1 Thessalonians 4:3–5
God's will: live apart from sexual immorality, with honor
Study it word by word3For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;
4that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
5not in the passion of desire, as also the nations do who do not know God;
In its context
1Finally, then, brothers, we ask you and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God —just as you indeed are walking— that you abound more and more.
2For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
…
6that no one transgress and take advantage of his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger concerning all these things, as we also told you before and solemnly testified.
7For God did not call us to impurity but in sanctification.
Its words in the original
- ἐστινestin· be
Be, exist.
- θέλημαthelēma· will
Will: what someone wants and decides.
- θεοῦtheou· God, god
God. In the plural or in another sense, "gods".
- ἁγιασμὸςhagiasmos· sanctification
Sanctification: being set apart for God and made holy.
- ἀπέχεσθαιapechesthai· be paid, be far
Have received in full, as on a receipt; also be distant. "It is enough".
- πορνείαςporneias· sexual immorality
Sexual immorality: any sexual relationship outside marriage.
- εἰδέναιeidenai· know
Know, understand; also see.
- ἕκαστονhekaston· each
Each, each one.
- σκεῦοςskeuos· vessel, object
Vessel, object; in the plural, goods, belongings.
- κτᾶσθαιktasthai· acquire, get
Acquire, get, obtain for oneself.
- τιμῇtimēi· honor, price
Price; also honor.
- πάθειpathei· passion
Passion: what one suffers or feels strongly, especially strong desire.
- ἐπιθυμίαςepithymias· desire
Desire; also evil desire, craving.
- καθάπερkathaper· just as
"Just as", "even as".
- ἔθνηethnē· nation
Nation, people; in the plural, often the peoples who are not Israel.