1 Thessalonians 4

Early Christian were not engaged in the covetous practices of Rome or the Corban of the pharisees because that was idolatry. They provided a means by which to practice Pure Religion for the people through a daily ministration of faith and hope.

1 Thessalonians 4

1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication^[1]:

4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;^[2]

5 Not in the lust of concupiscence^[3], even as the Gentiles which know not God:

6 That no man go beyond and defraud^[4] his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.^[5]

8 He therefore that despiseth^[6], despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

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Fornication is a metaph. the worship of idols or idolatry, mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 1:9 and in Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
The Saul syndrome tempts all leaders who are given the power to exercise authority one over the other. Jesus faced those temptations. This is why the Bible tells us what to put a Constitutions.

Taught of God

9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

You strive

11 And that ye study [strive]^[7] to be quiet^[8], and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

Be not ignorant

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant^[9], brethren, concerning them which are asleep^[10], that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep^[10] in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.^[10]

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel^[11], and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds,^[12] to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort^[13] one another with these words.

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Footnotes

↑
4202 ~πορνεία~ porneia \@por-ni’-ah\@ from 4203; TDNT-6:579,918; {See TDNT 654} n f AV-fornication 26; 26
1) illicit sexual intercourse
1a) adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc.

1b) sexual intercourse with close relatives; #Le 18:6-23

1c) sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; #Mr 10:11,12

2) metaph. the worship of idols
2a) of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices offered to idols
- See as metaphors: 4202 n porneia "worship of idols", 4203 v porneuo "given to idolatry", 4204 n porne "Idolatry", 4205 n pornos from v piprasko 4097 a bribed to become the merchandise of another.
- Benson Commentary states : "The original word, πορνεια, implies criminal conversation of any kind whatever; and is used by the LXX., and by the writers of the New Testament, in the latitude which its correspondent word hath in the Hebrew language, namely, to denote all the different kinds of uncleanness committed, whether between men and women, or between men, or with beasts. Accordingly it is used in the plural number, chap. 1 Corinthians 7:2. Here the word signifies incest joined with adultery, the woman’s husband being still living, as appears from 2 Corinthians 7:12. In the Old Testament whoredom sometimes signifies idolatry, because the union of the Israelites with God as their king being represented by God himself as a marriage, their giving themselves up to idolatry was considered as adultery."
↑ Fornication, adultery and idolatry
Colossians 3:5 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:"

Ephesians 5:5 "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."

1 Corinthians 5:10 "Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat."

Psalms 106:38 And shed innocent blood, [even] the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.

Ezekiel 16:36 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, and with all the idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy children, which thou didst give unto them;

Proverbs 2:16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, [even] from the stranger [which] flattereth with her words;

Proverbs 20:16 Take his garment that is surety [for] a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
↑ 1939 ~ἐπιθυμία~ epithumia \@ep-ee-thoo-mee’-ah\@ from 1937 epithumeo to turn upon a thing... to lust after, covet; n f AV-lust 31, concupiscence 3, desire 3, lust after 1; 38
1) desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden, lust
↑ 4122 πλεονεκτέω pleonekteo [pleh-on-cek-teh’-o] from 4123 covetous, greedy of gain; v; TDNT-6:266,864; [{See TDNT 638 }] AV-make a gain 2, defraud 2, get an advantage 1; 5
1) to have more, or a greater part or share
1a) to be superior, excel, surpass, have an advantage over

2) to gain or take advantage of another, to overreach
↑ 38 ~ἁγιασμός~ hagiasmos \@hag-ee-as-mos’\@ from 37 and 40 "separated" like the "Levites" or "sacrifice"; n m AV-holiness 5, sanctification 5; 10
1) consecration

2) sanctification: so strictly in {#Ro 6:19,22 1Co 1:30 1Th 4:3,7 2Th 2:13 Heb 12:14 1Pe 1:2} Elsewhere it perhaps inclines to the resultant state. {#1Th 4:4 1Ti 2:15}
Sanctification is about separation for a separate purpose.
↑ 114 ~ἀθετέω~ atheteo \@ath-et-eh’-o\@ from a compound of 1 (as a negative particle) and a derivative of 5087; TDNT-8:158,1176; v AV-despise 8, reject 4, bring to nothing 1, frustrate 1, disannul 1, cast off 1; 16
1) to do away with, to set aside, disregard

2) to thwart the efficacy of anything, nullify, make void, frustrate

3) to reject, to refuse, to slight
↑ 5389 ~φιλοτιμέομαι~ philotimeomai \@fil-ot-im-eh’-om-ahee\@ middle voice from a compound of 5384 and 5092; ; v AV-strive 1, labour 1, study 1; 3
1) to be fond of honour
1a) to be actuated by love of honour

1b) from a love of honour to strive to bring something to pass

2) to be ambitious
2a) to strive earnestly, make it one’s aim
↑ 2270 ~ἡσυχάζω~ hesuchazo \@hay-soo-khad’-zo\@ from the same as 2272; ; v AV-hold (one’s) peace 2, rest 1, cease 1, be quiet 1; 5
1) to keep quiet
1a) to rest, cease from labour

1b) to lead a quiet life, said of those who are not running hither and thither, but stay at home and mind their business

1c) to be silent, i.e. to say nothing, hold one’s peace
↑ 50 ~ἀγνοέω~ agnoeo \@ag-no-eh’-o\@ from 1 (as a negative particle) and understand 3539; TDNT-1:115,18; {See TDNT 15} v AV-be ignorant 7, ignorant 4, know not 4, understand not 3, ignorantly 2, unknown 2; 22
1) act. to be ignorant, not to know {#Ac 13:27 17:23 Ro 10:3 2Pe 2:12} pass. not know or disregarded {#1Co 14:38}

2) not to understand, unknown {#Mr 9:32 Lu 9:45}

3) to err or sin through mistake, to be wrong, spoken mildly of those who are not high handed or wilful transgressors {#Heb 5:2}
↑ ^10.0 ^10.1 ^10.2 2837 κοιμάω koimao [koy-mah’-o] from 2749 to lie, or set, metaphor "in the power of the evil one, i.e. is held in subjection by the devil"; v; AV-sleep 10, fall asleep 4, be asleep 2, fall on sleep 1, be dead 1; 18
1) to cause to sleep, put to sleep

2) metaph.
2a) to still, calm, quiet

2b) to fall asleep, to sleep

2c) to die
↑
743 ἀρχάγγελος archaggelos [ar-khang’-el-os] from 757 archo to be chief, to lead, to rule and 32 messenger, envoy,; n m; TDNT-1:87,12; [{See TDNT 13 }] AV-archangel 2; 2
1) archangel, or chief of the angels
- The Jews, after the exile, distinguished several orders of angels; some reckoned four angels (according to the four sides of God’s throne) of the highest rank; but the majority reckoned seven (after the pattern of the seven Amshaspands, the highest spirits of the religion of Zoroaster)
1 Thessalonians 4:16 Jude 1:9
↑ 3507 νεφέλη nephele [nef-el’-ay] from 3509; n f; TDNT-4:902,628; [{See TDNT 518 }] AV-cloud 26; 26
1) a cloud
1a) used of the cloud which led the Israelites in the wilderness

For Synonyms see entry 5866
↑ 3870 ~παρακαλέω~ parakaleo \@par-ak-al-eh’-o\@ from 3844 and 2564; v AV-beseech 43, comfort 23, exhort 21, desire 8, pray 6, intreat 3, misc 4, vr besought 1; 109
1) to call to one’s side, call for, summon

2) to address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc.
2a) to admonish, exhort

2b) to beg, entreat, beseech
2b1) to strive to appease by entreaty

2c) to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort
2c1) to receive consolation, be comforted

2d) to encourage, strengthen

2e) exhorting and comforting and encouraging

2f) to instruct, teach

[porneia-1] 4202 ~πορνεία~ porneia \@por-ni’-ah\@ from 4203; TDNT-6:579,918; {See TDNT 654} n f AV-fornication 26; 26
1) illicit sexual intercourse
1a) adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc.

1b) sexual intercourse with close relatives; #Le 18:6-23

1c) sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; #Mr 10:11,12

2) metaph. the worship of idols
2a) of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices offered to idols

See as metaphors: 4202 n porneia "worship of idols", 4203 v porneuo "given to idolatry", 4204 n porne "Idolatry", 4205 n pornos from v piprasko 4097 a bribed to become the merchandise of another.

Benson Commentary states : "The original word, πορνεια, implies criminal conversation of any kind whatever; and is used by the LXX., and by the writers of the New Testament, in the latitude which its correspondent word hath in the Hebrew language, namely, to denote all the different kinds of uncleanness committed, whether between men and women, or between men, or with beasts. Accordingly it is used in the plural number, chap. 1 Corinthians 7:2. Here the word signifies incest joined with adultery, the woman’s husband being still living, as appears from 2 Corinthians 7:12. In the Old Testament whoredom sometimes signifies idolatry, because the union of the Israelites with God as their king being represented by God himself as a marriage, their giving themselves up to idolatry was considered as adultery."

[2] See as metaphors: 4202 n porneia "worship of idols", 4203 v porneuo "given to idolatry", 4204 n porne "Idolatry", 4205 n pornos from v piprasko 4097 a bribed to become the merchandise of another.

[3] Benson Commentary states : "The original word, πορνεια, implies criminal conversation of any kind whatever; and is used by the LXX., and by the writers of the New Testament, in the latitude which its correspondent word hath in the Hebrew language, namely, to denote all the different kinds of uncleanness committed, whether between men and women, or between men, or with beasts. Accordingly it is used in the plural number, chap. 1 Corinthians 7:2. Here the word signifies incest joined with adultery, the woman’s husband being still living, as appears from 2 Corinthians 7:12. In the Old Testament whoredom sometimes signifies idolatry, because the union of the Israelites with God as their king being represented by God himself as a marriage, their giving themselves up to idolatry was considered as adultery."

[fornidols-2] Fornication, adultery and idolatry
Colossians 3:5 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:"

Ephesians 5:5 "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."

1 Corinthians 5:10 "Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat."

Psalms 106:38 And shed innocent blood, [even] the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.

Ezekiel 16:36 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, and with all the idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy children, which thou didst give unto them;

Proverbs 2:16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, [even] from the stranger [which] flattereth with her words;

Proverbs 20:16 Take his garment that is surety [for] a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

[epithumia-3] 1939 ~ἐπιθυμία~ epithumia \@ep-ee-thoo-mee’-ah\@ from 1937 epithumeo to turn upon a thing... to lust after, covet; n f AV-lust 31, concupiscence 3, desire 3, lust after 1; 38
1) desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden, lust

[pleonekteo-4] 4122 πλεονεκτέω pleonekteo [pleh-on-cek-teh’-o] from 4123 covetous, greedy of gain; v; TDNT-6:266,864; [{See TDNT 638 }] AV-make a gain 2, defraud 2, get an advantage 1; 5
1) to have more, or a greater part or share
1a) to be superior, excel, surpass, have an advantage over

2) to gain or take advantage of another, to overreach

[hagiasmos-5] 38 ~ἁγιασμός~ hagiasmos \@hag-ee-as-mos’\@ from 37 and 40 "separated" like the "Levites" or "sacrifice"; n m AV-holiness 5, sanctification 5; 10
1) consecration

2) sanctification: so strictly in {#Ro 6:19,22 1Co 1:30 1Th 4:3,7 2Th 2:13 Heb 12:14 1Pe 1:2} Elsewhere it perhaps inclines to the resultant state. {#1Th 4:4 1Ti 2:15}
Sanctification is about separation for a separate purpose.

[atheteo-6] 114 ~ἀθετέω~ atheteo \@ath-et-eh’-o\@ from a compound of 1 (as a negative particle) and a derivative of 5087; TDNT-8:158,1176; v AV-despise 8, reject 4, bring to nothing 1, frustrate 1, disannul 1, cast off 1; 16
1) to do away with, to set aside, disregard

2) to thwart the efficacy of anything, nullify, make void, frustrate

3) to reject, to refuse, to slight

[philotimeomai-7] 5389 ~φιλοτιμέομαι~ philotimeomai \@fil-ot-im-eh’-om-ahee\@ middle voice from a compound of 5384 and 5092; ; v AV-strive 1, labour 1, study 1; 3
1) to be fond of honour
1a) to be actuated by love of honour

1b) from a love of honour to strive to bring something to pass

2) to be ambitious
2a) to strive earnestly, make it one’s aim

[hesuchazo-8] 2270 ~ἡσυχάζω~ hesuchazo \@hay-soo-khad’-zo\@ from the same as 2272; ; v AV-hold (one’s) peace 2, rest 1, cease 1, be quiet 1; 5
1) to keep quiet
1a) to rest, cease from labour

1b) to lead a quiet life, said of those who are not running hither and thither, but stay at home and mind their business

1c) to be silent, i.e. to say nothing, hold one’s peace

[agnoeo-9] 50 ~ἀγνοέω~ agnoeo \@ag-no-eh’-o\@ from 1 (as a negative particle) and understand 3539; TDNT-1:115,18; {See TDNT 15} v AV-be ignorant 7, ignorant 4, know not 4, understand not 3, ignorantly 2, unknown 2; 22
1) act. to be ignorant, not to know {#Ac 13:27 17:23 Ro 10:3 2Pe 2:12} pass. not know or disregarded {#1Co 14:38}

2) not to understand, unknown {#Mr 9:32 Lu 9:45}

3) to err or sin through mistake, to be wrong, spoken mildly of those who are not high handed or wilful transgressors {#Heb 5:2}

[sleep-10] 10.0 ^10.1 ^10.2 2837 κοιμάω koimao [koy-mah’-o] from 2749 to lie, or set, metaphor "in the power of the evil one, i.e. is held in subjection by the devil"; v; AV-sleep 10, fall asleep 4, be asleep 2, fall on sleep 1, be dead 1; 18
1) to cause to sleep, put to sleep

2) metaph.
2a) to still, calm, quiet

2b) to fall asleep, to sleep

2c) to die

[archaggelos-11] 743 ἀρχάγγελος archaggelos [ar-khang’-el-os] from 757 archo to be chief, to lead, to rule and 32 messenger, envoy,; n m; TDNT-1:87,12; [{See TDNT 13 }] AV-archangel 2; 2
1) archangel, or chief of the angels

The Jews, after the exile, distinguished several orders of angels; some reckoned four angels (according to the four sides of God’s throne) of the highest rank; but the majority reckoned seven (after the pattern of the seven Amshaspands, the highest spirits of the religion of Zoroaster)
1 Thessalonians 4:16 Jude 1:9

[14] The Jews, after the exile, distinguished several orders of angels; some reckoned four angels (according to the four sides of God’s throne) of the highest rank; but the majority reckoned seven (after the pattern of the seven Amshaspands, the highest spirits of the religion of Zoroaster)

[nephele-12] 3507 νεφέλη nephele [nef-el’-ay] from 3509; n f; TDNT-4:902,628; [{See TDNT 518 }] AV-cloud 26; 26
1) a cloud
1a) used of the cloud which led the Israelites in the wilderness

For Synonyms see entry 5866

[parakaleo-13] 3870 ~παρακαλέω~ parakaleo \@par-ak-al-eh’-o\@ from 3844 and 2564; v AV-beseech 43, comfort 23, exhort 21, desire 8, pray 6, intreat 3, misc 4, vr besought 1; 109
1) to call to one’s side, call for, summon

2) to address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc.
2a) to admonish, exhort

2b) to beg, entreat, beseech
2b1) to strive to appease by entreaty

2c) to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort
2c1) to receive consolation, be comforted

2d) to encourage, strengthen

2e) exhorting and comforting and encouraging

2f) to instruct, teach

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1 Thessalonians 4

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