1 Thessalonians 4:3 Meaning and Explanation
“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God's will for them is their sanctification, which includes turning away from sexual immorality.
What Does 1 Thessalonians 4:3 Mean?
Paul states plainly what so many wonder about: 'this is the will of God.' And he names it as 'your sanctification,' your being made holy, set apart for God. The first concrete shape this takes is moral: 'that ye should abstain from fornication,' from sexual immorality of every kind, which was woven into the surrounding pagan culture.
In a city where sexual license was common and even religious, this was a costly call. Yet Paul presents holiness not as a burden but as God's loving will for His people, the very purpose toward which He is shaping them. Sanctification touches the body as well as the soul, for the whole person belongs to God. To abstain from immorality is not mere restriction; it is part of becoming who God made us to be, consecrated and clean. Paul roots the command in God's good will, so that purity is seen as a gift to be embraced rather than a rule to be endured, a sign of belonging wholly to the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:3 in the Original Language
hagiasmos (ἁγιασμός), 'sanctification' -- the process of being made holy, set apart and consecrated to God.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Thessalonians 4:3
What does 1 Thessalonians 4:3 mean?
God's will for them is their sanctification, which includes turning away from sexual immorality.