Instructions for Holy Living: Purity, Love, and Work
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
1Thess.4.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Λοιπον: ADV
- ουν: CONJ
- αδελφοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- ερωτωμεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- και: CONJ
- παρακαλουμεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- εν: PREP
- κυριω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ινα: CONJ
- καθως: CONJ
- παρελαβετε: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,pl
- παρ᾽ημων: PREP+PRON,gen,pl,1
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πως: ADV
- δει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- περιπατειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- και: CONJ
- αρεσκειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- θεω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- καθως: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- περιπατειτε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- ινα: CONJ
- περισσευητε: VERB,pres,act,sub,2,pl
- μαλλον: ADV
Parallels
- 1 Thessalonians 2:12 (verbal): Uses the same verbal framework of exhortation to ‘walk’ in a manner that is worthy/pleasing to God—continuation of Paul’s practical ethical appeal.
- Ephesians 4:1 (thematic): Paul’s call to ‘walk worthy of the calling’ parallels the Thessalonians’ summons to live so as to please God—both frame Christian life as a conduct fitting one’s vocation in Christ.
- Colossians 1:10 (verbal): Language of ‘walk worthy… pleasing him’ is very close: prayer that believers would walk worthy and be fully pleasing to the Lord, bearing fruit and growing—same goal as 1 Thess 4:1.
- Philippians 1:27 (thematic): Exhortation to live ‘in a manner worthy of the gospel’ corresponds to the Thessalonian injunction to conduct life so as to please God—ethical comportment rooted in the gospel.
- Romans 12:1 (thematic): Appeal to live for God’s approval (presenting bodies as living sacrifices) echoes the motif of Christian conduct aimed at pleasing God found in 1 Thess 4:1.
Alternative generated candidates
- Finally then, brothers, we appeal and exhort you in the Lord Jesus: as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, so abound still more.
- Finally then, brothers, we appeal to and exhort you in the Lord Jesus: as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, so continue to walk — and abound still more.
1Thess.4.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οιδατε: VERB,perf,act,ind,2,pl
- γαρ: PART
- τινας: PRON,acc,pl,m
- παραγγελιας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- εδωκαμεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,pl
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- δια: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1 (verbal): Immediate parallel in the same paragraph: Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to walk and please God 'as you received from us' and frames the instruction in the Lord Jesus—closely repeats the same claim of authoritative teaching.
- 1 Corinthians 14:37 (verbal): Paul explicitly states that what he writes are 'the Lord's command' (τὰ τοῦ κυρίου), directly paralleling 1 Thess 4:2's claim that the commandments were given 'by the Lord Jesus.'
- 1 Corinthians 7:10-12 (structural): Paul distinguishes commands that come 'not I, but the Lord' (v.10) from instructions that are his own (v.12), using the same rhetorical contrast between Lord-given and apostolic guidance found in 1 Thess 4:2.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6 (verbal): Uses a similar authoritative formula—'we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ'—paralleling the apostolic claim in 1 Thess 4:2 that their injunctions are given by the Lord Jesus.
- Matthew 28:20 (thematic): Jesus' commissioning formula ('teach them to observe all that I commanded you') provides the broader Gospel background for apostles presenting ethical injunctions as coming from the Lord Jesus.
Alternative generated candidates
- For you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
- For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
1Thess.4.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τουτο: PRON,nom,sg,n
- γαρ: PART
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- θελημα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- αγιασμος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- απεχεσθαι: VERB,pres,mid/pass,inf
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- απο: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- πορνειας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- 1 Thessalonians 4:7 (verbal): Immediate parallel in the same letter: contrasts God’s call to holiness with a call to uncleanness, reinforcing that sanctification excludes sexual immorality.
- 1 Corinthians 6:18 (verbal): Direct exhortation to 'flee sexual immorality,' echoing the command to abstain from porneia and emphasizing avoidance of sexual sin.
- 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (thematic): Links sexual immorality with exclusion from God’s kingdom but also with believers’ transformation ('were washed, sanctified, justified'), paralleling the sanctification theme.
- Ephesians 5:3 (thematic): Explicit prohibition of sexual immorality among believers ('no impurity… or greed'), underscoring that holiness/sanctification requires moral purity.
- Colossians 3:5 (thematic): Commands putting to death earthly behaviors including sexual immorality and impurity, connecting ethical cleansing with the believer’s call to holiness.
Alternative generated candidates
- For this is the will of God—your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;
- For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;
1Thess.4.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ειδεναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- εκαστον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- εαυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- σκευος: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- κτασθαι: VERB,pres,mid/pass,inf
- εν: PREP
- αγιασμω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- τιμη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
Parallels
- 1 Thessalonians 4:3 (structural): Immediate context: v.3 states God’s will is your sanctification and abstaining from fornication, which v.4 unfolds by urging each to possess his own vessel in holiness and honor.
- 1 Corinthians 6:18–20 (thematic): Exhorts believers to 'flee sexual immorality' and honors the body as God’s temple and purchased possession—grounds for sanctification and honorable treatment of the body like 1 Thess 4:4.
- Ephesians 5:3–5 (thematic): Commands avoidance of sexual immorality and impurity and calls believers to be holy and honorable, echoing the moral and theological terms (holiness/honor) of 1 Thess 4:4.
- Colossians 3:5–7 (thematic): Urges believers to put to death sexual immorality and impurity and warns of divine judgment—parallels the call to sanctified conduct regarding the body in 1 Thess 4:4.
- 1 Corinthians 7:2–5 (verbal): Discusses each man having his 'own' wife and mutual authority over bodies to prevent immorality; the language of 'own' and control of one's body parallels 'know how to possess his own vessel.'
Alternative generated candidates
- that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,
- that each of you know how to possess his own body in sanctification and honor,
1Thess.4.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- μη: PART
- εν: PREP
- παθει: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- επιθυμιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- καθαπερ: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- εθνη: NOUN,acc,pl,neut
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- μη: PART
- ειδοτα: PTCP,perf,act,nom,pl,n
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- θεον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Romans 1:24-27 (thematic): Describes God giving people over to impurity and sexual passions because they did not honor/know God—parallels Paul’s contrast of lustful passion with those who do not know God.
- Ephesians 4:19 (verbal): Speaks of being given over to sensuality/greedy lust (similar vocabulary and charge against pagan conduct), echoing the warning against living 'in passion of lust.'
- 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 (structural): Immediate context in the same letter: the call to sanctification and to possess one’s body in holiness—not in lust like the Gentiles—directly frames 4:5.
- 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (thematic): Commands believers to flee sexual immorality and grounds the prohibition in their knowledge of belonging to Christ—parallels the contrast between Christian conduct and Gentile lust.
Alternative generated candidates
- not in the passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;
- not in the passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;
1Thess.4.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- μη: PART
- υπερβαινειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- και: CONJ
- πλεονεκτειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- πραγματι: NOUN,dat,sg,neut
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αδελφον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- διοτι: CONJ
- εκδικος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- περι: PREP
- παντων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- τουτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- καθως: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- προειπαμεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,pl
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- και: CONJ
- διεμαρτυραμεθα: VERB,aor,mid,ind,1,pl
Parallels
- Romans 12:19 (verbal): Both warn against taking personal revenge and invoke God's role as the avenger — Romans explicitly states 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay,' echoing the Thessalonian claim that the Lord is avenger in these matters.
- 1 Corinthians 6:7 (verbal): Paul addresses conflicts among believers and uses the language of being 'wronged' or 'defrauded' by a brother, paralleling 1 Thess 4:6's prohibition against transgressing and defrauding a fellow believer.
- Leviticus 19:13 (allusion): The OT legal-prophetic prohibition 'You shall not defraud your neighbor' underlies the ethical injunction in 1 Thess 4:6 against taking advantage of a brother — a thematic/ethical precedent for the NT command.
- Deuteronomy 32:35 (quotation): The declaration 'Vengeance is mine, and recompense...' is the Old Testament source behind New Testament statements that God will judge and avenge wrongs, which 1 Thess 4:6 invokes when warning that the Lord is an avenger.
Alternative generated candidates
- that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter; for the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we also told you before and solemnly warned you.
- that no one transgress and wrong a brother in this matter — for the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also told you and warned you.
1Thess.4.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ου: PART,neg
- γαρ: PART
- εκαλεσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- επι: PREP
- ακαθαρσια: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αλλ᾽εν: CONJ
- αγιασμω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- 1Thessalonians 4:3 (structural): Immediate context: states God's will is your sanctification and avoidance of immorality, framing 4:7's contrast between impurity and holiness.
- 2 Timothy 1:9 (verbal): Speaks of God who 'saved us and called us with a holy calling,' closely paralleling the language of being called to holiness rather than impurity.
- 1 Peter 1:15-16 (thematic): Calls believers to be holy as God is holy — a shared ethical summons to holiness that undergirds 1 Thess 4:7.
- Ephesians 4:22-24 (verbal): Urges putting off the old self and putting on the new, 'created in righteousness and holiness,' echoing the call to holiness and moral transformation.
- Hebrews 12:14 (thematic): Commands pursuit of holiness ('without holiness no one will see the Lord'), underscoring the necessity and centrality of holiness found in 1 Thess 4:7.
Alternative generated candidates
- For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness.
- For God has not called us to impurity but to sanctification.
1Thess.4.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τοιγαρουν: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- αθετων: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ανθρωπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αθετει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αλλα: CONJ
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- θεον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- διδοντα: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,m,sg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πνευμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- αγιον: ADJ,acc,sg,neut
- εις: PREP
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
Parallels
- Acts 5:3-4 (verbal): Peter confronts Ananias with the formula “You have not lied to men but to God” and explicitly links lying to the Holy Spirit; echoes the contrast ‘not to man but to God’ and the role of the Spirit in determining one’s relation to God.
- Luke 10:16 (structural): Jesus says that rejecting his messengers is equivalent to rejecting him and the one who sent him; parallels Paul’s argument that rejecting the apostolic teaching is effectively rejecting God, the sender.
- John 13:20 (thematic): Jesus’ saying that receiving whom he sends is receiving him and the Father parallels the idea that acceptance or rejection of apostolic instruction implicates one’s relationship to Christ and God.
- Acts 2:38 (thematic): Peter promises the gift of the Holy Spirit to repentant believers (‘you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’), supporting Paul’s claim that God has given his Spirit to the Thessalonians.
- Ephesians 1:13 (thematic): Paul teaches that believers are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when they believe, underscoring that the Spirit is a gift from God to Christians, as stated in 1 Thess 4:8.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore whoever rejects this rejects not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
- Therefore whoever rejects this rejects not man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
1Thess.4.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Περι: PREP
- δε: CONJ
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- φιλαδελφιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ου: PART,neg
- χρειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εχετε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- γραφειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- αυτοι: PRON,nom,pl,3
- γαρ: PART
- υμεις: PRON,nom,pl,2
- θεοδιδακτοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- εστε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- αγαπαν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- αλληλους·: PRON,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- John 13:34-35 (thematic): Jesus' command to 'love one another' as the defining mark of his disciples parallels Paul's appeal to mutual brotherly love among believers.
- 1 John 4:7-8 (allusion): Affirms that love originates from God ('love is from God'), echoing Paul's claim that the Thessalonians have been 'God-taught' to love one another.
- Romans 12:10 (verbal): Uses the same concept/term of 'brotherly love' (philadelphia) and exhorts mutual affection and honor among Christians, similar to 1 Thess 4:9.
- Galatians 5:14 (thematic): Presents love of neighbor as the fulfillment of the law, reflecting the central ethical role of mutual love in Paul's teaching as in 1 Thessalonians.
- 1 John 3:11 (structural): States 'this is the message you have heard... that we should love one another,' paralleling Paul's claim that the community already knows/has been taught the same instruction.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now concerning brotherly love you have no need that I write to you; for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,
- Now concerning brotherly love you do not need anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;
1Thess.4.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- γαρ: PART
- ποιειτε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- αυτο: PRON,acc,sg,neut
- εις: PREP
- παντας: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- αδελφους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- ολη: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- Μακεδονια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- παρακαλουμεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- δε: CONJ
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- αδελφοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- περισσευειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- μαλλον: ADV
Parallels
- 1 Thessalonians 4:9 (structural): Immediate context — the teaching continues from v.9, which affirms the Thessalonians' love for one another and sets up the exhortation in v.10.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:12 (verbal): Uses nearly identical petitional language ('may the Lord make you increase and abound in love') — same theme of growing love among believers.
- Philippians 1:9 (verbal): Paul prays that their love may 'abound more and more,' echoing the language of increase and growth in Christian love found in 1 Thess 4:10.
- Romans 12:10 (thematic): Commands mutual affection and honor among brothers — a comparable ethical demand about how Christians should treat one another.
- Hebrews 13:1 (thematic): Bears the general exhortation to let 'brotherly love continue,' reflecting the same persistent concern for love within the Christian community.
Alternative generated candidates
- and indeed you are showing love to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we exhort you, brothers, to increase still more,
- for indeed you do toward all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we exhort you, brothers, to do this more and more,
1Thess.4.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- φιλοτιμεισθαι: VERB,pres,mid/pass,inf
- ησυχαζειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- και: CONJ
- πρασσειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- ιδια: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- εργαζεσθαι: VERB,pres,mid/pass,inf
- ταις: ART,dat,pl,f
- χερσιν: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- καθως: CONJ
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- παρηγγειλαμεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,pl
Parallels
- 2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 (quotation): Paul repeats the same injunction: rebuking idlers and commanding believers to 'work in quietness' and earn their own living—direct restatement of 1 Thess 4:11.
- Ephesians 4:28 (verbal): Uses virtually the same language about honest labor—'whoever has been stealing must steal no longer; rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands'—parallels the call to work with one's hands.
- Acts 20:34-35 (thematic): Paul cites his own example of working with his hands to support himself and help the weak, reinforcing the ethic behind the Thessalonian exhortation to work and be self-sufficient.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:9 (thematic): Paul reminds the Thessalonians that he and his companions 'worked night and day' so as not to be a burden—an example motivating the congregation to emulate a working, responsible life.
- 1 Timothy 2:2 (thematic): Prays that Christians may lead a 'peaceful and quiet life'—this broader Pauline ideal of peaceful, orderly living parallels the specific exhortation to live quietly and mind one’s own affairs.
Alternative generated candidates
- to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we commanded you,
- and to aspire to live a quiet life, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we commanded you,
1Thess.4.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ινα: CONJ
- περιπατητε: VERB,pres,act,subj,2,pl
- ευσχημονως: ADV
- προς: PREP
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- εξω: ADV
- και: CONJ
- μηδενος: PRON,gen,sg,m
- χρειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εχητε: VERB,pres,act,subj,2,pl
Parallels
- 1 Thessalonians 4:11 (structural): Immediate context: instructs believers to live quietly, mind their own affairs, and work with their hands—background for walking properly toward outsiders and not being dependent on others.
- Colossians 4:5 (verbal): Uses the same verbal frame—'walk toward outsiders' (περιπατεῖτε πρὸς τοὺς ἔξω)—emphasizing wise/decent conduct before non-Christians.
- Ephesians 4:28 (thematic): Commands those who stole to work honestly so they can share with the needy—links honest labor and not being a burden to others, similar to 1 Thess 4:12's concern for independence.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:10–12 (thematic): Paul rebukes idleness and urges believers to work for their own support so they will not be a burden—closely related ethical instruction about self-sufficiency.
- Romans 12:17–18 (thematic): Calls for honorable, peaceable conduct toward all people—the broader moral aim behind 'walking properly' before outsiders.
Alternative generated candidates
- so that you may walk properly toward outsiders and be dependent on no one.
- so that you may walk properly before those outside and be dependent on no one.
Finally then, brothers, we appeal and exhort you in the Lord Jesus: as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, so you should abound still more and more.
For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
For this is the will of God—your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;
that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
not in the passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;
that no one transgress and defraud his brother in this matter—for the Lord is an avenger in all such things, as we have warned you before.
For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness.
Therefore the one who rejects this is not rejecting man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
Concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you— for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;
for indeed you do this toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to abound still more, to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we commanded you,
so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.