Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 20

Paul's Exhortation to the Church @ Thessalonica for Purity/Chastity Part 1

1 Thessalonians 4:1-3 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: KJV

Immediately following this first formal prayer for these new believers in the city of Thessalonica, Paul urges them to walk or live in a manner that is pleasing to our Father in Heaven as he declares so with these words, "Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more." (1 Thessalonians 4:1) (KJV). The first word Paul uses in beginning this new sentence following his heartfelt prayer to God the Father for them is the English word 'Furthermore' which is a more fancy way of saying, now then, having had such concern for your faith (in my absence that I sent Timothy to you), but having my concerns relieved, remedied, and removed upon Timothy's return to me with his report of your steadfastness 'in Christ', live in a manner of life that will please God the Father and not grieve or sorrow Him, for this is the very purpose of my prayer to Him on your behalf.

The English word 'beseech' Paul uses here also to express his want for them is translated by the Greek word erotao meaning to request earnestly: - ask, desire, intreat, pray. The English word 'exhort' means basically the same thing as 'beseech'. Paul uses the little English word 'by' that is the Greek word en it is a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality. The preposition 'by' refers to the Lord Jesus. Therefore, in other words, Paul is declaring to these Thessalonian believers and we believers today and of every generation and era, that his earnest request, desire, intreaty, and prayer for them was not by his authority, but that of the Governing authority of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. Paul had (even in his short time physically in their presence) taught them the ways of God the Father and of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is what Paul means here by the use of the little English phrase 'ye have received' which is translated by one Greek word paralambano which means to receive near, that is, associate with oneself (in any familiar or intimate act or relation); by analogy to assume an office; figuratively to learn: - receive, take (unto, with).

In other words, these Thessalonian believers were taught the truth of the One True and Only God Jesus Christ our Lord and they did not need to be confused about what would be pleasing to Him and what would not be. The English word 'please' used here by Paul on what they/we should desire to be to God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ is translated by the Greek word aresko meaning (through the idea of exciting emotion); to be agreeable (or by implication to seek to be so): - please. In other words, it should be the desire of these believers in Thessalonica and we believers today to agree with what God declares with our words and our actions, for everything short of this is mere pretence on really knowing and loving Him or presumption, that is, taking His grace for granted and turning it into a license to sin (not grieving over our sin) as if this will be pleasing to Him. Note: "God sets no bounds to the communications of His grace and Spirit to them that are faithful. And as there are no bounds to the graces, so there should be none to the exercise of those graces. No man can ever feel that he loves God too much, or that he loves man too much for God’s sake." (Adam Clarke).

Paul is not expressing his opinion or his views to these believers in Thessalonica, but he declares to them what our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ had made known to him as he affirms here with these words, "For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 4:2) (KJV). The little English phrase 'ye know' is translated by one Greek word eido a primary verb; used only in certain past tenses, properly to see (literally or figuratively); by implication (in the perfect only) to know: - be aware, behold, consider, have knowledge, perceive, see, be sure, or understand. The English word 'commandments' is translated by the Greek word paraggelia meaning a mandate: - charge, command. In other words, these believers in Thessalonica could not declare their ignorance or lack of knowledge of what was pleasing to God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ and what was not, for Paul himself made it known to them, even in the short time he spent with them face to face and is now reaffirming what he taught them in his letter. Note: "The verb to command or charge is frequent, and is often used in Class of military orders." (Vincent's Word Studies).

It is often difficult for each one of us to know what the 'will of God' is for us concerning certain issues that are not directly addressed in the Word of God such as what job we should seek out or what city should we reside in or what woman should we date and marry, but here we find the Apostle Paul clearly spelling out for everyone that has ears to hear what our Lord Jesus Christ will is for us concerning sexual relationship as Paul declares to these Thessalonian believers and we believers today and of every generation and era with these words, "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:" (1 Thessalonians 4:3) (KJV). The little English phrase 'the will' Paul uses here denoting, distinguishing, and declaring what God desires is translated by the Greek word thelema meaning a determination (properly the thing), that is, (actively) choice (specifically purpose, decree; abstractly volition) or (passively) inclination: - desire, pleasure, will. The English word 'sanctification' is translated by the Greek word hagiasmos meaning properly purification, that is, (the state) purity; concretely (by Hebraism) a purifier: - holiness, sanctification. The English word 'abstain' is translated by the Greek word apechomai meaning to hold oneself off, that is, refrain: - abstain. The English word 'fornication' is translated by the Greek word porneia meaning harlotry (including adultery and incest); figuratively idolatry: - fornication.

Therefore, we see in other words, Paul informing these believers in Thessalonica and we believers today and those of every generation and era, that God the Father's purpose for us and His desire for us is that we be sanctified/purified and refrain from sexual relationships such as incest and adultery that are outside of His boundary line of holy matrimony between one man and one woman. Early on in the conversion of non-Jews to Christ, that is, Gentiles who knew nothing of the Jewish Temple worship or Mosaic Laws, the first Apostles got together and received from our Lord Jesus that the Gentiles were not to become Jews and observe the ritual Laws of Moses, but they were to abstain from certain things (fornication being on the list) as recorded for us by Dr. Luke with these words, "Therefore it is my opinion that we should not put obstacles in the way of {and} annoy {and} disturb those of the Gentiles who turn to God, But we should send word to them in writing to abstain from {and} avoid anything that has been polluted by being offered to idols, and all sexual impurity, and [eating meat of animals] that have been strangled, and [tasting of] blood." (Acts 15:19-20) (Amplified Bible).

"So Paul makes a sharp and pointed stand here for the Christian idea of sanctification as being 'the will of God' (apposition) and as further explained by the epexegetic infinitive 'that ye abstain from fornication' Pagan religion did not demand sexual purity of its devotees, the gods and goddesses being grossly immoral. Priestesses were in the temples for the service of the men who came." Robertson's Word Pictures

"Those who most excel others fall short of perfection. The very best of us should forget those things which are behind, and reach forth unto those things which are before. It is not enough that we abide in the faith of the Gospel, but we must abound in the work of faith. We must not only persevere to the end, but we should grow better, and walk more evenly and closely with God. The arguments with which the Apostle enforces his exhortation. They had been informed of their duty. They knew their Master's will, and could not plead ignorance as an excuse. Now as faith, so knowledge, is dead without practice. They had received of those who had converted them to Christianity, or been taught of them, how they ought to walk. Observe, The design of the Gospel is to teach men not only what they should believe, but also how they ought to live; not so much to fill men's minds with notions as to regulate their temper and behaviour. The Apostle taught them how to walk, not how to talk. To talk well without living well will never bring us to heaven: for the character of those who are in Christ Jesus is this: They walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Matthew Henry

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…