Here is the second of three things that stick out to me in reading the complete letter of 1 Thessalonians that help set the context for 4:3-8.
The second significant contextual component Paul’s CONCERN in writing to the Thessalonians.
Just as his motivation for writing was out of his love, his concern was related to their love. Just prior to our paragraph he writes:
Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. (3:11-13)
After praying that their love would increase and abound he progresses directly to blamelessness and holiness. In fact, holiness is the result of abounding love (“abound in love…so that”). Then in chapter four Paul’s exhortation focuses on how they ought to walk and please God (vv.1-2). Then he targets their sanctification in verse three, and explicitly identifies the issue of abstaining from sexual immorality. So sanctification in general and sexual purity in particular are issues of loving one another properly. A holy life is a life of holy love. Abstaining from sexual immorality is customary when true love is involved.
That’s one of the reasons why this series on relationships fits so well with our theme for the year — abounding love. Much of the vocabulary in 1 Thessalonians 3:11-12 and 4:1 is similar to Philippians 1:9-11, The principal difference is that Paul specifically prays for the Thessalonians to abound in love for one another, whereas in Philippians there is no restriction on the object of love, suggesting that it is love for God primarily that overflows onto others.
Even in 4:4 we will see that abstinence and self-control is an issue of love and affection. Believers are not to live in the passion of lust like the Gentiles. Those who don’t know God are consumed with love, just for the wrong things.
The heart of the matter is that purity is an issue of love. Paul wants them to abound in love and to love righteously. His concern for their love is innately connected to their relational purity, that’s why 4:3-8 is essential to the letter.
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