New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
1 Thessalonians 4
1
Finally, brothers and sisters, we taught you how to live in a way that pleases God. In fact, that is how you are living. In the name of the Lord Jesus we ask and beg you to do it more and more.
Reference
Parallel theme
Philippians 1:9
1 John 3:22
Job 17:9
References God
Colossians 1:10
2 Thessalonians 1:3
Hebrews 13:16
2 Corinthians 13:11
References Jesus
2 Peter 3:18
References Lord
1 Thessalonians 3:12
Ephesians 4:1
2
You know the directions we gave you. They were given by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
Reference
3
God wants you to be made holy. He wants you to stay away from sexual sins.
Reference
Parallel theme
Ephesians 5:17
Colossians 3:5
1 Thessalonians 4:4
Galatians 5:19
Revelation 21:8
References God
1 Peter 4:2
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Romans 12:2
Hebrews 13:4
1 John 2:17
4
He wants all of you to learn to control your own bodies. You must live in a way that is holy. You must live with honor.
Reference
5
Don't long to commit sexual sins like those who don't know God.
Reference
Parallel theme
Colossians 3:5
1 Peter 4:3
References God
Galatians 4:8
2 Thessalonians 1:8
Romans 1:26
Ephesians 2:12
Romans 1:28
Romans 1:24
6
None of you should sin against your brother by doing that. You should not take advantage of him. The Lord will punish everyone who commits those kinds of sins. We have already told you and warned you about that.
Reference
Parallel theme
Hebrews 13:4
Exodus 20:17
Exodus 20:15
Proverbs 28:24
Romans 13:4
Luke 12:5
James 2:6
Ezekiel 22:13
References Lord
Romans 12:19
James 5:4
8
So if you refuse to accept my teaching, you turn your back on God, not on people. God gives you his Holy Spirit.
Reference
Holy
2 Peter 1:21
Parallel theme
Luke 10:16
John 12:48
1 Samuel 8:7
Proverbs 1:7
Proverbs 23:9
Spirit
1 John 3:24
9
We don't need to write to you about love among believers. God himself has taught you to love each other.
Reference
10
In fact, you do love all the brothers and sisters all around Macedonia. But we are asking you to love each other more and more.
Reference
11
Do everything you can to live a quiet life. Mind your own business. Work with your hands, just as we told you to.
Reference
12
Then unbelievers will have respect for your everyday life. And you won't have to depend on anyone.
Reference
13
Brothers and sisters, we want you to know what happens to those who die. We don't want you to be sad, as other people are. They don't have any hope.
Reference
14
We believe that Jesus died and rose again. When he returns, many who believe in him will have died already. We believe that God will bring them back with Jesus.
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 26:19
1 Thessalonians 4:13
Revelation 1:18
Revelation 14:13
1 Thessalonians 4:17
Matthew 24:31
References Jesus
Romans 8:11
1 Thessalonians 3:13
2 Thessalonians 2:1
15
That agrees with what the Lord has said. When the Lord comes, many of us will still be alive. We tell you that we will certainly not go up before those who have died.
Reference
References Lord
2 Corinthians 4:14
16
The Lord himself will come down from heaven. We will hear a loud command. We will hear the voice of the leader of the angels. We will hear a blast from God's trumpet. Many who believe in Christ will have died already. They will rise first.
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 1:7
Matthew 16:27
Matthew 25:31
Acts 1:11
References Christ
1 Corinthians 15:23
2 Thessalonians 2:1
References God
Psalm 47:5
Zechariah 9:14
References Lord
2 Thessalonians 1:7
Isaiah 27:13
17
After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them. We will be taken up in the clouds. We will meet the Lord in the air. And we will be with him forever.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Corinthians 15:52
Revelation 11:12
John 14:3
Revelation 1:7
Acts 1:9
Daniel 7:13
John 17:24
John 12:26
References Lord
1 Thessalonians 4:15
Acts 8:39
Summary of 1 Thessalonians 4
1 Thessalonians 4 teaches that believers should continue growing in holiness, practice sexual purity and self-control, demonstrate increasing love toward one another, live responsibly and peacefully within society, work diligently rather than depending unnecessarily upon others, and remain hopeful when fellow Christians die because Jesus' death and resurrection guarantee the future resurrection and gathering of His people at His return.
Paul begins by encouraging the Thessalonians to continue living in a way that pleases God, emphasizing that Christian growth should be ongoing rather than stopping once a person has initially accepted the gospel.
He then focuses strongly on sexual holiness, explaining that God's will is their sanctification and that believers should avoid sexual immorality, exercise control over their bodies, and treat other people with holiness and honor rather than allowing uncontrolled desires to determine their behavior.
Paul makes clear that these instructions carry divine authority because rejecting them means rejecting God Himself, who has given believers His Holy Spirit.
The Thessalonians already demonstrate strong brotherly love, and Paul recognizes that their love has extended throughout Macedonia, but he still encourages them to increase in love because Christian maturity is never measured by reaching a point where further growth becomes unnecessary.
Paul then addresses everyday responsibilities, encouraging believers to live quietly, mind their own responsibilities, work with their hands, and behave properly toward people outside the church.
This teaching shows that Christian faith should produce a responsible and credible lifestyle in which believers contribute positively to their communities rather than becoming unnecessarily dependent upon others.
The final section addresses one of the Thessalonians' greatest concerns: what happens to Christians who die before Jesus returns.
Paul does not want them to grieve like people who have no hope because the death and resurrection of Jesus guarantee that God will also raise and gather believers who have died.
He explains that when the Lord returns from heaven with a commanding announcement, the voice of an archangel, and the trumpet of God, the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then believers who are still alive will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord, and all of Christ's people will remain with Him forever.
Paul concludes by telling the Thessalonians to encourage one another with these words, demonstrating that the doctrine of resurrection and Christ's return was intended to provide comfort and confidence during times of grief and uncertainty.
The central message of 1 Thessalonians 4 is that Christians are called to continual growth in holiness, sexual purity, self-control, brotherly love, responsible work, peaceful relationships, and honorable conduct toward outsiders, while their grief over deceased believers should be transformed by the confident hope that Jesus Christ will return, raise those who have died in Him, gather His living people together with them, and remain with His followers forever.
Paul begins by encouraging the Thessalonians to continue living in a way that pleases God, emphasizing that Christian growth should be ongoing rather than stopping once a person has initially accepted the gospel.
He then focuses strongly on sexual holiness, explaining that God's will is their sanctification and that believers should avoid sexual immorality, exercise control over their bodies, and treat other people with holiness and honor rather than allowing uncontrolled desires to determine their behavior.
Paul makes clear that these instructions carry divine authority because rejecting them means rejecting God Himself, who has given believers His Holy Spirit.
The Thessalonians already demonstrate strong brotherly love, and Paul recognizes that their love has extended throughout Macedonia, but he still encourages them to increase in love because Christian maturity is never measured by reaching a point where further growth becomes unnecessary.
Paul then addresses everyday responsibilities, encouraging believers to live quietly, mind their own responsibilities, work with their hands, and behave properly toward people outside the church.
This teaching shows that Christian faith should produce a responsible and credible lifestyle in which believers contribute positively to their communities rather than becoming unnecessarily dependent upon others.
The final section addresses one of the Thessalonians' greatest concerns: what happens to Christians who die before Jesus returns.
Paul does not want them to grieve like people who have no hope because the death and resurrection of Jesus guarantee that God will also raise and gather believers who have died.
He explains that when the Lord returns from heaven with a commanding announcement, the voice of an archangel, and the trumpet of God, the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then believers who are still alive will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord, and all of Christ's people will remain with Him forever.
Paul concludes by telling the Thessalonians to encourage one another with these words, demonstrating that the doctrine of resurrection and Christ's return was intended to provide comfort and confidence during times of grief and uncertainty.
The central message of 1 Thessalonians 4 is that Christians are called to continual growth in holiness, sexual purity, self-control, brotherly love, responsible work, peaceful relationships, and honorable conduct toward outsiders, while their grief over deceased believers should be transformed by the confident hope that Jesus Christ will return, raise those who have died in Him, gather His living people together with them, and remain with His followers forever.