1 Thessalonians 4:4
New International Version
that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable,

New Living Translation
Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor—

English Standard Version
that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,

Berean Standard Bible
each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,

Berean Literal Bible
each of you to know how to win mastery over his own vessel in holiness and honor,

King James Bible
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

New King James Version
that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,

New American Standard Bible
that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,

NASB 1995
that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,

NASB 1977
that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,

Legacy Standard Bible
that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,

Amplified Bible
that each of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor [being available for God’s purpose and separated from things profane],

Christian Standard Bible
that each of you knows how to control his own body in holiness and honor,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
so that each of you knows how to control his own body in sanctification and honor,

American Standard Version
that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor,

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And that each one of you know to possess his vessel in holiness and in honor,

Contemporary English Version
Respect and honor your wife.

Douay-Rheims Bible
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour:

English Revised Version
that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honour,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Each of you should know that finding a husband or wife for yourself is to be done in a holy and honorable way,

Good News Translation
Each of you should know how to live with your wife in a holy and honorable way,

International Standard Version
Each of you must know how to control his own body in a holy and honorable manner,

Literal Standard Version
that each of you know to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,

Majority Standard Bible
each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,

New American Bible
that each of you know how to acquire a wife for himself in holiness and honor,

NET Bible
that each of you know how to possess his own body in holiness and honor,

New Revised Standard Version
that each one of you know how to control your own body in holiness and honor,

New Heart English Bible
that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor,

Webster's Bible Translation
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor;

Weymouth New Testament
that each man among you shall know how to procure a wife who shall be his own in purity and honour;

World English Bible
that each one of you know how to control his own body in sanctification and honor,

Young's Literal Translation
that each of you know his own vessel to possess in sanctification and honour,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Living to Please God
3For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality; 4each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God;…

Cross References
1 Samuel 21:5
David answered, "Women have indeed been kept from us, as is usual when I set out. And the equipment of the young men is holy, as it is even on common missions, and all the more at this time."

Romans 1:24
Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another.

1 Corinthians 7:2
But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.

1 Corinthians 7:9
But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

2 Corinthians 4:7
Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.

1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.


Treasury of Scripture

That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor;

should.

Romans 6:19
I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

1 Corinthians 6:15,18-20
Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid…

his.

1 Samuel 21:5
And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.

Acts 9:15
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

Romans 9:21-23
Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? …

honour.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Hebrews 13:4
Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

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1 Thessalonians 4
1. He exhorts them to go forward in all manner of godliness;
6. to live holily and justly;
9. to love one another;
11. and quietly to follow their own business;
13. and last of all, to sorrow moderately for the dead.
17. followed by a brief description of the resurrection, and second coming of Christ to judgment.














(4) Should know.--The clause is simply parallel to the last, and, with it, explains the word "sanctification." The Bulgarian Father, Theophylact, says pointedly in reference to the word "to know" or "understand," "He indicates that chastity is a matter that requires self-discipline and study." (Comp. Ephesians 5:17.)

To possess his vessel.--The word rendered "to possess" should rather be translated, to procure, win, gain possession of. The word "vessel" here has been interpreted in two ways: (1) "his wife;" (2) "his body." In favour of (1) it is argued that (while "gaining possession of one's own body" is unintelligible), "acquiring a wife of one's own" is an ordinary Greek expression; that in this context, "a vessel," or "instrument," is an expressive and natural metaphor; that the word was familiar to Hebrew speakers in that sense (e.g., Ahasuerus says of Vashti, in one of the Targums, "My vessel which I use is neither Median nor Persian, but Chaldee"); that St. Peter (1Peter 3:7) uses the word of the wife. But it may be answered that this interpretation does not suit our context; first, because it would be laying an emphatic and binding veto upon celibacy, if "each one" is "to acquire a wife of his own;" secondly, because of the verb "to know," it certainly being no part of a religious man's duty "to know how to procure a wife;" thirdly, because the Greek cannot be translated "a vessel (or wife) of his own," but "his own vessel" (or wife)--literally, the vessel of himself--and to speak of "procuring" the wife who is already one's own seems unmeaning. Furthermore, although the quotations from the Targums are certainly to the point, that from St. Peter distinctly points the other way, inasmuch as the wife is called "the weaker vessel of the two," evidently meaning that the husband is also "a vessel." Thus we are driven to suppose that (2) the "vessel" is the man's own self. This usage also is well supported. In 1Samuel 21:5, it is used in precisely this sense, and in the same context, as well as in 1Peter 3:7. The passages, however, usually quoted in support of this interpretation from 2Corinthians 4:7, Philo, Barnabas, Lucretius, &c, do not seem quite parallel; for there the word signifies a "vessel," in the sense of a receptacle for containing something; here it is rather "an instrument" or "implement "for doing something. Hence it approaches more nearly to the use in such phrases as Acts 9:15, "a vessel of choice," or even (though the Greek word is different) to Romans 6:13. "The vessel of himself" (the "himself" being in the Greek strongly emphasised) means, not "the vessel which is his own," but "the vessel or instrument which consists of himself." Thus the body, which of course is chiefly meant here, is not dissociated from the man's personality, as in the fanciful Platonism of Philo, but almost identified with it: the Incarnation has taught us the true dignity of the body. Thus it becomes easy to understand what is meant by "knowing how to gain possession of" such an instrument as the body with its many faculties, rescuing it from its vile prostitution, and wielding it wisely for its proper uses. So the same Greek verb is used, and mistranslated in our version, in Luke 21:19, "In your patience possess ye your souls." . . .

Verse 4. - That every one of you should know how to possess. The word here rendered "possess" rather signifies "acquire." The R.V. renders the clause, "that each one of you know how to possess himself of;" hence it admits of the translation, "to obtain the mastery over." His vessel. This word has given rise to a diversity of interpretation. Especially two meanings have been given to it. By some it is supposed to be a figurative expression for "wife," in which sense the word is used, though rarely, by Hebrew writers. Peter speaks of the wife "as the weaker vessel" (1 Peter 3:7). This is the meaning adopted by Augustine, Schott, Do Wette, Koch, Hofmann, Lünemann, Riggenbach; and, among English expositors, by Alford, Jowett, Ellicott, and Eadie. This meaning is, however, to be rejected as unusual and strange, and unsuitable to what follows in the next verse. The other meaning - "one's own body" - is more appropriate. Thus Paul says, "We have this treasure," namely, the gospel, "in earthen vessels" (2 Corinthians 4:7; comp. also 1 Samuel 21:5). The body may well be compared to a vessel, as it contains the soul. This meaning is adopted by Chrysostom, Calvin, Grotius, Bengel, Olshausen, Meyer; and, among English expositors, by Macknight, Conybeare, Bishop Alexander, Wordsworth, and Yaughan. In sanctification and honor. What the apostle here requires is that every one should obtain the mastery over his own body, and that whereas, as Gentiles, they had yielded their members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity, they should now, as Christians, yield their members servants to righteousness unto holiness (Romans 6:19).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
each
ἕκαστον (hekaston)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1538: Each (of more than two), every one. As if a superlative of hekas; each or every.

of you
ὑμῶν (hymōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

must know [how]
εἰδέναι (eidenai)
Verb - Perfect Infinitive Active
Strong's 1492: To know, remember, appreciate.

to control
κτᾶσθαι (ktasthai)
Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive
Strong's 2932: (a) I acquire, win, get, purchase, buy, (b) I possess, win mastery over. A primary verb; to get, i.e. Acquire.

his
ἑαυτοῦ (heautou)
Reflexive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1438: Himself, herself, itself.

[own]
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

body
σκεῦος (skeuos)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4632: A vessel, implement, equipment or apparatus (specially, a wife as contributing to the usefulness of the husband).

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

holiness
ἁγιασμῷ (hagiasmō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 38: From hagiazo; properly, purification, i.e. purity; concretely a purifier.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

honor,
τιμῇ (timē)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5092: A price, honor. From tino; a value, i.e. Money paid, or valuables; by analogy, esteem, or the dignity itself.


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NT Letters: 1 Thessalonians 4:4 That each one of you know how (1 Thess. 1 Thes. 1Th iTh i Th)
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