Read Scripturead-freewith Bible Gateway Plus—trusted Study Bibles and commentaries beside every verse. Try it FREE for 7 days.
Log In/Sign Up

#
1 Thessalonians 4
New International Version

### Living to Please God

4 As for other matters, brothers and sisters,(A)we instructed you how to live(B)in order to please God,(C)as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

3 It is God’s will(D)that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;(E)4 that each of you should learn to control your own body[a](F)in a way that is holy and honorable,5 not in passionate lust(G)like the pagans,(H)who do not know God;(I)6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.[b](J)The Lord will punish(K)all those who commit such sins,(L)as we told you and warned you before.7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.(M)8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.(N)

9 Now about your love for one another(O)we do not need to write to you,(P)for you yourselves have been taught by God(Q)to love each other.(R)10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia.(S)Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,(T)11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands,(U)just as we told you,12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders(V)and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

### Believers Who Have Died

13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed(W)about those who sleep in death,(X)so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.(Y)14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again,(Z)and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.(AA)15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord,(AB)will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.(AC)16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,(AD)with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel(AE)and with the trumpet call of God,(AF)and the dead in Christ will rise first.(AG)17 After that, we who are still alive and are left(AH)will be caught up together with them in the clouds(AI)to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord(AJ)forever.18 Therefore encourage one another(AK)with these words.

#### Footnotes

1. 1 Thessalonians 4:4 Orlearn to live with your own wife; orlearn to acquire a wife
2. 1 Thessalonians 4:6 The Greek word forbrother or sister(adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family.

#### Cross references

1. 1 Thessalonians 4:1:2Co 13:11; 2Th 3:1
2. 1 Thessalonians 4:1:S Eph 4:1
3. 1 Thessalonians 4:1:S 2Co 5:9
4. 1 Thessalonians 4:3:S Eph 5:17
5. 1 Thessalonians 4:3:S 1Co 6:18
6. 1 Thessalonians 4:4:1Co 7:2, 9
7. 1 Thessalonians 4:5:Ro 1:26
8. 1 Thessalonians 4:5:Eph 4:17
9. 1 Thessalonians 4:5:S Gal 4:8
10. 1 Thessalonians 4:6:Lev 25:17; 1Co 6:8
11. 1 Thessalonians 4:6:Dt 32:35; Ps 94:1; Ro 2:5-11; 12:19; Heb 10:30, 31
12. 1 Thessalonians 4:6:Heb 13:4
13. 1 Thessalonians 4:7:Lev 11:44; 1Pe 1:15
14. 1 Thessalonians 4:8:Eze 36:27; Ro 5:5; 2Co 1:22; Gal 4:6; 1Jn 3:24
15. 1 Thessalonians 4:9:S Ro 12:10
16. 1 Thessalonians 4:9:1Th 5:1
17. 1 Thessalonians 4:9:S Jn 6:45
18. 1 Thessalonians 4:9:S Jn 13:34
19. 1 Thessalonians 4:10:S Ac 16:9
20. 1 Thessalonians 4:10:S 1Th 3:12
21. 1 Thessalonians 4:11:Eph 4:28; 2Th 3:10-12
22. 1 Thessalonians 4:12:S Mk 4:11
23. 1 Thessalonians 4:13:S Ro 11:25
24. 1 Thessalonians 4:13:S Mt 9:24
25. 1 Thessalonians 4:13:Eph 2:12
26. 1 Thessalonians 4:14:Ro 14:9; 1Co 15:3, 4; 2Co 5:15
27. 1 Thessalonians 4:14:1Co 15:18
28. 1 Thessalonians 4:15:S 1Co 1:7
29. 1 Thessalonians 4:15:1Co 15:52
30. 1 Thessalonians 4:16:S Mt 16:27
31. 1 Thessalonians 4:16:Jude 9
32. 1 Thessalonians 4:16:S Mt 24:31
33. 1 Thessalonians 4:16:1Co 15:23; 2Th 2:1; Rev 14:13
34. 1 Thessalonians 4:17:1Co 15:52
35. 1 Thessalonians 4:17:Ac 1:9; S Ac 8:39; S Rev 1:7; 11:12
36. 1 Thessalonians 4:17:S Jn 12:26
37. 1 Thessalonians 4:18:1Th 5:11

New International Version(NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 byBiblica, Inc.®Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

### More on the NIV

- Unleash God's Word!

#### Bible Gateway Recommends

NIV, Journal the Word Bible, Red Letter, Comfort Print: Reflect, Take Notes, or Create Art Next to Your Favorite Verses
Retail: $39.99
Our Price: $27.99
Save: $12.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Chronological Study Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New International Version
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $34.99
Save: $15.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Radiant Virtues Bible: A Beautiful Word Collection, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Explore the virtues of faith, hope, and love
Retail: $69.98
Our Price: $48.99
Save: $20.99 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, The Woman's Study Bible, Full-Color, Red Letter: Receiving God's Truth for Balance, Hope, and Transformation
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $34.99
Save: $15.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Lucado Encouraging Word Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New International Version
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
View more titles