Paul writes to the young church at Thessalonica from Corinth around 50-51 AD, one of the earliest surviving Christian letters, addressing two urgent questions: how to live in holiness within a pagan city, and what happens to believers who die before Jesus returns.

Full sung version coming soon.

Lyrics

For this is the will of God your sanctification That you abstain from sexual immorality That each one of you know how to control his own body

In sanctification and honour not in the passion of lust Even as the Gentiles who don’t know God That no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother Or sister in this matter because the Lord is an avenger

In all these things as also we forewarned you and testified For God called us not for uncleanness but in sanctification But concerning brotherly love you have no need That one write to you for you yourselves are taught by God

To love one another for indeed you do it Towards all the brothers who are in all Macedonia But we exhort you brothers that you abound more and more And that you make it your ambition to lead a quiet life And to do your own business

But we don’t want you to be ignorant brothers Concerning those who have fallen asleep So that you don’t grieve like the rest Who have no hope for if we believe that Jesus died And rose again even so God will bring with him

Those who have fallen asleep in Jesus For this we tell you by the word of the Lord That we who are alive who are left until the coming of the Lord Will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep For the Lord himself will descend from heaven With a shout with the voice of the archangel And with God’s trumpet the dead in Christ will rise first Then we who are alive who are left will be caught up Together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord So we will be with the Lord forever

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1 Thessalonians 4 sung by Psalm Selah. The whole Bible, one chapter at a time.

Published 2026-05-22 · Last updated 2026-06-06
Written by Reid Wender, Editorial Director at Psalmody Press