^3:12And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we do for you, ^3:13so that your hearts are strengthened in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.¹⁵

A Life Pleasing to God

^4:1Finally then, brothers and sisters,¹ we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us about how² you must live and please God (as you are in fact living)³ that you do so more and more. ^4:2For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus. ^4:3For this is God’s will: that you become holy,⁴ that you keep away from sexual immorality, ^4:4that each of you know how to possess his own body⁵ in holiness and honor, ^4:5not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God. ^4:6In this matter no one should violate the rights of his brother or take advantage of him,⁶ because the Lord is the avenger in all these cases,⁷ as we also told you earlier and warned you solemnly. ^4:7For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness. ^4:8Consequently the one who rejects this is not rejecting human authority⁸ but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

^4:9Now on the topic of brotherly love⁹ you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. ^4:10And indeed you are practicing it toward all the brothers and sisters¹⁰ in all of Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,¹¹

Read in Logos

1 Thessalonians 3:12: and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you…

Footnotes

15 Important and early witnesses (א* A D* 81 629 lat) have ἀμήν (amēn, “amen”) at the end of this benediction, while the majority of , including several excellent witnesses (א2 B D2 F G Ψ 0278 1739 1881 𝔐 it sy sa), lack the particle. A decision is difficult, but in light of Paul’s habit of adding the ἀμήν to his notes of praise, even in the middle of his letters (cf. Rom 9:5; 11:36; 15:33; Gal 1:5), one might expect scribes to emulate this practice. Although a decision is difficult, it is probably best to follow the shorter reading. has the particle in brackets, indicating some doubts as to its authenticity.
1 Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in .
2 As you received instruction from us about how (Grk “as you received from us how”). The Greek word translated received is used for accepting instructions passed on as fixed traditions from teacher to follower. Paul speaks in these terms about doctrinal traditions as well as ethical instruction that he passes on to his converts and expects them to keep (cf. 1 Cor 11:2, 23; 15:1–3; Gal 1:9; Phil 4:9; 2 Thess 2:15; 3:6).
3 This parenthetical clause is absent in several later witnesses (D2 Ψ 𝔐), but it may have been expunged for sounding redundant. The longer text, in this instance, is solidly supported by א A B D* F G 0183vid 0278 33 81 104 326 365 629 co and should be unquestionably preferred.
4 Or “your sanctification.”
5 Grk “to gain [or possess] his own vessel.” “Vessel” is most likely used figuratively for “body” (cf. 2 Cor 4:7). Some take it to mean “wife” (thus, “to take a wife for himself” or “to live with his wife”), but this is less likely. See J. Smith,”1 Thess 4:4—Breaking the Impasse,” 10 (Fall 2000), who argues that “vessel” in this context is very likely a euphemism for the sexual organs.
6 Grk “not to transgress against or defraud his brother in the matter,” continuing the sentence of vv. 3–5.
7 Grk “concerning all these things.”
8 Grk “rejecting man.”
9 Grk “concerning brotherly love.”
10 Grk “brothers”; this applies to the second occurrence as well. See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in .
11 To do so more and more. See 1 Thess 4:1.