1 Thessalonians 4 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
~AD 50-51
Location
Thessalonica, Macedonia (written from Corinth)
Audience
Primarily Gentile Christian converts in the church at Thessalonica
Situation
Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians shortly after founding the church during his second missionary journey but fleeing due to persecution; Timothy's report confirmed their faith amid trials but highlighted needs for moral instruction and clarity on Christ's return.
Key Background
Thessalonica was a prosperous Roman free city and seaport in Macedonia with a diverse, pagan population influenced by Greco-Roman immorality. Paul's brief ministry there focused on the gospel, leading to rapid growth among Gentiles, but opposition forced his departure. Chapter 4 addresses sexual purity (contrasting local customs), brotherly love, diligence against idleness, and the resurrection of believers to comfort those grieving amid eschatological confusion.
So here's the deal, and — we showed you how to live in a way that and you're already doing it. Now we're urging you in the name of Jesus, the master — keep going further.
You already know what we gave you through the authority of the master Jesus.
What God wants is your — that you stay far away from
Each of you should learn to own with and respect,
not driven by the way who are.
Don't the and of a fellow believer in this area. The master will bring for all of this — we already warned you seriously about that.
Because God didn't us into an life — he invited us into
So anyone who this isn't rejecting a human authority — they're rejecting God, the one who gives you his own
Now about for each other as — you don't need me to write to you about that, because has been you to for one another.
And you're already doing this for all the brothers and sisters throughout the whole region of But we're encouraging you, friends — take it even further.
Make it goal to a — mind own responsibilities and with just like we told you.
That way, your daily life will earn the respect of and you won't have to on
Now, brothers and sisters, we don't want you to be uninformed about those who have — so you won't like everyone else who has no
Because if we believe that Jesus died and then we also believe that God will bring back with Jesus those who have died in
We're telling you this as from the those of us who are still alive when the won't have any advantage over those who have already died.
Because the master himself will come down from heaven with a with the voice of the and with the blast of — and those who died trusting in the will first.
Then we who are still alive will be up together with them in the to the master in the air. And from that point on, we will be with the master
So use these words to each other and build each other up.