1 Thessalonians 4:1
King James Version (KJV)
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.
Translations
1 Thessalonians 4:1 - Amplified Bible
FURTHERMORE, BRETHREN, we beg and admonish you in [virtue of our union with] the Lord Jesus, that [you follow the instructions which] you learned from us about how you ought to walk so as to please {and} gratify God, as indeed you are doing, [and] that you do so even more and more abundantly [attaining yet greater perfection in living this life].
1 Thessalonians 4:1 - 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.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 - 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.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 - Darby Bible
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.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 - 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.
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.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 - La Biblia de las Americas
Por lo demás, hermanos, os rogamos, pues, y os exhortamos en el Señor Jesùs, que como habéis recibido de nosotros instrucciones acerca de la manera en que debéis andar y agradar a Dios (como de hecho ya andáis), asì abundéis en ello más y más.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 - 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.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 - New American Standard Bible
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 (Or {conduct yourselves}) walk), that you excel still more.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy
Por lo demás, hermanos, les rogamos, y les exhortamos en el Señor Jesùs, que tal como han recibido de nosotros instrucciones acerca de la manera en que deben andar (se deben conducir) y agradar a Dios, como de hecho ya andan, asì abunden en ello más y más.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 - 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.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 - Young's Living 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,
1 Thessalonians 4:1 - Additional Comments
Notice the affection Paul has for the Thessalonians, and how earnestly he wants them to do what pleases God. Because of his great love for them, he wants them to succeed, and the only real success is when they are doing what pleases God. Paul was unwilling to accept anything less from them.
The Thessalonians were already known abroad for their good works, yet Paul is encouraging them to excel even more. We should never be satisfied with where we are at with God, we should always be pushing hard to improve, as the athlete to strives to be the best (1 Cor 9:24, Phil 3:14). What do you see when you see an athlete who doesn't work that hard, vs. one who works really hard? What do you see when you see a Christian who doesn't work that hard, vs. one who works really hard?
Note that Paul is exhorting them to excel in pleasing God, even though he considered himself the chief of sinners (1 Tim 1:15). It is okay to exhort others in their walk even though your walk is not what it should be, for it never will be (Rom 3:23). Every person is depraved (Rom 3:10-18), yet every person can be forgiven (Rom 5:8-9). We all need to put sin behind us and press forward toward the goal of the call of Christ (Phil 3:12-14).
Note that, although we are sinners still sinning, we can please God! That shows, with God's mercy and grace, His great forgiveness and love for us. Know that even though you still fail God (for you can never be free from sin), you can still please God. You can be a person who pleases God by your walk with Him.
Paul had taught them how to walk and please God. How can we do this? Learn what His Word says to do, and do it. Many of us have heard what to do, as the Thessalonians had, but have not put it into our lives. What gives us the ability to do this? "If you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15), and as a result, love to others (see vs 9). And we have the power to love through His Holy Spirit (vs 8).
We need to learn what God says in His Word about: finances, sexual life, and our roles as a husband/wife, father/mother, son/daughter, neighbor, employee, etc.
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