1 Thessalonians 4:8
What does 1 Thessalonians 4:8 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Thessalonians 4:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Thessalonians 4:8 means
To dismiss these moral commands is not to reject Paul but to reject God. This heightens the seriousness of sexual purity and communal integrity. Yet Paul adds hope: God “giveth his Holy Spirit unto you.” The same God whose standards are high supplies His own Spirit to dwell within believers, enabling what He commands. Holiness is not achieved by willpower alone but empowered by divine presence. This both warns and comforts—warns, because God is directly involved; comforts, because He is not distant. The Spirit’s gift is ongoing, a present help for obedience, shaping desires and strengthening self-control in those who submit to Him.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Therefore he that rejecteth, rejecteth not man, but God, who giveth his Holy Spirit unto you.
KJV
King James Version · 1611He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Therefore he that rejecteth, rejecteth not man, but God, who giveth his Holy Spirit unto you.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Whoever, then, goes against this word, goes against not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862he, therefore, who is despising--doth not despise man, but God, who also did give His Holy Spirit to us.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Therefore, he that despiseth these things, despiseth not man, but God, who also hath given his holy Spirit in us.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890He therefore that [in this] disregards [his brother], disregards, not man, butGod, who has given also his Holy Spirit to you.
Context
Verse 8 concludes the section on sanctification (vv. 3–8) by tying obedience to God’s own presence in His people. With the authority and enablement clear, Paul changes tone in verse 9, noting they need no fresh instruction about brotherly love because God has already taught them. From there (vv. 10–12) he encourages them to grow in love’s practical expressions: peaceful living, minding one’s affairs, diligent work, and a good witness to outsiders, before shifting to comfort regarding believers who have died (vv. 13–18).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 10:16
He that heareth you heareth me; and he that rejecteth you rejecteth me; and he that rejecteth me rejecteth him that sent me.
- Isaiah 53:10
Yet it pleased Jehovah to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Jehovah shall prosper in his hand.
- 1 Samuel 8:7
And Jehovah said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee; for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not be king over them.
- Nehemiah 9:30
Yet many years didst thou bear with them, and testifiedst against them by thy Spirit through thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.
- 1 Peter 1:12
To whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.
- Isaiah 49:7
Thus saith Jehovah, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers: Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall worship; because of Jehovah that is faithful, even the Holy One of Israel, who hath chosen thee.
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