1Th 4:1-8 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Thess 4:1-5:22: 4:1–5:22 The second part of the body of the letter concerns Timothy’s news about the church and the questions the believers had for Paul. Paul addresses the problem of sexual immorality (4:3-8 ) before responding to the Thessalonians’ questions about love for other Christians (4:9-12 ), the destiny of believers who have died (4:13-18 ), and the timing of the day of the Lord (5:1-11 ). Paul takes up a variety of exhortations on topics such as leadership and community relations (5:12-15 ), relationship with the Lord (5:16-18 ), and prophecy (5:19-22 ). Summary for 1Thess 4:1-2: 4:1-2 we urge you: Paul’s exhortation in the name of the Lord Jesus emphasizes the authority of his teaching. • you remember what we taught: Ancient letters frequently included reminders of what the recipients already knew. Paul reminds the Thessalonians of matters that required their obedience (4:11 ; 2 Thes 3:4 , 6 , 10 , 12 ).

Summary for 1Thess 4:1-5:22: 4:1–5:22 ^a The second part of the body of the letter concerns Timothy’s news about the church and the questions the believers had for Paul. Paul addresses the problem of sexual immorality (4:3-8 ^b) before responding to the Thessalonians’ questions about love for other Christians (4:9-12 ^c), the destiny of believers who have died (4:13-18 ^d), and the timing of the day of the Lord (5:1-11 ^e). Paul takes up a variety of exhortations on topics such as leadership and community relations (5:12-15 ^f), relationship with the Lord (5:16-18 ^g), and prophecy (5:19-22 ^h).
Summary for 1Thess 4:1-2: 4:1-2 ⁱ we urge you: Paul’s exhortation in the name of the Lord Jesus emphasizes the authority of his teaching.

• you remember what we taught: Ancient letters frequently included reminders of what the recipients already knew. Paul reminds the Thessalonians of matters that required their obedience (4:11 ^j; 2 Thes 3:4 ^k, 6 ^l, 10 ^m, 12 ⁿ).
4:3 ^o God’s will is for you to be holy: The foundation of Christian ethics is not philosophical speculation about virtue but doing God’s will (Rom 12:1-2 ^p; Eph 6:6 ^q; Heb 10:36 ^r; 13:20-21 ^s). Holiness (1 Thes 4:4 ^t, 7 ^u) embraces all of a person’s life (5:23 ^v); here it involves staying away from sexual sin (Greek porneia, any sexual union outside marriage).
4:4 ^w will control his own body: Self-control brings honor from others (Rom 12:10 ^x) and from God (Rom 2:7 ^y; 1 Pet 5:4 ^z, 6 ^aa).
4:5 ^ab Willful ignorance of God and his ways is the root of moral corruption (Rom 1:18-32 ^ac; Eph 4:17-18 ^ad).

• lustful passion: Sexual immorality was often tolerated in the Mediterranean world. Prostitution was allowed, but sexual relations with another man’s wife were prohibited. Roman marriage customs barred women, but not men, from extramarital affairs. By contrast, Jewish and Christian authors alike prohibited all sexual involvement outside of marriage (Acts 15:20 ^ae; 1 Cor 6:12-20 ^af; Col 3:5-6 ^ag).
4:7 ^ah holy ... not impure: Cp. 1:4 ^ai; 2:12 ^aj; 5:23-24 ^ak; 2 Thes 2:13-14 ^al; 1 Pet 1:15-16 ^am.
4:8 ^an Rejecting Paul’s teaching on these matters was the same as rejecting God.

• The Holy Spirit empowers Christians to live in accord with God’s will (Ezek 36:27 ^ao; Rom 8:1-4 ^ap; Gal 5:16 ^aq; 1 Jn 3:24 ^ar).