1 Thessalonians 5:23
What does 1 Thessalonians 5:23 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Thessalonians 5:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Thessalonians 5:23 means
Paul prays that the God of peace would sanctify the believers entirely and keep their whole person—spirit, soul, and body—blameless at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. God Himself is the agent of this thorough holiness; He brings harmony and wholeness where sin fractured life. The mention of spirit, soul, and body stresses total preservation, not a technical division, and looks to the final day when believers will be presented unblamed. This prayer gathers up the chapter’s exhortations and lays them before God, who alone can complete the work. The aim of the Christian life is comprehensive holiness ready for Christ’s appearing.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And may the God of peace himself make you holy in every way; and may your spirit and soul and body be free from all sin at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and the God of the peace Himself sanctify you wholly, and may your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved unblameably in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And may the God of peace himself sanctify you in all things: that your whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Now theGod of peace himself sanctify you wholly: and your whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Context
After a cascade of commands, Paul turns to petition, acknowledging dependence on God for the very holiness he has urged. This prayer links the present life of watchfulness and obedience with the future coming of the Lord. The next verse will ground the confidence of this prayer in God’s faithfulness, assuring the church that the One who called them will accomplish their sanctification and preservation.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Corinthians 5:19
to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
- John 17:19
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.
- Leviticus 20:26
And ye shall be holy unto me: for I, Jehovah, am holy, and have set you apart from the peoples, that ye should be mine.
- Romans 16:20
And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
- Colossians 1:22
yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him:
- Romans 15:33
Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
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