1
Λοιπὸν οὖν, ἀδελφοί, ἐρωτῶμεν ὑμᾶς καὶ παρακαλοῦμεν ἐν κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ, ἵνα καθὼς παρελάβετε παρ' ἡμῶν τὸ πῶς δεῖ ὑμᾶς περιπατεῖν καὶ ἀρέσκειν θεῷ, καθὼς καὶ περιπατεῖτε, ἵνα περισσεύητε μᾶλλον.
Finally then, brothers, we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and please God — as indeed you are walking — that you would abound the more.
The hinge of the letter: 'finally then' pivots from the warm thanksgiving of chs. 1–3 to the ethical exhortation that follows, framed as request and appeal 'in the Lord Jesus.'
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
Λοιπὸνfinallyadverbial accusative (transition)λοιπόν: 'for the rest, finally'; an accusative of respect used as a discourse marker turning to what remains — not 'lastly' but 'as for the rest.'
οὖνtheninferential conjunction
ἀδελφοίbrothersVocativevocative of direct addressἀδελφός: 'brother'; the affectionate familial address saturating 1 Thessalonians — the church as kin.
ἐρωτῶμενwe askPres Act Indic 1 Pl · ἐρωτάωmain verb→ customary presentἐρωτάω: 'ask, request'; in Koine often of request between near-equals, softening the appeal that follows.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
παρακαλοῦμενwe urgePres Act Indic 1 Pl · παρακαλέωmain verb (coordinate)→ customary presentπαρακαλέω: 'call alongside' — exhort, encourage, appeal; pairs with ἐρωτάω to combine request and apostolic urging.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere/authority)
κυρίῳthe LordDativedat. of sphere (basis of the appeal)κύριος: 'Lord'; the appeal is made 'in the Lord Jesus' — its authority and sphere are Christ himself.
ἸησοῦJesusDativeapposition to κυρίῳ
ἵναthatconjunction (content of the appeal)ἵνα: here introducing the content/object of ἐρωτῶμεν and παρακαλοῦμεν rather than strict purpose.
καθὼςjust ascomparative conjunction
παρελάβετεyou receivedAor Act Indic 2 Pl · παραλαμβάνωverb (comparative clause)→ constative aoristπαραλαμβάνω: 'receive (a tradition), take alongside'; the technical verb for receiving handed-on instruction (cf. 2:13).
παρ'frompreposition + genitive (source)
ἡμῶνusGenitiveobject of παρά (source)
τὸtheAccusativearticle (nominalizes the clause)
πῶςhowinterrogative adverb (indirect question)πῶς: 'how'; the articular τὸ πῶς… nominalizes the whole indirect question as the object of 'received.'
δεῖit is necessaryPres Act Indic 3 Sg · δεῖimpersonal verb→ stative presentδεῖ: 'it is necessary, one must'; impersonal verb of obligation governing the infinitives that follow.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeaccusative subject of infinitives
περιπατεῖνto walkPres Act Inf · περιπατέωcomplementary infinitive (of δεῖ)→ customary presentπεριπατέω: lit. 'walk about'; a Semitic metaphor (hālak) for the whole conduct of life — Paul's favorite ethical verb.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἀρέσκεινto pleasePres Act Inf · ἀρέσκωcomplementary infinitive (coordinate)→ customary presentἀρέσκω: 'please, accommodate'; here the goal of the walk — to please God, the standard of Christian conduct.
θεῷGodDativedat. of object (the one pleased)
καθὼςascomparative conjunction
καὶindeedadverbial/ascensive καί
περιπατεῖτεyou are walkingPres Act Indic 2 Pl · περιπατέωverb (parenthetical comparison)→ progressive presentπεριπατέω: the affirming parenthesis — they already walk this way; Paul commends before he commands.
ἵναthatconjunction (resumes the appeal's content)ἵνα: the appeal's ἵνα resumed after the long comparison — its real burden lands here.
περισσεύητεyou may aboundPres Act Subj 2 Pl · περισσεύωsubjunctive (content of appeal)→ progressive presentπερισσεύω: 'overflow, abound, excel'; not mere maintenance but ever-increasing growth in obedience.
μᾶλλονmorecomparative adverb (degree)μᾶλλον: 'more, rather'; the keynote of the chapter's ethics — 'all the more,' a sanctification without ceiling (cf. v.10).
2
οἴδατε γὰρ τίνας παραγγελίας ἐδώκαμεν ὑμῖν διὰ τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ.
For you know what charges we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
Grounds the appeal: the exhortation is no novelty but a reminder of authoritative commands already delivered 'through the Lord Jesus.'
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
οἴδατεyou knowPerf Act Indic 2 Pl · οἶδαmain verb→ stative perfect (present sense)οἶδα: 'know' (perfect with present meaning); the recurring 'you know' of the letter, appealing to their settled memory.
γὰρforexplanatory conjunction
τίναςwhatAccusativeinterrogative adj. (indirect question)
παραγγελίαςchargesAccusativedirect object of ἐδώκαμενπαραγγελία: 'command, charge, instruction'; a military/official term — these are authoritative directives, not suggestions.
ἐδώκαμενwe gaveAor Act Indic 1 Pl · δίδωμιverb (indirect question)→ constative aoristδίδωμι: 'give'; here 'give a charge,' i.e. deliver commands — looking back to the founding mission.
ὑμῖνyouDativeindirect object
διὰthroughpreposition + genitive (agency/authority)
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
κυρίουLordGenitiveobject of διά (authority behind the charge)κύριος: 'Lord'; the commands derive their authority from the Lord Jesus, not from Paul's own person.
ἸησοῦJesusGenitiveapposition
3
Τοῦτο γάρ ἐστιν θέλημα τοῦ θεοῦ, ὁ ἁγιασμὸς ὑμῶν, ἀπέχεσθαι ὑμᾶς ἀπὸ τῆς πορνείας,
For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality,
The heading of the ethical body: God's will = your sanctification, defined first negatively as abstaining from sexual immorality.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
ΤοῦτοthisNominativesubject (forward-pointing demonstrative)οὗτος: 'this'; cataphoric — it announces what follows, unpacked by the appositional phrases.
γάρforexplanatory conjunction
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (copula)→ stative present
θέλημαwillNominativepredicate nominative (anarthrous, qualitative)θέλημα: 'will, what is willed'; anarthrous and fronted — 'a (matter of) God's will is this.'
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitivesubjective genitive (God wills it)
ὁtheNominativearticle
ἁγιασμὸςsanctificationNominativeapposition to Τοῦτο (defining)ἁγιασμός: 'sanctification, holiness'; the process and state of being made holy — the controlling theme of vv.3–8.
ὑμῶνyourGenitiveobjective genitive (you are sanctified)
ἀπέχεσθαιto abstainPres Mid Inf · ἀπέχωepexegetical infinitive (defines ἁγιασμός)→ customary presentἀπέχω (mid.): 'hold oneself off from, abstain'; the first concrete content of sanctification.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeaccusative subject of infinitive
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
πορνείαςsexual immoralityGenitiveobject of ἀπό (separation)πορνεία: 'sexual immorality, fornication'; the comprehensive term for illicit sexual conduct, rife in the pagan world.
4
εἰδέναι ἕκαστον ὑμῶν τὸ ἑαυτοῦ σκεῦος κτᾶσθαι ἐν ἁγιασμῷ καὶ τιμῇ,
that each of you know how to acquire his own vessel in holiness and honor,
The positive counterpart to abstaining: each is to master/acquire his own 'vessel' — likely his body or his wife — in holiness, not lust.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
εἰδέναιto knowPerf Act Inf · οἶδαepexegetical infinitive (parallel to ἀπέχεσθαι)→ stative perfect (present sense)οἶδα: 'know how, understand'; here 'know how to' + complementary infinitive — to have the skill of mastering oneself.
ἕκαστονeachAccusativeaccusative subject of infinitiveἕκαστος: 'each one'; individualizing — sanctification is the duty of every member, not the group abstractly.
ὑμῶνof youGenitivepartitive genitive
τὸtheAccusativearticle
ἑαυτοῦhis ownGenitivegenitive (reflexive possession)ἑαυτοῦ: 'his own'; the emphasis on 'one's own' fits both readings of σκεῦος — one's own body, or one's own wife.
σκεῦοςvesselAccusativedirect object of κτᾶσθαισκεῦος: 'vessel, instrument'; metaphorically either the body (2 Cor 4:7) or the wife (1 Pet 3:7) — the latter widely favored here given the marital context.
κτᾶσθαιto acquire/masterPres Mid Inf · κτάομαιcomplementary infinitive (of εἰδέναι)→ customary presentκτάομαι: 'gain, acquire, take for oneself'; if 'wife,' 'take a wife'; if 'body,' an extended sense 'gain mastery over' — the present favors ongoing control.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner)
ἁγιασμῷholinessDativedat. of mannerἁγιασμός: 'sanctification, holiness'; the manner of right acquisition, echoing v.3's theme word.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τιμῇhonorDativedat. of manner (coordinate)τιμή: 'honor, value, respect'; the opposite of treating the body/spouse as an object of mere passion.
5
μὴ ἐν πάθει ἐπιθυμίας καθάπερ καὶ τὰ ἔθνη τὰ μὴ εἰδότα τὸν θεόν,
not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God,
The antithesis to 'holiness and honor': not the lustful passion characteristic of the God-ignorant Gentiles — a pagan/Christian boundary marker.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
μὴnotnegative particle (with implied infinitive)μή: the negative proper to non-indicative moods/infinitives — here negating the manner of κτᾶσθαι.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner)
πάθειpassionDativedat. of manner (antithesis to v.4)πάθος: 'passion, strong feeling'; in vice-lists a negative term — uncontrolled, consuming desire (cf. Rom 1:26).
ἐπιθυμίαςof lustGenitiveattributive/descriptive genitiveἐπιθυμία: 'desire, craving'; neutral in itself but here, joined to πάθος, the sinful craving of disordered appetite.
καθάπερjust ascomparative conjunctionκαθάπερ: 'exactly as, just like'; a strengthened καθώς, drawing the sharp comparison with the pagans.
καὶalsoadjunctive καί
τὰtheNominativearticle
ἔθνηGentilesNominativesubject of the comparison (nominative as point of comparison)ἔθνος: 'nation'; plural τὰ ἔθνη = the (pagan) Gentiles — here as a moral category, those outside the covenant.
τὰthe (ones)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
μὴnotnegative particle (with participle)
εἰδόταknowingPerf Act Ptc · Nom Pl Neut · οἶδαattributive participle (describes ἔθνη)→ stative perfect (present sense)οἶδα: 'know'; 'who do not know God' — the root of pagan immorality is ignorance of God (cf. Rom 1:28).
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
θεόνGodAccusativedirect object of εἰδότα
6
τὸ μὴ ὑπερβαίνειν καὶ πλεονεκτεῖν ἐν τῷ πράγματι τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, διότι ἔκδικος κύριος περὶ πάντων τούτων, καθὼς καὶ προείπαμεν ὑμῖν καὶ διεμαρτυράμεθα.
that no one transgress and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger concerning all these things, just as we also told you beforehand and solemnly testified.
A third infinitive of God's will: not to overreach or defraud a brother in 'this matter' (sexual sin against another), grounded in the warning that the Lord avenges.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
τὸtheAccusativearticle (nominalizes infinitive)
μὴnotnegative particle (with infinitive)
ὑπερβαίνεινto transgressPres Act Inf · ὑπερβαίνωarticular infinitive (parallel to v.3 ἀπέχεσθαι)→ customary presentὑπερβαίνω: lit. 'step over' a boundary; 'transgress, overreach' — a NT hapax, here of trespassing on another's rights.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
πλεονεκτεῖνto defraudPres Act Inf · πλεονεκτέωarticular infinitive (coordinate)→ customary presentπλεονεκτέω: 'take advantage of, defraud' (from πλεονεξία, 'greed'); to exploit another for one's own gain — here sexually.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (reference)
τῷtheDativearticle
πράγματιmatterDativedat. of reference (the matter at hand)πρᾶγμα: 'matter, affair'; the article (τῷ) points to the specific matter under discussion — the sexual sphere of vv.3–5.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
ἀδελφὸνbrotherAccusativedirect object (the one wronged)ἀδελφός: 'brother'; the wronged party is a fellow believer — sexual sin is also a sin against the community.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of relationship
διότιbecausecausal conjunctionδιότι: 'because' (διά + ὅτι); introduces the motivating ground — divine retribution.
ἔκδικοςavengerNominativepredicate nominativeἔκδικος: 'one who exacts justice, avenger'; God/the Lord vindicates the wronged — the deterrent against exploitation.
κύριοςthe LordNominativesubject (anarthrous, but definite)κύριος: 'Lord'; anarthrous yet definite ('the Lord') — the eschatological Judge who avenges.
περὶconcerningpreposition + genitive (reference)
πάντωνallGenitiveattributive adjective
τούτωνthese thingsGenitiveobject of περί (demonstrative)οὗτος: 'these'; sums up the sins of vv.3–6 as a class the Lord will judge.
καθὼςjust ascomparative conjunction
καὶalsoadjunctive καί
προείπαμενwe told beforehandAor Act Indic 1 Pl · προλέγωverb (comparative clause)→ constative aoristπρολέγω: 'say beforehand, forewarn'; the warning is not new — it was part of the founding instruction.
ὑμῖνyouDativeindirect object
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
διεμαρτυράμεθαwe solemnly testifiedAor Mid Indic 1 Pl · διαμαρτύρομαιverb (coordinate)→ constative aoristδιαμαρτύρομαι: 'testify solemnly, charge earnestly' (διά intensive); a weighty, witness-invoking warning.
7
οὐ γὰρ ἐκάλεσεν ἡμᾶς ὁ θεὸς ἐπὶ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ ἀλλ' ἐν ἁγιασμῷ.
For God did not call us for impurity but in sanctification.
Grounds the warning in the very purpose of God's call: not toward impurity but within the sphere of holiness — calling and conduct must cohere.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
οὐnotnegative particle (indicative)
γὰρforexplanatory conjunction
ἐκάλεσενcalledAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καλέωmain verb→ constative aoristκαλέω: 'call, summon'; the effectual call to salvation — its goal defines its moral demand.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object
ὁtheNominativearticle
θεὸςGodNominativesubject
ἐπὶforpreposition + dative (purpose/basis)ἐπί + dat.: here of the basis or condition — 'on the basis/for the purpose of' impurity; the call was not toward that end.
ἀκαθαρσίᾳimpurityDativeobject of ἐπί (the rejected goal)ἀκαθαρσία: 'uncleanness, impurity'; moral/sexual defilement — the antithesis of ἁγιασμός.
ἀλλ'butadversative conjunction (strong)ἀλλά: 'but'; the strong contrast setting holiness against impurity.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)
ἁγιασμῷsanctificationDativedat. of sphere (the realm of the call)ἁγιασμός: 'holiness'; note the shift of preposition — not ἐπί ('toward,' of impurity) but ἐν ('within the sphere of,' of holiness).
8
τοιγαροῦν ὁ ἀθετῶν οὐκ ἄνθρωπον ἀθετεῖ ἀλλὰ τὸν θεὸν τὸν καὶ διδόντα τὸ πνεῦμα αὐτοῦ τὸ ἅγιον εἰς ὑμᾶς.
Therefore the one who rejects this rejects not man but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.
The emphatic conclusion of the sanctification unit: to spurn the call to purity is to spurn not the apostle but God himself, the giver of the Holy Spirit.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
τοιγαροῦνthereforeinferential particle (emphatic)τοιγαροῦν: 'for that very reason then'; a rare, weighty triple particle drawing the solemn conclusion.
ὁthe (one)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
ἀθετῶνwho rejectsPres Act Ptc · Nom Sg Masc · ἀθετέωsubstantival participle (subject)→ gnomic presentἀθετέω: 'set aside, reject, nullify'; to treat the instruction as having no authority — used absolutely here.
οὐκnotnegative particle
ἄνθρωπονmanAccusativedirect object (anarthrous, qualitative)ἄνθρωπος: 'human being, man'; 'not a mere man' (i.e. Paul) — the rejection reaches higher.
ἀθετεῖhe rejectsPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀθετέωmain verb→ gnomic presentἀθετέω: the same verb resumed as the finite verb — the act of rejecting, now with its true object named.
ἀλλὰbutadversative conjunction (strong)
τὸνtheAccusativearticle
θεὸνGodAccusativedirect object (the true object of rejection)
τὸνthe (one)Accusativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
καὶalsoadjunctive καί
διδόνταwho givesPres Act Ptc · Acc Sg Masc · δίδωμιattributive participle (describes θεόν)→ iterative/customary presentδίδωμι: 'give'; the present (NA28/SBLGNT) stresses God's continual giving of his Spirit — the very Spirit who sanctifies, making purity God's own concern.
τὸtheAccusativearticle
πνεῦμαSpiritAccusativedirect object of διδόνταπνεῦμα: 'Spirit'; the Holy Spirit, agent of sanctification — so impurity grieves the indwelling God.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
τὸtheAccusativearticle
ἅγιονHolyAccusativeattributive adjective (second-attributive position)ἅγιος: 'holy'; the appositional 'his Spirit, the Holy one' underscores that the Spirit given is the Holy Spirit, fitting the call to holiness.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (direction/recipient)εἰς: 'into, to'; here virtually 'to/into you' — the Spirit is given into the believers themselves.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeobject of εἰς
9
Περὶ δὲ τῆς φιλαδελφίας οὐ χρείαν ἔχετε γράφειν ὑμῖν, αὐτοὶ γὰρ ὑμεῖς θεοδίδακτοί ἐστε εἰς τὸ ἀγαπᾶν ἀλλήλους·
Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;
The 'now concerning' formula opens a new subject — brotherly love — with the gracious paralipsis that they hardly need instruction, being God-taught.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
Περὶconcerningpreposition + genitive (reference; topic marker)περὶ δέ: a formula introducing a new topic, often one raised by the readers themselves (cf. 1 Cor 7:1).
δὲnowtransitional conjunction
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
φιλαδελφίαςbrotherly loveGenitiveobject of περί (topic)φιλαδελφία: 'love of brother/sister' (φίλος + ἀδελφός); originally of literal siblings, transferred to fellow believers.
οὐnotnegative particle
χρείανneedAccusativedirect object of ἔχετεχρεία: 'need'; χρείαν ἔχω + infinitive = 'have need to' — here softened: 'you have no need for [one] to write.'
ἔχετεyou havePres Act Indic 2 Pl · ἔχωmain verb→ stative presentἔχω: 'have, hold'; in the idiom χρείαν ἔχειν, 'to have need.'
γράφεινto writePres Act Inf · γράφωepexegetical infinitive (of χρείαν)→ customary presentγράφω: 'write'; the infinitive specifies the need — Paul gently disclaims the need even as he writes.
ὑμῖνto youDativeindirect object
αὐτοὶyourselvesNominativeintensive pronoun (with subject)αὐτός: 'self'; intensive — 'you yourselves,' stressing their own God-given competence in love.
γὰρforexplanatory conjunction
ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)
θεοδίδακτοίtaught by GodNominativepredicate nominative (verbal adjective)θεοδίδακτος: 'God-taught' (θεός + διδακτός); a coinage, perhaps echoing Isa 54:13/Jer 31:34 — instructed directly by God, not just by men.
ἐστεyou arePres Act Indic 2 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (copula)→ stative present
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (purpose/goal)
τὸtheAccusativearticle (nominalizes infinitive)
ἀγαπᾶνto lovePres Act Inf · ἀγαπάωarticular infinitive of purpose/content (εἰς τό)→ customary presentἀγαπάω: 'love'; the content of their God-teaching — self-giving love directed toward fellow believers.
ἀλλήλουςone anotherAccusativedirect object (reciprocal pronoun)ἀλλήλων: 'one another'; the reciprocal love that knits the community.
10
καὶ γὰρ ποιεῖτε αὐτὸ εἰς πάντας τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς τοὺς ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ Μακεδονίᾳ. παρακαλοῦμεν δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, περισσεύειν μᾶλλον,
for indeed you are doing it toward all the brothers throughout the whole of Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to abound the more,
Their love is no theory — they already practice it across Macedonia; yet Paul, with his keynote 'the more,' presses them to grow still further.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶindeedascensive καί (with γάρ)καὶ γάρ: 'for indeed, for in fact'; confirms the claim of v.9 with evidence.
γὰρforexplanatory conjunction
ποιεῖτεyou are doingPres Act Indic 2 Pl · ποιέωmain verb→ progressive presentποιέω: 'do, practice'; their love is an active, ongoing practice, not mere disposition.
αὐτὸitAccusativedirect object (refers to loving)
εἰςtowardpreposition + accusative (direction of love)
πάνταςallAccusativeattributive adjective
τοὺςtheAccusativearticle
ἀδελφοὺςbrothersAccusativeobject of εἰς (the loved)ἀδελφός: 'brother'; the recipients of their love — believers beyond their own city.
τοὺςthe (ones)Accusativearticle (with prepositional phrase)
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place)
ὅλῃwholeDativeattributive adjective
τῇtheDativearticle
ΜακεδονίᾳMacedoniaDativedat. of placeΜακεδονία: the Roman province of Macedonia (capital Thessalonica) — their love reached the whole region.
παρακαλοῦμενwe urgePres Act Indic 1 Pl · παρακαλέωmain verb→ customary presentπαρακαλέω: 'exhort, urge'; the same appeal-verb as v.1, marking the renewed exhortation.
δὲbutmildly adversative conjunction
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object
ἀδελφοίbrothersVocativevocative of direct address
περισσεύεινto aboundPres Act Inf · περισσεύωinfinitive (content of παρακαλοῦμεν)→ progressive presentπερισσεύω: 'overflow, abound'; the same verb as v.1 — love too must increase 'the more.'
μᾶλλονmorecomparative adverb (degree)μᾶλλον: 'more'; the recurring 'all the more' (cf. v.1) — Christian love has no resting-place.
11
καὶ φιλοτιμεῖσθαι ἡσυχάζειν καὶ πράσσειν τὰ ἴδια καὶ ἐργάζεσθαι ταῖς ἰδίαις χερσὶν ὑμῶν, καθὼς ὑμῖν παρηγγείλαμεν,
and to aspire to live quietly and to mind your own affairs and to work with your own hands, just as we charged you,
Love overflows into orderly living: three coordinate infinitives — be quiet, mind one's own business, work with one's hands — countering idleness already brewing.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
φιλοτιμεῖσθαιto aspirePres Mid Inf · φιλοτιμέομαιinfinitive (coordinate w/ περισσεύειν)→ customary presentφιλοτιμέομαι: lit. 'love honor, be ambitious'; here a deliberate paradox — 'make it your ambition to be unambitious,' to live quietly.
ἡσυχάζεινto live quietlyPres Act Inf · ἡσυχάζωcomplementary infinitive (of φιλοτιμεῖσθαι)→ customary presentἡσυχάζω: 'be quiet, be at rest'; a settled, undisturbing life — not withdrawal but freedom from meddling restlessness.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
πράσσεινto mind/doPres Act Inf · πράσσωcomplementary infinitive (coordinate)→ customary presentπράσσω: 'do, practice, attend to'; with τὰ ἴδια, 'attend to one's own affairs' — a Greek proverb for minding one's own business.
τὰtheAccusativearticle (substantizes adjective)
ἴδιαown thingsAccusativedirect object (substantival adjective)ἴδιος: 'one's own'; τὰ ἴδια = 'one's own affairs,' the proper sphere of attention versus busybodying.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐργάζεσθαιto workPres Mid Inf · ἐργάζομαιcomplementary infinitive (coordinate)→ customary presentἐργάζομαι: 'work, labor'; honest manual work as the antidote to dependence and idleness (cf. 2 Thess 3:10–12).
ταῖςtheDativearticle
ἰδίαιςyour ownDativeattributive adjectiveἴδιος: 'one's own'; 'your own hands' — self-supporting labor, dignified and independent.
χερσὶνhandsDativedat. of instrument/meansχείρ: 'hand'; manual labor, esteemed in Paul's own example (cf. 2:9).
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possession
καθὼςjust ascomparative conjunction
ὑμῖνyouDativeindirect object
παρηγγείλαμενwe chargedAor Act Indic 1 Pl · παραγγέλλωverb (comparative clause)→ constative aoristπαραγγέλλω: 'command, charge' (cf. the noun in v.2); again the exhortation reaches back to the founding instruction.
12
ἵνα περιπατῆτε εὐσχημόνως πρὸς τοὺς ἔξω καὶ μηδενὸς χρείαν ἔχητε.
so that you may walk properly toward those outside and may have need of nothing.
The aim of the quiet, working life: a seemly witness before outsiders and freedom from dependence — credibility and self-sufficiency for the gospel's sake.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
ἵναso thatconjunction (purpose)
περιπατῆτεyou may walkPres Act Subj 2 Pl · περιπατέωsubjunctive (purpose clause)→ customary presentπεριπατέω: 'walk, conduct oneself'; the ethical 'walk' (cf. v.1) now directed outward, toward public reputation.
εὐσχημόνωςproperlyadverb of mannerεὐσχημόνως: 'becomingly, decently' (εὖ + σχῆμα); with outward propriety that commends the faith to observers.
πρὸςtowardpreposition + accusative (relation)
τοὺςthoseAccusativearticle (substantizes adverb)
ἔξωoutsideadverb (substantized: outsiders)ἔξω: 'outside'; οἱ ἔξω = 'those outside (the church),' non-believers (cf. 1 Cor 5:12; Col 4:5).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
μηδενὸςof nothingGenitiveobjective genitive (object of need)μηδείς: 'no one, nothing'; masculine/neuter — 'of no one/nothing,' i.e. dependent on none.
χρείανneedAccusativedirect object of ἔχητεχρεία: 'need'; here the goal of self-supporting work — to be a burden to none.
ἔχητεyou may havePres Act Subj 2 Pl · ἔχωsubjunctive (purpose clause, coordinate)→ stative presentἔχω: 'have'; in χρείαν ἔχειν, 'have need' — the dignified independence of honest labor.
13
Οὐ θέλομεν δὲ ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν, ἀδελφοί, περὶ τῶν κοιμωμένων, ἵνα μὴ λυπῆσθε καθὼς καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ οἱ μὴ ἔχοντες ἐλπίδα.
Now we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, so that you may not grieve as also the rest who have no hope.
The 'we do not want you ignorant' disclosure opens the eschatological section: the grief over deceased believers is met not by stoicism but by hope.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
Οὐnotnegative particle
θέλομενwe wantPres Act Indic 1 Pl · θέλωmain verb→ customary presentθέλω: 'wish, want'; οὐ θέλομεν ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν is a Pauline disclosure formula introducing important teaching (cf. Rom 11:25; 1 Cor 12:1).
δὲnowtransitional conjunction
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeaccusative subject of infinitive
ἀγνοεῖνto be ignorantPres Act Inf · ἀγνοέωcomplementary infinitive (of θέλομεν)→ stative presentἀγνοέω: 'not know, be ignorant'; the thing they lack knowledge of follows in περί.
ἀδελφοίbrothersVocativevocative of direct address
περὶconcerningpreposition + genitive (reference)
τῶνthoseGenitivearticle (substantizes ptc.)
κοιμωμένωνwho are asleepPres Mid Ptc · Gen Pl Masc · κοιμάομαιsubstantival participle (object of περί)→ progressive presentκοιμάομαι: 'fall asleep, sleep'; a tender euphemism for the death of believers — sleep implies awakening (cf. v.16).
ἵναso thatconjunction (purpose)
μὴnotnegative particle (with subjunctive)
λυπῆσθεyou may grievePres Mid Subj 2 Pl · λυπέωsubjunctive (negative purpose)→ progressive presentλυπέω: 'grieve, be sorrowful'; the issue is not grief itself but hopeless grief — the kind that has no resurrection.
καθὼςascomparative conjunction
καὶalsoadjunctive καί
οἱtheNominativearticle
λοιποὶrestNominativesubject of comparison (substantival adj.)λοιπός: 'remaining, rest'; οἱ λοιποί = 'the others,' the unbelieving world without resurrection hope.
οἱthe (ones)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
μὴnotnegative particle (with participle)
ἔχοντεςhavingPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · ἔχωattributive participle (describes λοιποί)→ stative presentἔχω: 'have'; 'those not having hope' — the defining lack of the pagan world (cf. Eph 2:12).
ἐλπίδαhopeAccusativedirect object of ἔχοντεςἐλπίς: 'hope'; the confident expectation of resurrection, the very thing Christian faith supplies.
14
εἰ γὰρ πιστεύομεν ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἀπέθανεν καὶ ἀνέστη, οὕτως καὶ ὁ θεὸς τοὺς κοιμηθέντας διὰ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ἄξει σὺν αὐτῷ.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so also God will bring with him, through Jesus, those who have fallen asleep.
The doctrinal foundation: the death-and-resurrection of Jesus, confessed by all, guarantees that God will likewise raise and bring the dead believers.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
εἰifconjunction (1st-class condition, assumed true)εἰ: 'if'; with the indicative πιστεύομεν, a first-class condition — 'since we do believe.'
γὰρforexplanatory conjunction
πιστεύομενwe believePres Act Indic 1 Pl · πιστεύωverb (protasis)→ customary presentπιστεύω: 'believe, trust'; the shared confession that grounds the inference.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of belief)
ἸησοῦςJesusNominativesubject (ὅτι clause)Ἰησοῦς: 'Jesus'; the human name, fitting in a clause about his death and rising.
ἀπέθανενdiedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωverb (ὅτι clause)→ constative aoristἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; the first member of the primitive creed (cf. 1 Cor 15:3).
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἀνέστηroseAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀνίστημιverb (ὅτι clause, coordinate)→ constative aoristἀνίστημι: 'rise, stand up'; intransitive aorist — Jesus rose; note Paul uses the active 'rose,' not only 'was raised.'
οὕτωςsoadverb (correlative, introduces apodosis)οὕτως: 'thus, so'; draws the parallel — as with Jesus, so with his own.
καὶalsoadjunctive καί
ὁtheNominativearticle
θεὸςGodNominativesubject (apodosis)θεός: 'God'; the Father is the agent who will bring the dead — divine action answering the creed.
τοὺςthoseAccusativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
κοιμηθένταςwho have fallen asleepAor Pass Ptc · Acc Pl Masc · κοιμάομαιsubstantival participle (object of ἄξει)→ constative aoristκοιμάομαι: 'fall asleep (die)'; aorist passive of the completed event — those who have died in Christ.
διὰthroughpreposition + genitive (agency/mediation)διὰ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ: construed either with 'fallen asleep through Jesus' (died as believers) or 'will bring through Jesus' — the latter widely preferred.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle
ἸησοῦJesusGenitiveobject of διά (mediator)
ἄξειwill bringFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἄγωmain verb (apodosis)→ predictive futureἄγω: 'lead, bring'; God will bring the departed in Jesus' train at the parousia — they are not lost but gathered.
σὺνwithpreposition + dative (association)σύν: 'together with'; the keynote preposition of vv.14–17 — believers' destiny is 'with' Christ and 'with' one another.
αὐτῷhimDativeobject of σύν (association)
15
Τοῦτο γὰρ ὑμῖν λέγομεν ἐν λόγῳ κυρίου, ὅτι ἡμεῖς οἱ ζῶντες οἱ περιλειπόμενοι εἰς τὴν παρουσίαν τοῦ κυρίου οὐ μὴ φθάσωμεν τοὺς κοιμηθέντας·
For this we say to you by a word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who remain until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep;
Paul grounds the comfort in 'a word of the Lord': the living at the parousia will have no advantage over — will not outstrip — the dead in Christ.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
ΤοῦτοthisAccusativedirect object (forward-pointing)οὗτος: 'this'; cataphoric, pointing to the ὅτι clause that follows.
γὰρforexplanatory conjunction
ὑμῖνto youDativeindirect object
λέγομενwe sayPres Act Indic 1 Pl · λέγωmain verb→ customary presentλέγω: 'say, tell'; the present of solemn declaration of authoritative teaching.
ἐνbypreposition + dative (means/authority)
λόγῳa wordDativedat. of means (basis of the claim)λόγος: 'word, saying'; 'a word of the Lord' — either a dominical saying or a prophetic revelation, lending divine authority.
κυρίουof the LordGenitivegenitive of source/authorκύριος: 'Lord'; the source of the word — the teaching is Christ's own, not Paul's opinion.
ὅτιthatconjunction (content of λέγομεν)
ἡμεῖςweNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)ἡμεῖς: 'we'; Paul includes himself among 'the living,' though without dogmatizing the timing — a hope, not a calendar.
οἱthe (ones)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
ζῶντεςlivingPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · ζάωsubstantival participle (apposition to ἡμεῖς)→ progressive presentζάω: 'live, be alive'; 'we the living' — those surviving to the parousia.
οἱthe (ones)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
περιλειπόμενοιwho remainPres Pass Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · περιλείπομαιsubstantival participle (apposition)→ progressive presentπεριλείπομαι: 'be left over, remain'; those 'left behind' alive until the coming — a near-synonymous reinforcement of ζῶντες.
εἰςuntilpreposition + accusative (temporal goal)
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
παρουσίανcomingAccusativeobject of εἰς (temporal goal)παρουσία: 'arrival, presence'; the technical term for Christ's royal advent — used of an emperor's state visit.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
κυρίουLordGenitivepossessive/subjective genitive
οὐnotnegative particle (with μή = emphatic)
μὴby no meansnegative particle (οὐ μή emphatic negation)οὐ μή: the strongest negation in Greek — 'certainly not, by no means'; the living gain no priority over the dead.
φθάσωμενprecedeAor Act Subj 1 Pl · φθάνωsubjunctive (emphatic future negation)→ constative aoristφθάνω: 'come before, precede, anticipate'; the living will not outstrip or get there ahead of the dead.
τοὺςthoseAccusativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
κοιμηθένταςwho have fallen asleepAor Pass Ptc · Acc Pl Masc · κοιμάομαιsubstantival participle (object of φθάσωμεν)→ constative aoristκοιμάομαι: 'fall asleep (die)'; the departed believers, who lose nothing by having died first.
16
ὅτι αὐτὸς ὁ κύριος ἐν κελεύσματι, ἐν φωνῇ ἀρχαγγέλου καὶ ἐν σάλπιγγι θεοῦ, καταβήσεται ἀπ' οὐρανοῦ, καὶ οἱ νεκροὶ ἐν Χριστῷ ἀναστήσονται πρῶτον,
because the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first;
The reason the dead are not disadvantaged: the Lord's descent is heralded by command, archangel's voice, and God's trumpet, and the dead in Christ rise first of all.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunctionὅτι: 'because'; grounds v.15 — the dead will not be left behind because of the sequence now described.
αὐτὸςhimselfNominativeintensive pronoun (with ὁ κύριος)αὐτός: 'himself'; emphatic — 'the Lord himself' will come in person, not merely send.
ὁtheNominativearticle
κύριοςLordNominativesubject
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (attendant circumstance)
κελεύσματιa cry of commandDativedat. of attendant circumstanceκέλευσμα: 'shout of command' (NT hapax); a commander's or coxswain's rallying cry — the summons that raises the dead.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (attendant circumstance)
φωνῇthe voiceDativedat. of attendant circumstanceφωνή: 'voice, sound'; the archangel's voice — part of the threefold heavenly heralding.
ἀρχαγγέλουof an archangelGenitivegenitive of source/possessionἀρχάγγελος: 'chief angel' (ἀρχή + ἄγγελος); the highest order of angels (cf. Michael, Jude 9) accompanying the advent.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (attendant circumstance)
σάλπιγγιthe trumpetDativedat. of attendant circumstanceσάλπιγξ: 'trumpet'; the eschatological trumpet signaling God's decisive intervention (cf. 1 Cor 15:52; Exod 19:16).
θεοῦof GodGenitivegenitive of source/possessionθεός: 'God'; 'the trumpet of God' — divine in origin and authority, the signal of the end.
καταβήσεταιwill descendFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · καταβαίνωmain verb→ predictive futureκαταβαίνω: 'come down, descend'; the Lord's bodily descent from heaven — answering the ascent of Acts 1:11.
ἀπ'frompreposition + genitive (source)
οὐρανοῦheavenGenitiveobject of ἀπό (source)οὐρανός: 'heaven, sky'; the point of departure of the descending Lord.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
οἱtheNominativearticle
νεκροὶdeadNominativesubject (substantival adjective)νεκρός: 'dead (one)'; here 'the dead in Christ,' the believing departed.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (incorporation)ἐν Χριστῷ: 'in Christ'; the union that defines them even in death — they die and rise as Christ's own.
ΧριστῷChristDativedat. of sphere/incorporation
ἀναστήσονταιwill riseFut Mid Indic 3 Pl · ἀνίστημιmain verb (coordinate)→ predictive futureἀνίστημι: 'rise'; their bodily resurrection — the same verb used of Jesus' rising in v.14.
πρῶτονfirstadverb (sequence)πρῶτον: 'first'; the dead rise first — the very priority that dissolves the Thessalonians' fear (cf. v.15).
17
ἔπειτα ἡμεῖς οἱ ζῶντες οἱ περιλειπόμενοι ἅμα σὺν αὐτοῖς ἁρπαγησόμεθα ἐν νεφέλαις εἰς ἀπάντησιν τοῦ κυρίου εἰς ἀέρα· καὶ οὕτως πάντοτε σὺν κυρίῳ ἐσόμεθα.
then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will always be with the Lord.
The sequel and climax: living and raised together are snatched up to meet the descending Lord — and the abiding result, 'always with the Lord,' is the heart of the comfort.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
ἔπειταthenadverb (temporal sequence)ἔπειτα: 'thereupon, next'; marks the next stage after the resurrection of the dead — a sequence, not a long interval.
ἡμεῖςweNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)
οἱthe (ones)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
ζῶντεςlivingPres Act Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · ζάωsubstantival participle (apposition to ἡμεῖς)→ progressive presentζάω: 'live'; the phrase of v.15 repeated, binding the two verses into one sequence.
οἱthe (ones)Nominativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
περιλειπόμενοιwho remainPres Pass Ptc · Nom Pl Masc · περιλείπομαιsubstantival participle (apposition)→ progressive presentπεριλείπομαι: 'be left, remain'; again echoing v.15.
ἅμαtogetheradverb (with σύν: simultaneity/union)ἅμα: 'at the same time, together'; with σὺν αὐτοῖς it stresses the simultaneous, joint gathering — living and dead together.
σὺνwithpreposition + dative (association)σύν: 'with'; the reunion — the living are caught up together 'with them,' the raised dead.
αὐτοῖςthemDativeobject of σύν (the raised dead)
ἁρπαγησόμεθαwe will be caught upFut Pass Indic 1 Pl · ἁρπάζωmain verb→ predictive futureἁρπάζω: 'seize, snatch, carry off (suddenly)'; the source of 'rapture' (Lat. rapere) — a sudden, forcible catching-up by God.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place/means)
νεφέλαιςcloudsDativedat. of place/meansνεφέλη: 'cloud'; the cloud of theophany and the Son of Man's coming (Dan 7:13; Acts 1:9) — the vehicle of the gathering.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (purpose/goal)
ἀπάντησινmeetingAccusativeobject of εἰς (purpose)ἀπάντησις: 'meeting'; often the formal going-out of citizens to welcome a visiting dignitary and escort him in — fitting the παρουσία imagery.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
κυρίουLordGenitiveobjective genitive (the one met)
εἰςinpreposition + accusative (place)
ἀέραairAccusativeobject of εἰς (place of meeting)ἀήρ: 'air'; the lower atmosphere — the meeting-place between earth and heaven where the Lord is met.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
οὕτωςsoadverb (result/manner)οὕτως: 'thus, in this way'; introduces the abiding outcome — the real point of the whole passage.
πάντοτεalwaysadverb (time)πάντοτε: 'always'; the unbroken permanence of the union — no further parting.
σὺνwithpreposition + dative (association)σύν: 'with'; the climactic 'with the Lord' — the essence of Christian hope, surpassing all questions of timing.
κυρίῳthe LordDativeobject of σύν (association)
ἐσόμεθαwe will beFut Mid Indic 1 Pl · εἰμίmain verb (result clause)→ predictive futureεἰμί: 'be, exist'; the future of unbroken being-with — the consummation of salvation.
18
Ὥστε παρακαλεῖτε ἀλλήλους ἐν τοῖς λόγοις τούτοις.
Therefore comfort one another with these words.
The pastoral upshot: the doctrine of the parousia is given not to satisfy curiosity but to console — they are to comfort one another with this very teaching.
Word-by-word analysis· 7 words
Ὥστεthereforeinferential conjunction (result)ὥστε: 'so that, therefore'; with the imperative it draws the practical consequence from the foregoing teaching.
παρακαλεῖτεcomfortPres Act Impv 2 Pl · παρακαλέωimperative (exhortation)→ customary present (ongoing command)παρακαλέω: 'comfort, encourage, exhort'; here the consoling sense — mutual comfort grounded in resurrection hope.
ἀλλήλουςone anotherAccusativedirect object (reciprocal pronoun)ἀλλήλων: 'one another'; the comfort is a community task, not merely apostolic — mutual ministry of hope.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (means)
τοῖςtheDativearticle
λόγοιςwordsDativedat. of means (instrument of comfort)λόγος: 'word'; 'these words' — the very teaching of vv.13–17 is the instrument of comfort.
τούτοιςtheseDativedemonstrative (attributive)οὗτος: 'these'; anaphoric — pointing back to the words just spoken about the parousia.