludes with a call to encourage one another with these words, reinforcing the community's bond in faith and hope.

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Referenced by

  1. 2 Samuel 12:23v13In 2 Samuel 12:23, David expresses hope in seeing his deceased child again, which aligns with the hope of resurrection and reunion expressed in 1 Thessalonians 4:13.
  2. Titus 2:13v16Titus 2:13 speaks of the blessed hope and the appearing of Jesus Christ, which is further described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 as the return of Christ and the gathering of believers.
  3. Revelation 22:20v16Revelation 22:20 expresses the anticipation of Jesus' return, which is also a central theme in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, describing the Lord's coming.

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