Read & explore together
Living to Please God
This section of the letter urges believers to keep growing in a life that pleases God. It joins holiness, love and ordinary work, showing that following the Lord Jesus shapes both private conduct and public witness.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
The writer reminds the believers that they had already received instruction about how to walk and please God through the Lord Jesus. He urges further growth. The passage moves from sanctification and sexual conduct to brotherly love, quiet living and working with their own hands.
1 Thessalonians 4:1–12Main takeaway
In this passage, pleasing God means growing in sanctification, love and steady daily conduct.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Keep growing in what pleases GodThe opening is an appeal to continue in a way of life they had already been taught. They knew how they ought to walk and please God, and the writer urges them to abound more and more.
Explanation
The opening is an appeal to continue in a way of life they had already been taught. They knew how they ought to walk and please God, and the writer urges them to abound more and more. These instructions were given through the Lord Jesus, so this teaching carries his authority.
02God’s will: sanctificationThe passage states God’s will clearly: sanctification. Here that includes abstaining from sexual immorality and controlling one’s own body in sanctification and honour.
Explanation
The passage states God’s will clearly: sanctification. Here that includes abstaining from sexual immorality and controlling one’s own body in sanctification and honour. This stands against lustful passion and against taking advantage of or wronging a brother or sister in this matter.
03Called by God to holinessThe reason is God’s call. He called his people not for uncleanness but in sanctification. So rejecting this instruction is not merely dismissing human advice.
Explanation
The reason is God’s call. He called his people not for uncleanness but in sanctification. So rejecting this instruction is not merely dismissing human advice. The verse says it is rejecting God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to them.
04Love, quietness and workThe final part turns to brotherly love. They are already loving the brothers in Macedonia, yet they should abound more and more.
Explanation
The final part turns to brotherly love. They are already loving the brothers in Macedonia, yet they should abound more and more. They are also to aim at a quiet life, mind their own business and work with their own hands, so that they walk properly toward outsiders and have need of nothing.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does the passage name as God’s will?
Read the sentence beginning 'this is the will of God' and note the actions linked with sanctification.
02Why is this teaching more than human opinion?
Look for the verse that explains what rejecting this instruction means.
03Which everyday habits are linked with a proper walk toward outsiders?
List the aims and actions named in the closing verses.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Thessalonians 4:1–12
1Finally then, brothers, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, that you abound more and more.
2For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
3For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality,
4that each one of you know how to control his own body in sanctification and honor,
5not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who don’t know God,
6that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother or sister in this matter; because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified.
7For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification.
8Therefore he who rejects this doesn’t reject man, but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to you.
9But concerning brotherly love, you have no need that one write to you. For you yourselves are taught by God to love one another,
10for indeed you do it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brothers, that you abound more and more;
11and that you make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, even as we instructed you,
12that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and may have need of nothing.