1 Thessalonians 4:1–5:22

Paul and his colleagues have spent over half of the letter giving thanks for the Thessalonians and admiring their steadfast faith and love. They now shift to specific admonitions and instructions that connect to the church’s ethical and theological challenges.

They first address one particular aspect of sanctification: sexual fidelity (1 Thess. 4:1–8). The Roman world was awash with sexual immorality, and Paul seeks to instill a Christian sexual ethic. He then proceeds to exhort them further in love for one another (4:9–10; cf. 3:6, 12) and to encourage a proper public witness through Christian work (4:11–12).

The central section of Paul’s instruction focuses on the return of Christ (4:13–5:11). Paul addresses two key questions: (1) What will happen to the Christian dead? (2) When will Christ return?

The final paragraph (5:12–22) brings together a series of Pauline admonitions about proper church conduct.