1 Thessalonians 4:4

“that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor”

“That”: Connecting 1 Thessalonians 1:3 and this verse together. Paul is still dealing with the subject of abstaining from fornication. “Each one of you”: The same exact moral standard is required of all Christians, regardless of their background, social or economic strata, environment or upbringing. Judgment will be on an individual basis (2 Corinthians 5:10), therefore the purity of another Christian cannot save me. Holiness does not rub off and no man or woman has enough holiness to spare for someone else. “Know how”: “Paul explains more positively what is meant by abstaining from immorality in terms of the action which his readers should take in order to avoid this sin” (Marshall p. 107). The word “know” is. perfect active infinitive meaning that each one of them (and us) should learn and know the way to maintain his own purity (Denton Lectures p. 127). “Learn the habit of purity” (Robertson p. 28). Carefully note that moral purity has some "know how" connected with it. Virtue is the result of being impressed with certain truths (2 Peter 1:5).

“Possess”: “The verb can be used in the sense ‘to gain mastery over'” (Marshall p. 109). “Himself of his own vessel”: The question among commentators is, “What does the word vessel refer to?” Basically two views exist. The word vessel refers to the body of the believer (2 Corinthians 4:7; 2 Timothy 2:21; Acts 9:15). Or the word refers to the wife of the believer (1 Peter 3:7). The wife view has two basic variations. Paul is saying here basically the same thing he said in 1 Corinthians 7:1. that is, marriage is. safeguard against or the only God-given context for sexual intercourse. Hence, this is one way to avoid fornication. Or, there is. proper and improper way to view one's wife. One is also being sexually immoral if they merely view their wife as an object to satisfy their sexual desires.. prefer the body view, because it seems to me that it harmonizes better with the context, yet in the end both views are basically inseparable. Marriage will stop. person from fornicating, unless they learn how to control themselves first, and. Christian man must first learn how to view his own body properly, and his own urges, before he can have the right perspective concerning his wife.

“In sanctification and honor”: “Purely and honourably” (TCNT). Stott notes, “The fact that marriage is the only God-given context for sexual intercourse does not mean that within marriage there is no need for restraint. We have all heard or read about, and some have experienced, the selfish sexual demands that are sometimes made by one married partner on the other, but marriage is not. form of legalized lust. it is possible for sexual partners in marriage to wrong or take advantage of each other. The fact is that there is. world of difference between lust and love, between dishonorable sexual practices that use the partner and true lovemaking which honors the partner, between the selfish desire to possess and the unselfish desire to love, cherish and respect. The Lord himself sees even the intimacies of the bedroom. He hates every kind of human exploitation” (pp. 85-86). Even though these passages may not be exactly teaching the above, the concept is right. It is wrong to treat another person as an object (Matthew 7:12; Matthew 22:39). It is wrong to turn even sex in marriage into something that is nothing more than pure selfish lust (1 Peter 3:7).

“And honor”: Which seems to be saying that when one abstains from fornication, one is first of all treating oneself with respect. One is thus properly valuing the importance of one's soul and body (1 Corinthians 6:19). Carefully note that God knows such can be done. “We shall not become. bundle of frustrations and inhibitions if we embrace God's standard, but only if we rebel against it” (Stott p. 84). Morris notes, “The honor due to the body as such is one of the great contrasts which Christianity offers to the loftiest systems of heathen philosophy (e.g. Platonism and Stoicism)” (p. 124). Consider for. moment that when one treats God with respect in turn they are treating themselves with respect as well. Disregarding God leads to. disregarding of one's best interests. Obedience leads to honor but sin only leads to shame.