1 Thessalonians 4

1 Finally [in conclusion, as a last thought], brothers [fellow believers, brethren in Christ], we ask [request, plead with] and encourage [exhort, comfort] you in the Lord Jesus [the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ] to live [walk, conduct your lives] in a way that is pleasing [acceptable, agreeable] to God [the Almighty, Creator], just as [in the same manner, according to] you have received [learned, been taught] from us [our instruction, our example]. This is how [in this way, by this means] you already live [are walking, are conducting yourselves], so you should do so [continue, abound] all the more [even more, to a greater extent]. word study 2 For [because of this reason] you know [are aware, perceive spiritually] the instructions [orders, commandments, precepts] we gave [bestowed, granted] you by [through, because of] the authority [power, lordship] of the Lord [Master, God] Jesus [God is salvation]. word study 3 For it is God’s will [desire, intention, plan] that you should be holy [set apart, sanctified, living a life pleasing to God]: You must abstain [keep yourselves away, refrain] from sexual immorality [fornication, lewdness, sinful desires]; word study 4 each of you [individually, every one] must know how to control [possess, have mastery over] his own body [vessel, physical self] in [a state of] holiness [sanctification, set apart for God] and [with] honor [dignity, respect], word study 5 not [without any trace of] in lustful [inordinate, excessive] passion [strong emotion, desire] like [in the same manner as, similar to] the Gentiles [non-Jewish people, nations] who [those] do not [are without knowledge of] know [perceive, understand] God [the one true deity, Creator]; word study 6 and no one should ever [transgress, go beyond] violate or exploit [take advantage of] his brother [fellow believer, male sibling] in this regard [matter, thing], because the Lord [God, supreme authority] will avenge [carry out justice, punish] all such acts [things, deeds], as we have already [previously, beforehand] told you and solemnly [strongly] warned you. word study 7 For [as a reason, to explain] God [the one true deity] has not [completely, utterly] called [invited, summoned] us [believers, His people] to [a life of] impurity [uncleanness, moral filth] [but rather, on the contrary], but [in stark contrast] to [a life of] holiness [sanctification, moral purity, being set apart for God]. word study 8 Anyone, then, who rejects [despises, sets aside] this command does not reject [disregard, despise] man but God [Almighty], the very One who gives [bestows, grants] you His Holy [set apart, sanctified] Spirit [the divine breath, life-giving power]. word study 9 Now about [concerning, regarding] brotherly love [love of the brethren, affection for fellow believers], you do not need [have no requirement, lack no instruction] anyone to write [to record, to instruct] to you, because you yourselves [as individuals, personally] have been taught [divinely instructed, guided] by God [the divine Teacher, the Lord] to love [to show esteem and goodwill, to cherish] one another [each other, mutually]. word study 10 And you are indeed showing this love [demonstrating genuine affection, having a deep concern] to all [every single one, without exception] the brothers [fellow believers, Christian siblings] throughout [in every part of, across the entire region] Macedonia [a region in Greece, an important area in the early Christian world]. But we urge [exhort, plead with, comfort] you, brothers [fellow believers, dear friends], to excel [abound, increase, exceed] more [to a greater degree, still more] and more [continually, in every way] word study 11 and to aspire [strive for, eagerly pursue] to live quietly [in a peaceful and tranquil manner], to attend to your own matters [personal affairs, private business], and to work [labor, be diligent] with your own hands [through personal effort, with your own strength], as we instructed [commanded, taught] you. word study 12 Then you will behave [walk honestly, live decently] properly [in a respectable manner] toward [in relation to] outsiders [those who are without, non-Christians], without [so as not to, in order not to] being dependent [needing, having lack of nothing] on anyone [no one]. word study 13 Brothers [fellow believers, brethren], we do not want you to be [completely] uninformed [ignorant, lacking knowledge] about those who sleep [fall asleep, have fallen asleep] in death [physical death, the state of being dead], so that you will not grieve [sorrow, mourn] like the rest [the remaining ones, those who are left], who are without [lacking, having no] hope [confidence, expectation]. word study 14 For since [because of our faith] we believe that Jesus [the Son of God, our Savior] died [passed away, underwent death] and rose again [was resurrected, came back to life], we also believe that God [the Almighty, our Heavenly Father] will bring with Jesus [together, in His presence] those who have fallen asleep [died, passed away] in Him [through faith, in His care]. word study 15 By the word [divine message, Logos] of the Lord [God, Master], we declare [say, proclaim] to you that we who are alive [living, spiritually vital] and remain [survive, are left] until the coming [arrival, presence] of the Lord will by no means [not at all, in no way] precede [go before, outrun] those who have fallen asleep [died, passed away, are resting]. word study 16 For the Lord [the supreme Master, God] Himself will descend [come down, fall from] from heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place] with a loud command [a shout, a cry of authority], with the voice [sound, noise] of an archangel [a chief messenger, high-ranking angel], and with the trumpet [a musical instrument, a signal] of God [the one true deity], and the dead [lifeless, spiritually inactive] in Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] will be the first [before all others, in priority] to rise [stand up, come to life]. word study 17 After that, we [who are still living] who are alive and remain [surviving after something has passed] will be caught up [seized by force, snatched away] together [in close association, at the same time] with them in the clouds [visible masses of water vapor] to meet [encounter, come together] the Lord [the supreme Master] in the air [the surrounding atmosphere]. And so we will always [at all times, continually] be with the Lord [in close relationship, united with Him]. word study 18 Therefore [so, in conclusion] encourage [comfort, plead with] one another [mutually, among yourselves] with these [specific, given] words [messages, teachings]. word study