1 Thessalonians 4

1 For the rest therefore, brethren, we pray and beseech you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us, how you ought to walk, and to please God, so also you would walk, that you may abound the more.2 For you know what precepts I have given to you by the Lord Jesus.3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that you should abstain from fornication;4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour:5 Not in the passion of lust, like the Gentiles that know not God:6 And that no man overreach, nor circumvent his brother in business: because the Lord is the avenger of all these things, as we have told you before, and have testified.7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto sanctification.8 Therefore, he that despiseth these things, despiseth not man, but God, who also hath given his holy Spirit in us.9 But as touching the charity of brotherhood, we have no need to write to you: for yourselves have learned of God to love one another.10 For indeed you do it towards all the brethren in all Macedonia. But we entreat you, brethren, that you abound more:11 And that you use your endeavour to be quiet, and that you do your own business, and work with your own hands, as we commanded you: and that you walk honestly towards them that are without; and that you want nothing of any man's.12 And we will not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that are asleep, that you be not sorrowful, even as others who have no hope.13 For if we believe that Jesus died, and rose again; even so them who have slept through Jesus, will God bring with him.14 For this we say unto you in the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them who have slept.15 For the Lord himself shall come down from heaven with commandment, and with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead who are in Christ, shall rise first.16 Then we who are alive, who are left, shall be taken up together with them in the clouds to meet Christ, into the air, and so shall we be always with the Lord.17 Wherefore, comfort ye one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4

A Life Pleasing to God

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

8 Consequently the one who rejects this is not rejecting human authorityt but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
9 Now on the topic of brotherly lovet you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.10 And indeed you are practicing it toward all the brothers and sisterst in all of Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,s11 to aspire to lead a quiet life, to attend to your own business, and to work with your hands, as we commanded you.

12 In this way you will livet a decent life before outsiders and not be in need.t

The Lord Returns for Believers

13 Now we do not want you to be uninformed,t brothers and sisters,t about those who are asleep,t so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope.14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe thatt God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians.t15 For we tell you this by the word of the Lord,s that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep.16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel,t and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.17 Then we who are alive, who are left,s will be suddenly caught upt togethert with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.

18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.