Holiness pleases God
4
1 Finally then, brothers, we urge and exhort you in the Lord Jesus: as you received from us how you ought to behave and please God,* do so even more 2 —you know what instructions we gave you through Sovereign Jesus.†
Sanctified sex
3 Now this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you stay away from fornication;‡ 4 that each of you know how to gain possession of his own ‘vessel’ in sanctification and honor, 5 not in lustful passion (like the heathen who do not know God); 6 that no one trespass and defraud his brother in this matter,§ because the Lord is the avenger of all such behavior,* as, indeed, we have already told you and warned you. 7 Because God did not call us for uncleanness, but by holiness.† 8 So then, the rejecter is not rejecting man, but God, the very One who gave you‡ His Holy Spirit.§
An impressive life style
9 Now about brotherly love you do not need to be written to, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another, 10 because in fact you are doing so toward all the brothers throughout Macedonia.* Still, we exhort you to do even more, brothers, 11 to make it a point to be peaceable and to mind your own business, to work with your hands (as we instructed you), 12 so that outsiders may be well impressed by your life style, and that you may have no lack.†
Christ's second coming
The Rapture‡
13 Now then, brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who have ‘fallen asleep’,§ so that you do not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 Because since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, just so will God bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him. 15 For this we say to you by a word of the Lord,* that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will absolutely not precede those who have fallen asleep; 16 because the Lord Himself—with a commanding shout,† with the archangel's voice‡ and with God's trumpet—will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first; 17 then we who are still alive, who are left, will be snatched up together with them in clouds to meet the Lord in the air. In precisely this way we will always be with the Lord.§ 18 So then, comfort one another with these words.
* 4:1 Perhaps 10% of the Greek manuscripts add ‘as indeed you are behaving’ (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). † 4:2 Paul keeps insisting that he is God's spokesman, and as such should be obeyed (see also verse 8 below). ‡ 4:3 “Fornication” refers to any sexual activity outside the marriage bond (distinct from adultery): it includes prostitution, rape, anal sex, sex with an animal; in short, sex without commitment and responsibility (sex that disregards the Creator's intention). § 4:6 I take it that this clause clarifies the interpretation of ‘vessel’; verse 4 refers to getting a wife. The term ‘defraud’ is quite strong, so I imagine it refers to courting (not to mention usurping) the affections of a girl already promised, if not betrothed, to another. * 4:6 To behave so as to make yourself the object of God's vengeance does not sound like a good idea. † 4:7 Called “by holiness” and to holiness—‘without which no one will see the Lord’ (Hebrews 12:14). ‡ 4:8 Instead of “you”, perhaps 4% of the Greek manuscripts have ‘us’ (as in AV and NKJV). § 4:8 Paul is writing to people who have the Holy Spirit. * 4:10 They evidently had a strong sense of community in Christ. † 4:12 Throughout the Bible, laziness and idleness are proscribed. ‡ 4:12 This paragraph defines the Rapture: Jesus comes down into the atmosphere of this planet (‘clouds’) and collects all those who belong to Him; the bodies of those who have died physically will be resurrected and reunited with their spirits; those still living will not have to die (death is separation); all their bodies will be glorified; the Christ will have His Bride. § 4:13 This is a metaphor for dying. * 4:15 Paul is claiming inspiration. † 4:16 One is reminded of Jesus' words in John 5:25-29. In verse 25 He says ‘now is’, so He is speaking of the spiritually dead who need to listen to Him and receive spiritual life. But in verse 28 He speaks plainly of those ‘in the graves’—all the dead will be resurrected at Jesus' command, including the lost, who will then be condemned to the Lake. I take it that here in 4:16 Jesus resurrects only the “dead in Christ”, and He uses a commanding shout. To raise Lazarus He gave a loud shout (John 11:43), that might have carried half a mile; this one will be heard around the globe. ‡ 4:16 There is only one archangel or top angel; once Lucifer, now Michael. § 4:17 After the Rapture we will never again be separated.