1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

A Life Pleasing to God

1 Finally, then, brothers,[a] we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you 1received from us 2how you ought to walk and 3to please God, just as you are doing, that you 4do so more and more.
2 For 5you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, 6your sanctification:[b]7that you abstain from sexual immorality;
4 that each one of you know how to control his own 8body[c] in holiness and 9honor,
5 not in 10the passion of lust 11like the Gentiles 12who do not know God;
6 that no one transgress and 13wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is 14an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.
7 For 15God has not called us for 16impurity, but in holiness.
8 Therefore 17whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, 18who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
9 Now concerning 19brotherly love 20you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been 21taught by God 22to love one another,
10 for that indeed is what 23you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to 24do this more and more,
11 and to aspire 25to live quietly, and 26to mind your own affairs, and 27to work with your hands, as we instructed you,
12 so that you may 28walk properly before 29outsiders and be dependent on no one.

Cross References 29

  • 1. Philippians 4:9; Colossians 2:6
  • 2. See Ephesians 4:1
  • 3. See Colossians 1:10
  • 4. See 1 Thessalonians 3:12
  • 5. [1 Corinthians 11:2]
  • 6. Romans 6:19, 22; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:2
  • 7. See 1 Corinthians 6:18
  • 8. 1 Peter 3:7; [2 Corinthians 4:7]
  • 9. [Romans 1:24]
  • 10. See Romans 1:26
  • 11. Ephesians 4:17
  • 12. Psalms 79:6; Jeremiah 9:3; Jeremiah 10:25; See Galatians 4:8
  • 13. 1 Corinthians 6:8
  • 14. Romans 13:4; [Romans 12:19; Hebrews 13:4]
  • 15. ver. 3; See 1 Peter 1:15
  • 16. 1 Thessalonians 2:3
  • 17. [1 Thessalonians 2:13]; See Luke 10:16
  • 18. 1 John 3:24; 1 John 4:13
  • 19. See Hebrews 13:1
  • 20. 1 Thessalonians 5:1
  • 21. John 6:45; [1 John 2:27]
  • 22. See John 13:34
  • 23. 1 Thessalonians 1:7
  • 24. See 1 Thessalonians 3:12
  • 25. Proverbs 17:14; Proverbs 20:3; Proverbs 25:8; 2 Thessalonians 3:12
  • 26. 2 Thessalonians 3:11; 1 Peter 4:15
  • 27. [Acts 18:3]; See Ephesians 4:28
  • 28. Romans 13:13; [Colossians 4:5]
  • 29. See Mark 4:11

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Or brothers and sisters; also verses 10, 13
  • [b]. Or your holiness
  • [c]. Or how to take a wife for himself; Greek how to possess his own vessel
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.