1 Thessalonians 3:11-4:8

Christian Standard Bible

Prayer for the Church

¹¹ Now may our God and Father^(A) himself, and our Lord Jesus,^(B) direct our way to you. ¹² And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love^(C) for one another^(D) and for everyone, just as we do for you. ¹³ May he make your hearts blameless^(E) in holiness^(F) before our God and Father at the coming^(G) of our Lord^(H) Jesus with all his saints. Amen.^[a]

The Call to Sanctification

4 Additionally then, brothers and sisters, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received instruction from us on how you should live and please God—as you are doing^[b]—do this even more. ² For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

³ For this is God’s will,^(I) your sanctification:^(J) that you keep away^(K) from sexual immorality, ⁴ that each of you knows how to control his own body^[c] in holiness and honor, ⁵ not with lustful passions,^(L) like the Gentiles, who don’t know God. ⁶ This means one must not transgress against and take advantage^(M) of a brother or sister in this manner, because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses, as we also previously told and warned you. ⁷ For God has not called us to impurity^(N) but to live in holiness. ⁸ Consequently, anyone who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.^(O)