What Does 1 Thessalonians 4:6 Mean?

(6) **That no man.**—The form of the Greek shows that this is not exactly *parallel* with the preceding clauses, as if it ran, “this is God’s will, your sanctification, for you to abstain, for you to know how to possess, for you not to go beyond,” &c. It is a *final* clause, expressing the *purpose* of such continence as has just been described. Men are to be chaste and self-possessed, not only for their own salvation’s sake, but in justice to their brethren. In 1Thessalonians 3:12-13, they were to love for the sake of becoming holy; here they are to be holy for the sake of charity—a blessed action and reaction. **Defraud his brother.**—The original word implies a rapacious dishonesty, of which any person is guilty who gives the rein to his lusts, especially the adulterer. The substantive formed from it is usually translated *covetousness, *and is generally thought to be used in this special sense in Ephesians 5:3; Colossians 3:5. When all men are *brethren* the sin becomes worse. **In any matter** should undoubtedly be *in the matter.* St. Paul chooses the phrase for delicacy’s sake, both here and in 2Corinthians 7:11. **Because that the Lord.**—Again an anticipation of the Advent, for the vengeance meant is that of the Judgment Day, not the natural retribution which carnal sin brings with it. The “Lord,” therefore, in this context probably means more particularly the Incarnate Son, who has a special claim upon men’s bodies (1Corinthians 6:13). **Have forewarned.**—Rather, *did forewarn.* It was part of the Apostles’ original teaching at Thessalonica.