Your SanctificationExploring 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8April 16, 2012

Introducing 1 Thes. 4:3-8• Paul’s first instructions in 1 Thessalonians are regarding

sexual immorality• Difficult passage to translate and interpret• Difficult words and grammar in Greek• My impression – it’s a relatively “safe” passage

• Worth the effort to carefully dissect what Paul is saying• Value in growing in our understanding of why as well as the

what.

Translating 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8Interpreting 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8Applying 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8

TRANSLATING 1 THES. 4:3-8

Translating 4:4

In verse 4, a literal translation would read “acquire his own vessel.” •two words in close connection to cause problems, the verb (ktaomai, to acquire) and its object (skeuos, vessel) •“wife” view = “live with his wife” or “take / possess his own wife” or “take a wife for himself” [RSV, GNG, GW, WNT]•“body” view = “control his (own) body” [ESV, NIV, NCV, NRSV, HCSV, ISV]•more ambiguous translation = “possess his vessel” [NASB, ASV, NKJV, and LEB]•History of interpretation… (Rabbinic vs. Early Christian)

Other Passages help? “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” (1 Peter 3:7, ESV)•Skeuos (“vessel”) clearly referring to spouses•Not a vessel of anything… just vessels (like in 1 Thes. 4:4)

Some passages do use skeuos to refer to people (“wife” view support) or to our bodies (“body” view support)•“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels…” (2 Corinthians 4:7, NASB)•“What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?” (Romans 9:22, NASB)

Our solution

“Acquire your own vessel”“Acquire”•Natural meaning of ktaomai is “acquire”• “(Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his

wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out….)” (Acts 1:18, ESV, emphasis added)

• “Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife…” (Ruth 4:10, ESV, emphasis added)

•Greek dictionaries (Lexicons) are unanimous in the NT use of ktaomai (“acquire”) – very set Greek usage.• very little evidence to translate “possess” or “control”

Our solution

“Acquire your own vessel”“Vessel”•Skeuos is a very generic word (“vessel” “instrument” “thing”)• “And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the

temple” (Mark 11:16, ESV, emphasis added). The NIV and NASB use “merchandise.”

• “On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away....” (Luke 17:31, ESV, emphasis added).

• “But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.”” (Acts 9:15, ESV, emphasis added)

•Lexicons acknowledge the generic range of skeuos

Our solution

“Acquire your own vessel”•Most natural translation of the phrase• The generic skeuos (“vessel”) should not change the established

use of ktaomai (“acquire”).

•Our translation leaves the interpretation in the hands of the reader, not the translator• Good rule of thumb: the best translations are those that make

the fewest decisions for the reader.

Our solution

“Acquire your own vessel”•Simple image – a person getting / taking / buying a piece of pottery•You can image someone doing this:• “acquiring a vessel” by examining and purchasing a piece of

pottery at the store…• “acquiring a vessel” by taking the piece of pottery home.

•“Acquire your own vessel” leans towards the “wife” view, but…• doesn’t actually use the word “wife”• maintains Paul’s “vessel” language / image

Hagiosmos – “Sanctification”• Hagiosmos, noun form of the adj “holy”• Best translation?

“consecration” or “sanctification” or “holiness”• What is the status of hagiosmos? process or result• English connotations:

“Now this is God’s will – your __________________”consecration process of being dedicatedsanctification (middle, could go either way)holiness result/state of being dedicated

• Greek scholars acknowledge this flexibility in the word.• These are obviously connected ideas (process leads to result).

Hagiosmos – “Sanctification”

What is Paul getting at?The context shows Paul’s desire for their continued growth.•“Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.” (1 Thes. 4:1, ESV)•“And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.” (1 Thes. 4:10, NIV)•“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (5:11, ESV)

Hagiosmos – “Sanctification”

What is Paul getting at?Our suggestion: “sanctification” (or “full consecration”)“Now this is God’s will – your sanctification…”

1 Thessalonians 4:3

•“Sanctification” is a good middle-ground option• leaves interpretation to the reader• communicates Paul’s message: “You’re doing well but

you’re not there yet”•Paul is able to find an extremely motivating spiritual middle- ground of spiritual encouragement:• not making them feel unappreciated:

(“Why aren’t you better?”) • or making them feel complacent:

(“You’re doing good, so don’t work so hard!”)

Business words in v. 6

“Transgress” (ὑπερβαίνω, hyperbaino) and “Defraud” (πλεονεκτέω, pleonekteo) These are both (potentially) business-type words.•Some believe Paul is jumping topics in this verse to discuss ethical business practices;i.e. “And make sure you don’t cheat and swindle the brethren!” • Grammar and context show Paul is continuing his discussion of

sexual immorality.•Paul is continuing his “pottery consumer” • Paul is saying that when acquiring “your own vessel,”

don’t “steal” from your brother, “take” what is not yours, “damage” others in this, etc.

INTERPRETING 1 THES. 4:3-8

Interpreting 4:3-8

Understanding Paul’s Point•Why use a potentially confusing illustration (metaphor) for sexual purity?• Bible is full of powerful illustrations – we use them too!• Paul teaches a great deal with the vessel illustration in verses 4-6

Why “acquire your own vessel”1) The “acquire your own vessel” illustration highlights the

morality behind sexual immorality.

• The “vessel” metaphor points to the underlying principle: that you must not take what is not yours.• Adam was given Eve (Genesis 2:24), and they became one for life. • 1 Corinthians 7:3-5 – in marriage, we are each others, and we have

authority over each other.• “Now then, here is your wife” (Genesis 12:19, ESV). If Sarai was

married to Abram, she is clearly (still) his wife, not Pharaoh’s.• With the consumer image, Paul is comparing sexual purity to …• rightfully acquiring (buying for yourself) a vessel if it is not yours at

the moment, or…• rightfully acquiring (taking as your own) a vessel if it is already yours.

• The basic admonition: behave properly towards others and only take what is yours to take.

Why “acquire your own vessel”2) The “acquire your own vessel” illustration becomes a

gender-neutral way to discuss sexual purity

• The Greek in this passage does not demand that we strictly translate the grammatical gender of the pronouns.• Literally, v. 4 would be “each of you [must] know how to acquire

his own vessel.”• I believe Paul is giving the same instruction to men and to

women with a single illustration.• Notice how Paul begins verse 4: “each of you [must] know how to

acquire your own vessel.”

Why “acquire your own vessel”2) The “acquire your own vessel” illustration becomes a

gender-neutral way to discuss sexual purity

• What Paul is saying to men and women both is to get your own vessel “in a sanctified and honorable way.”• “Guys, don’t be looking to prostitutes or other men’s wives to satisfy

your sexual appetite. Take your own vessel, and if you don’t have one, get one in purity!”

• “Women, don’t sleep around, and don’t take what is not yours. Take your own vessel, and if you don’t have one...”

• The warning in verse 6 is a reminder to not hurt any brother or sister by our behavior.“ do not transgress or defraud one another in this…”

Why “acquire your own vessel”3) The “acquire your own vessel” illustration allows Paul to

discuss sexual purity to those inside and outside of marriage with the same metaphor.

• To the unmarried: “take only a vessel if it is yours (and none are yours unless you’re married)”

• To the married: “take your own husband / wife in a sanctified and honorable way, and not somebody else’s.”

• Reinforcing that every action (inside or outside of marriage) is to be pure – in holiness and honor.

1 Thessalonians 4:7-8• Going back to sanctification…• The seriousness of this matter is Paul’s final punch:

“Therefore, whoever rejects this does not reject men but the God who gives his Holy Spirit to you” (4:8).

• Paul does not want them to forget that it is a HOLY Spirit!• In the Greek, Holy is emphasized.• Reminds us of Paul’s warnings in 1 Corinthians 6:18-19

1 Thessalonians 4:7-8

We must never forget what the Spirit is trying to do in our lives: purify and save us!• “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears,

you always resist the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 7:51, ESV)• “…to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the

priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit..” (Romans 15:16, ESV, emphasis added)

• Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ… according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood…. (1 Peter 1:1-2, NASB, emphasis added)

APPLYING 1 THES. 4:3-8

Lessons from 1 Thes. 4:3-81. God wants us to have absolutely pure lives. Don’t take

what is not yours!Important admonitions to purity in 1 Thessalonians:• “May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be

blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.” (1 Thes. 3:13, NIV, emphasis added)

• “Keep away from every kind of evil.” (1 Thes. 5:22)• “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you

completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thes. 5:23, ESV, emphasis added)• What a high calling! Can we say this about ourselves?

Lessons from 1 Thes. 4:3-81. God wants us to have absolutely pure lives. Don’t take

what is not yours!• “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual

immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5, ESV, emphasis added)

• “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality…” (Galatians 5:19, ESV, emphasis added)• πορνεία (porneia) “sexual immorality” – the same in 1 Thes. 4:3.• When one Greek scholar was asked “What exactly is porneia?” he

responded, “Whatever you do with a porne!” (Porne is the Greek word for “prostitute.”)

• In other words, porneia often is more of a catch-all word, meaning more than fornication.

• “Impurity” “passion” “sensuality” teach that God calls us to more than just “not sleeping around.”

Lessons from 1 Thes. 4:3-81. God wants us to have absolutely pure lives. Don’t

take what is not yours!• “… encourage [an older man] as you would a father,

younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.” (1 Timothy 5:1-2, ESV, emphasis added)

• “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.” (Ephesians 5:3, NIV, emphasis added)

Lessons from 1 Thes. 4:3-81. God wants us to have absolutely pure lives. Don’t

take what is not yours!• “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully

at a girl.” (Job 31:1-4, NIV)• Don’t take what is not yours, even with your eyes.

• “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28, ESV)• Don’t take what is not yours, even with your mind.

We must keep every part of us – our hearts, spirits and souls – blameless before God (1 Thes. 5:24).

Lessons from 1 Thes. 4:3-81. God wants us to have absolutely pure lives. Don’t

take what is not yours!Purity is difficult in a media saturated world.• We might need to turn off the TV and throw away

some DVDs. • How sad would it be if someone’s soul was lost because of TV

and movies.• We might need to keep our internet on a tighter leash,

for ourselves and for our children.• We wouldn’t put a dangerous, uncaged animal in our children’s

room and just hope for the best.• We are insane is we allow our children uncontrolled access to TV

and internet in our homes• iPhones (and other phones that provide access to the internet)

are probably more dangerous than the home computer.

Lessons from 1 Thes. 4:3-81. God wants us to have absolutely pure lives. Don’t

take what is not yours!Preachers need godly boundaries with women.

(1 Timothy 5:1-2)• We must take care in our studies and relationships.• How and where we meet for studies is important• What we talk about (and how) is also important.

Lessons from 1 Thes. 4:3-82. For those who are single, acquire your own vessel in a

sanctified and honorable way.• We’re talking here about dating / courting / finding a person

to marry.• Paul teaches that if you are going to chose a spouse, date in

a sanctified way.• We must have absolute purity in dating.

Don’t take what is not yours! We must not sin against anyone in our dating behavior.

Lessons from 1 Thes. 4:3-82. For those who are single, acquire your own vessel in a

sanctified and honorable way.• We need to live and teach absolute purity between

unmarried romantic couples.• Figuring out what actions between guys and girls are sexual

in nature isn’t as difficult as we might think. • Would you (preacher) do that action with another

married woman? Or your mother?• If something is a sexual activity between unmarried people,

we must condemn it in our preaching and teaching. • If it is not inherently sexual but leads to sensuality, we must

teach wisdom and advise caution with strong warnings.

Lessons from 1 Thes. 4:3-82. For those who are single, acquire your own vessel in a

sanctified and honorable way.• One specific area I believe we have neglected is speaking

against romantic kissing. • From what I have observed, conservative preaching has

long condemned dancing. • We need to preach just as strongly against romantic kissing,

for the exact same reasons: it either leads to or is sensual behavior.

• Apply the principle of don’t take what’s not yours.

Lessons from 1 Thes. 4:3-83. It is important to remember that God provides the

increase (1 Corinthians 3:6)1 Thessalonians has important reminders of Who is ultimately

responsible for all spiritual growth.• Doesn’t mean that we don’t do our part.• Means that we could do nothing without God.

• “Therefore, whoever rejects this does not reject men but the God who gives his Holy Spirit to you.” (1 Thes. 4:8)

• “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thes. 5:23, ESV)

Lessons from 1 Thes. 4:3-83. It is important to remember that God provides the

increase (1 Corinthians 3:6)Other significant NT passages:• “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead

our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ….” (Hebrews 13:20-21, ESV)

• “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy…” (Jude 24, ESV)

• “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed… work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13-14, ESV)

Lessons from 1 Thes. 4:3-83. It is important to remember that God provides the

increase (1 Corinthians 3:6)Reminders to keep us from pride and despair:• Any good we have done is only by God’s grace.

“…I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” (1 Cor. 15:10,

ESV)• No need to despair or give up when we see just how far we

have to go.“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ

Jesus has made me his own.” (Phil. 3:12, ESV)• When we do our part, God will do His!