Bible Strands
1 Thessalonians 4:5
not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God;
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Thessalonian church to regulate sexual ethics within the community. He speaks directly to believers as he outlines conduct for mastering one's body in holiness and honor.
The words — ἐπιθυμίας (epithumias) denotes lust or intense desire, and ἔθνη (ethnē) refers to the Gentiles or nations. The text literally commands believers not to act in lustful passion like these groups.
The thread — This theme connects to Galatians 4:8, where former ignorance of God led to slavery to false gods, and Acts 17:30, where God commands repentance for past ignorance. Ephesians 4:17 also addresses Gentile conduct, noting it is marked by the futility of their thinking.
Why it lands — The text demands a clear boundary between believer conduct and former pagan practice. Readers must recognize that sexual immorality stems from a lack of God's knowledge and requires deliberate self-control under divine judgment.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
Cross-references
- Galatians 4:8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
- Acts 17:30 Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.
- Ephesians 4:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
- Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:8 in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
- Romans 1:26 For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.
- Romans 1:28 Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
- 1 Corinthians 15:34 Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame.
- Ephesians 2:12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
- 1 Peter 4:3 For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.