1 Thessalonians 4:4-5 4in order that each of you might know how to gain control over his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5not in lust’s passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;
Paul continues his call for the Thessalonians to live pure and holy lives and not be controlled by lustful passions. The question with verse 4 is what his own vessel (skeuos) means. The word can have various meanings, including “object,” “instrument,” “equipment,” or “dish.” Paul could be referring to one’s body in a general sense, or more specifically, this could be a polite way of referring to one’s genitals. Another difficult word to interpret is the infinitive to gain control (ktasthai). This word can also have various meanings and interpretations, including to “possess,” “acquire,” “obtain.”
Verse 5 suggests that Paul is referring to something physical with lust’s passions. God created us with passions to be experienced between one man and one woman in holy marriage. Any deviation from that is sin. The problem occurs when these passions are hijacked by deceived flesh controlled by the self that has been enslaved by the power of sin. Whatever the specific reference intended here, the overall message seems to point to self-control. Every person, male or female, must learn to control fleshly desires and ask God to sanctify these for his glory and purposes.
The Gentiles literally means “the nations” (ta ethnē), who were non-Jews outside of the land of Israel. Those without the light of the law lived in the darkness of sin. Romans 1:18-32, notably verses 28-32, lists many examples of what lust’s passions look like. Rampant immorality is present in every culture but was particularly glorified in Greco-Roman culture and the cities to which Paul traveled, such as Thessalonica. Jews should know God and act in a different way because of Scripture. Marriage was a sacred covenant for Jews between a man and woman. But lust is a universal problem for all people, not just Gentiles. Even great heroes of the Bible, such as David, a “man after God’s own heart,” gave in to the temptation of lust.
The answer to this base human problem is to be made holy through God’s grace. Paul wants the Thessalonians to know how. They needed knowledge so that they could do their part. God will sanctify, but we must come to God in faith, obedient commitment, and consecration of ourselves. There is much theology assumed in the background of verse 4. The Thessalonians may have know some of this theology from Paul’s brief time there and Timothy’s follow up, but they needed more discipleship. That is true for all believers. Our journey never ends, and with God’s help, we must be ever vigilant in our war against temptation.
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