1 Thessalonians 4:6-8 6that no one transgress and defraud his brother [or sister] in the matter, because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you previously and solemnly warned you. 7For God has not called us for impurity, but in sanctification. 8For that reason, the one who rejects this is not rejecting people but God who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.
Verse 6 seems to introduce a timeless truth but the context suggests to narrow this to the topic of the previous verses. The key to interpreting this verse in context is to what the matter refers. The likely reference is how a person can defraud a brother or sister by taking something that belongs to that person, particularly the “vessel” of verse 4. Since the meaning of “vessel” is not clear, any conclusion about the application of verse 5 is only a suggestion. The context of this paragraph has to do with sexuality purity. The transgression and defrauding of a brother or sister may refer to adultery, which is steals from the commitment and love from another person.
The Lord will avenge those who have been wronged. Avenge (ekdikos) has the sense of “meting out justice” or punishing someone who has done wrong. Paul writes elsewhere that Jesus will judge all people in the end (Romans 2:16). Verse 6 serves as a warning to the Thessalonians that their actions have eternal consequences. He taught Christian ethics and morality while he was with the Thessalonians. Even thought he and his team where there for only a short time, they included ethics along with the theology.
Verse 7 restates Paul’s central thesis in this chapter and gives further context to the question of the matter of verse 6. God’s will of verse 3 for us to be sanctified has become God’s call in verse 7. This call comes through the Holy Spirit in verse 8. To pursue impurity (akatharsia) is essentially rejecting God. Impurity, moral compromise, adultery, fornication, or other sexual sins and lusts are acts of rebellion. Paul leaves no doubt in the Thessalonians’ minds of how God wants them to live in sexual purity. There were many temptations in that culture and time to comprise. We also face many temptations. Jesus warned about moral compromise in Luke 21:34. The answer to this is to look to God’s grace and strength which are provided through the Holy Spirit. This will require that we act in faith and obedience to God’s revelation of truth.
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