1 Thessalonians 4:1

King James Version

Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.

Legacy Standard Bible
Finally then, brothers, we ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.

Simplified Cowboy Version
As for some other things, we've taught y'all the fundamentals of how to ride for the Lord. But don't be satisfied with a little progress. Continue to grow and ride further every day.

Bible in Basic English
And last of all, the prayer which we make to you from our heart and in the name of the Lord Jesus, is this: that as we made clear to you what sort of behaviour is pleasing to God, as in fact you are doing now, so you will go on in these ways, but more and more.

Darby Translation
For the rest, then, brethren, we beg you and exhort you in [the] Lord Jesus, even as ye have received from us how ye ought to walk and please God, even as ye also do walk, that ye would abound still more.

Christian Standard Bible®
Finally then, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us how you must walk and please God—as you are doing—do so even more.

World English Bible
Finally then, brothers, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, -- that you abound more and more.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
It remaineth then, brethren, that we beseech and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, that ye abound therein more and more.

Weymouth's New Testament
Moreover, brethren, as you learnt from our lips the lives which you ought to live, and do live, so as to please God, we beg and exhort you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live them more and more truly.

King James Version (1611)
Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Iesus, that as yee haue receiued of vs, how ye ought to walke, and to please God, so yee would abound more and more.

Literal Translation
For the rest, then brothers, we beg you and we exhort in the Lord Jesus, even as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, that you abound more.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Fvrthermore we beseke you brethren and exhorte you in the LORDE Iesus, that ye increace more and more, euen as ye haue receaued of vs how ye oughte to walke and to please God.

Mace New Testament (1729)
Finally, my brethren, we intreat and conjure you by the Lord Jesus Christ, to observe the instructions we gave you about your religious conduct, and to make continual progress therein.

THE MESSAGE
One final word, friends. We ask you—urge is more like it—that you keep on doing what we told you to do to please God, not in a dogged religious plod, but in a living, spirited dance. You know the guidelines we laid out for you from the Master Jesus. God wants you to live a pure life. Keep yourselves from sexual promiscuity.

Amplified Bible
Finally, believers, we ask and admonish you in the Lord Jesus, that you follow the instruction that you received from us about how you ought to walk and please God (just as you are actually doing) and that you excel even more and more [pursuing a life of purpose and living in a way that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation].

American Standard Version
Finally then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even as ye do walk,—that ye abound more and more.

Revised Standard Version
Finally, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God, just as you are doing, you do so more and more.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Further more we beseche you brethren and exhorte you in the lorde Iesus that ye increace more and more euen as ye have receaved of vs how ye ought to walke and to please god.

Update Bible Version
Finally then, brothers, we urge and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you received of us how you ought to walk and to please God, even as you do walk, -that you abound more and more.

Webster's Bible Translation
Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort [you] by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received from us how ye ought to walk and to please God, [so] ye would abound more and more.

Young's Literal Translation
As to the rest, then, brethren, we request you, and call upon you in the Lord Jesus, as ye did receive from us how it behoveth you to walk and to please God, that ye may abound the more,

New Century Version
Brothers and sisters, we taught you how to live in a way that will please God, and you are living that way. Now we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live that way even more.

New English Translation
Finally then, brothers and sisters, we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us about how you must live and please God (as you are in fact living) that you do so more and more.

Berean Standard Bible
Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live in a way that is pleasing to God, as you have received from us. This is how you already live, so you should do so all the more.

Contemporary English Version
Finally, my dear friends, since you belong to the Lord Jesus, we beg and urge you to live as we taught you. Then you will please God. You are already living that way, but try even harder.

Complete Jewish Bible
Therefore, brothers, just as you learned from us how you had to live in order to please God, and just as you are living this way now, we ask you — indeed, united with the Lord Yeshua, we urge you — to keep doing so more and more.

English Standard Version
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.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And furthermore we beseeche you, brethren, and exhort you in the Lord Iesus, that ye increase more and more, as ye haue receiued of vs, how ye ought to walke, and to please God.

George Lamsa Translation
FROM this time then, my brethren, we beseech you and entreat you earnestly by our LORD Jesus, that as you have been taught by us how you ought to live and to please God, so you will increase more and more.

Hebrew Names Version
Finally then, brothers, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Yeshua, that, as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, -- that you abound more and more.

International Standard Version
Now then, brothers, you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God, as in fact you are doing. We ask and encourage you in the Lord to do so even more.Philippians 1:27; Colossians 1:10; 2:6; 1 Thessalonians 2:12;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
HENCE then, my brethren, we pray of you, and beseech of you by our Lord Jeshu, that as you have received of us how it behoveth you to walk and to please Aloha, the more to increase.

Murdock Translation
Wherefore, my brethren, I entreat you, and beseech you by our Lord Jesus, that, as ye have received from us how ye ought to walk, and to please God, so ye would make progress more and more.

New King James Version
Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;

New Living Translation
Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more.

New Life Bible
Christian brothers, we ask you, because of the Lord Jesus, to keep on living in a way that will please God. I have already told you how to grow in the Christian life.

English Revised Version
Finally then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even as ye do walk,––that ye abound more and more.

New Revised Standard
Finally, brothers and sisters, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God (as, in fact, you are doing), you should do so more and more.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For the rest, brethren, we request and exhort you, in our Lord Jesus, that, even as ye received from us, how ye must needs walk and please God, - even as ye also do walk, that ye would abound still more.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For the rest therefore, brethren, pray and beseech you in the Lord Jesus that, as you have received from us, how you ought to walk and to please God, so also you would walk, that you may abound the more.

Lexham English Bible
Finally therefore, brothers, we ask you and appeal to you in the Lord Jesus that, just as you have received from us how it is necessary for you to live and to please God, just as indeed you are living, that you progress even more.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Furthermore we besech you brethren, & exhorte you by the Lorde Iesus, that ye encrease more and more, as ye haue receaued of vs, how ye ought to walke and to please God.

Easy-to-Read Version
Brothers and sisters, now I have some other things to tell you. We taught you how to live in a way that will please God. And you are living that way. Now we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live that way more and more.

New American Standard Bible
Finally then, brothers and sisters, we request and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel even more.

Good News Translation
Finally, our friends, you learned from us how you should live in order to please God. This is, of course, the way you have been living. And now we beg and urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to do even more.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor, britheren, fro hennus forward we preien you, and bisechen in the Lord Jhesu, that as ye han resseyued of vs, hou it bihoueth you to go and to plese God, so walke ye, that ye abounde the more.

Contextual Overview

¹ Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. ² For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. ³ For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: ⁴ That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; ⁵ Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: ⁶ That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. ⁷ For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. ⁸ He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

we: 1 Thessalonians 2:11, Romans 12:1, 2 Corinthians 6:1, 2 Corinthians 10:1, Ephesians 4:1, Philemon 1:9, Philemon 1:10, Hebrews 13:22

we beseech: or, we request

exhort: or, beseech.

by the: 1 Thessalonians 4:2, Ephesians 4:20, 2 Thessalonians 2:1, 1 Timothy 5:21, 1 Timothy 6:13, 1 Timothy 6:14, 2 Timothy 4:1

ye have: 1 Thessalonians 4:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:12, Acts 20:27, 1 Corinthians 11:23, 1 Corinthians 15:1, Philippians 1:27, Colossians 2:6, 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12

ye ought: 1 Thessalonians 2:12

to please: Romans 8:8, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 5:17, Colossians 1:10, Hebrews 11:6, Hebrews 13:16, 1 John 3:22

so ye: 1 Thessalonians 4:10, Job 17:9, Psalms 92:14, Proverbs 4:18, John 15:2, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Philippians 1:9, Philippians 3:14, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 2 Peter 1:5-10, 2 Peter 3:18

Reciprocal: Genesis 5:22 - General Exodus 18:16 - make Exodus 18:20 - the way Exodus 21:1 - which Leviticus 22:31 - General Deuteronomy 4:5 - General Deuteronomy 8:1 - General Deuteronomy 11:32 - General Deuteronomy 13:4 - walk Deuteronomy 27:1 - Keep all 1 Kings 9:4 - And if thou 2 Chronicles 17:4 - walked Ezra 7:6 - the law Job 22:22 - receive Psalms 31:23 - O love Psalms 103:18 - remember Psalms 119:1 - walk Psalms 128:1 - walketh Psalms 143:10 - Teach Ezekiel 3:10 - receive Ezekiel 33:7 - thou shalt Zephaniah 2:3 - seek righteousness Zechariah 10:12 - walk Matthew 5:19 - do Matthew 13:23 - some an Matthew 28:20 - them Mark 4:20 - which Luke 1:75 - General John 15:10 - ye keep John 17:8 - received Acts 15:32 - exhorted 1 Corinthians 1:10 - by the 1 Corinthians 9:21 - not 1 Corinthians 14:3 - exhortation 1 Corinthians 14:37 - let Ephesians 4:17 - in the Philippians 4:9 - which Colossians 3:17 - in the 1 Thessalonians 2:3 - General 2 Thessalonians 3:4 - that 2 Thessalonians 3:6 - in the 2 Thessalonians 3:13 - ye 1 Timothy 2:3 - this 1 Timothy 6:3 - the words 2 Timothy 2:14 - charging 2 Peter 1:8 - and abound 2 Peter 3:16 - speaking 1 John 2:3 - if we

Cross-References

Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Genesis 4:25
And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.

Genesis 5:29
And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed.

Numbers 31:17
Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.

1 John 3:12
Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren,.... Or request of you in the most kind and tender manner, from real and hearty love and affection for you, and with a view to your good, and the glory of God:

and exhort you: or beseech and entreat you. The apostle does not lay his commands upon them as he might have done, and sometimes does, but endeavours to work upon them by way of entreaty, and which he doubtless thought the most effectual method to win upon them, and gain them; for some minds are more easily wrought upon by entreaty than by authority: and this he does in the most moving and powerful manner, even

by the Lord Jesus; or "in the Lord Jesus"; in his name and stead, as personating him, and as though he did beseech and entreat them by him, and his fellow ministers; or for his sake, intimating, that if they had any regard to him, any value for his name, if that had any weight with them, or they had any concern for his honour and interest, then he begs their attention to the following exhortation; or by the Lord Jesus, by all that is in him, or done for them by him; in whom they were chosen, by whom they were redeemed, in whom they were made new creatures, to whose image they were to be conformed, whose followers they professed to be, whose Gospel they embraced, and by whose name they were called.

That as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk, and to please God. The walk of believers is twofold, either internal or external. Their internal walk is by faith, which is the going out of the soul by faith to Christ for every supply of grace. Their external walk is not as it was before conversion, according to the course of this world, or as other Gentiles walk, but in a holy religious life and conversation; and this requires spiritual life, strength and direction from Christ; for neither dead men, nor, if alive, yet weak, can walk; nor is it in a spiritual man, that walketh to direct his steps; and such a walk also denotes continuance, in well doing, and a progression or going on in it, and supposes ways to walk in. Christ, he is the chief and principal way, and there are other paths which regard him, or relate and lead unto him; as the way of truth, the path of ordinances, and of religious worship, both public and private, and the ways of righteousness, holiness, and good works: the manner in which saints are to walk is as Christ himself walked, after the Spirit, and not after the flesh, according to the rule of the word, which is the standard of faith and practice, with prudence, wisdom, circumspection, and worthy of God, and of that calling wherein they are called: and of such a walk there is a necessity; it "ought", it must be both on the account of God, it being his will, and for his glory, and the contrary would show great ingratitude to him; and on the account of the saints themselves, to adorn them, and their profession, and preserve them from shame and disgrace, to show their faith, and demonstrate their calling and election to others; and likewise on account of others, partly for the winning of some, by recommending in this way the Gospel to them, and partly for the bringing of others to shame and silence, who falsely accuse their good conversation. Now when the apostle, and those that were with him, were at Thessalonica, they gave these saints directions and instructions about their walk and conversation, to order it in such a manner as might "please God"; which is not to be understood of rendering their persons acceptable to God hereby, for the saints' acceptance with God is only in Christ the beloved; nor of their gaining the love and favour of God by such means, for the love of God is from everlasting, and is free, and sovereign, and does not arise from, or depend upon the holiness and obedience of men; or of making peace with God by such a walk, for peace is only made by the blood of Christ; but of doing those things, and in such a way God approves of: unregenerate men cannot please God, nor anything they do, because they are destitute of the Spirit of God, and are without Christ, and his grace and have not faith in him, without which it is impossible to please God; but what a believer does in faith, from a principle of love, in the name and strength of Christ, and to the glory of God, is approved of by God, and is acceptable to him through Christ, and for his sake; and there are many things of this kind, as prayer, praise, acts of beneficence to the poor, and indeed every good work and holy action: and inasmuch as they had been thus taught and instructed how to behave and conduct in their outward walk and conversation, they are entreated and exhorted to go on and abound in the work of the Lord:

so ye would abound more and more: that is, be more and more in the exercise of every grace, and in the discharge of every duty, making advances in holiness of life, and perfecting it in the fear of God. Beza's ancient copy, and another manuscript, as also the Alexandrian copy, and some others, add between the preceding, and this last clause, "as ye also walk"; and so the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions seem to have read; commending them for their present and past walk and conversation, in order to persuade and encourage them to go forward.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Furthermore then - Τὸ λοιπὸν To loipon. “As to what remains.” That is, all that remains is to offer these exhortations; see the 2 Corinthians 13:11 note; Galatians 6:17 note; Ephesians 6:10 note; Philippians 4:8 note. The phrase is a formula appropriate to the end of an argument or discourse.

We beseech you - Margin, “request.” The Greek is, “we ask you” - ἐρωτῶμεν erōtōmen. It is not as strong a word as that which follows.

And exhort you - Marg, “beseech.” This is the word which is commonly used to denote earnest exhortation. The use of these words here implies that Paul regarded the subject as of great importance. He might have commanded them - but kind exhortation usually accomplishes more than a command,

By the Lord Jesus - In his name and by his authority.

That as ye have received of us - As you were taught by us. Paul doubtless had given them repeated instructions as to their duty as Christians.

How ye ought to walk - That is, how ye ought to live. Life is often represented as a journey; Romans 6:4; Romans 8:1; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Galatians 6:16, Ephesians 4:1.

So ye would abound more and more - “That is, follow the directions which they had received more and more fully.” Abbott.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER IV.

The apostle exhorts them to attend to the directions which he

had already given them, that they might know how to walk and

please God, 1, 2.

Gives them exhortations concerning continence, chastity, and

matrimonial fidelity, 3-8.

Speaks concerning their love to each other, and love to the

Churches of Christ; and exhorts them to continue and increase

in it, 9, 10.

Counsels them to observe an inoffensive conduct, to mind their

own affairs, to do their own business, and to live honestly,

11, 12.

Not to sorrow for the dead, as persons who have no hope of a

resurrection; because to Christians the resurrection of Christ

is a proof of the resurrection of his followers, 13, 14.

Gives a short but awful description of the appearing of Christ

to judge the world, 15.

NOTES ON CHAP. IV.

Verse 1 Thessalonians 4:1. We beseech you, brethren, and exhort — We give you proper instructions in heavenly things, and request you to attend to our advice. The apostle used the most pressing entreaties; for he had a strong and affectionate desire that this Church should excel in all righteousness and true holiness.

Please God more and more. — God sets no bounds to the communications of his grace and Spirit to them that are faithful. And as there are no bounds to the graces, so there should be none to the exercise of those graces. No man can ever feel that he loves God too much, or that he loves man too much for God's sake.