1 Thessalonians 4

Instructions on the Way Christians Should Live

1 Now then, brothers and sisters, because of the Lord Jesus we ask and encourage you to excel in living a God-pleasing life even more than you already do. Do this the way we taught you.2 You know what orders we gave you through the Lord Jesus.3 It is God’s will that you keep away from sexual sin as a mark of your devotion to him.4 Each of you should know that finding a husband or wife for yourself is to be done in a holy and honorable way,5 not in the passionate, lustful way of people who don’t know God.6 No one should take advantage of or exploit other believers that way. The Lord is the one who punishes people for all these things. We’ve already told you and warned you about this.7 God didn’t call us to be sexually immoral but to be holy.

8 Therefore, whoever rejects this order is not rejecting human authority but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
9 You don’t need anyone to write to you about the way Christians should love each other. God has taught you to love each other.10 In fact, you are showing love to all the Christians throughout the province of Macedonia. We encourage you as believers to excel in love even more.11 Also, make it your goal to live quietly, do your work, and earn your own living, as we ordered you.

12 Then your way of life will win respect from those outside the church, and you won’t have to depend on anyone else for what you need.

Comfort About Christians Who Have Died

13 Brothers and sisters, we don’t want you to be ignorant about those who have died. We don’t want you to grieve like other people who have no hope.14 We believe that Jesus died and came back to life. We also believe that, through Jesus, God will bring back those who have died. They will come back with Jesus.15 We are telling you what the Lord taught. We who are still alive when the Lord comes will not go into his kingdom ahead of those who have already died.16 The Lord will come from heaven with a command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the dead who believed in Christ will come back to life.17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive will be taken in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. In this way we will always be with the Lord.

18 So then, comfort each other with these words!

1 Thessalonians 4

1 Finally then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even as ye do walk, --that ye abound more and more.2 For ye know what charge we gave you through the Lord Jesus.3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye abstain from fornication;4 that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor,5 not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who know not God;6 that no man transgress, and wrong his brother in the matter: because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified.7 For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification.8 Therefore he that rejecteth, rejecteth not man, but God, who giveth his Holy Spirit unto you.9 But concerning love of the brethren ye have no need that one write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another;10 for indeed ye do it toward all the brethren that are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brethren, that ye abound more and more;11 and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your hands, even as we charged you;12 that ye may walk becomingly toward them that are without, and may have need of nothing.13 But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope.14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep.16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first;17 then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.