Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Thessalonians 4:6

"that no man transgress, and wrong his brother in the matter: because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified." — 1 Thessalonians 4:6 (ASV)

Wronging and taking advantage of a “brother” (probably a Christian brother) are other violations of holiness. Paul is continuing here the matter of sexual transgression. To have relations with a woman outside marriage is not just a trespass against God’s law. It also defrauds some fellow Christian who eventually will take, or has taken, this woman as his own wife—an especially heinous sin because the one robbed is a spiritual relative of the robber. Paul does not allude to the other simultaneous injustice, which is obvious—namely, that the woman herself is an object of cruel abuse in such a situation. This too is especially repulsive in a Christian setting.

A reason for complying with the standards set forth in vv.4–5 relates to the Lord Jesus’ future punishment of “all such sins.” Paul is speaking of the future judgment of Christians at the parousia (2:19; 3:13; 1 Corinthians 3:10–17)—a judgment to be carried out by Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10) in association with God the Father (Romans 14:10; see comment on 1 Thessalonians 3:13). Paul’s initial expedition to Thessalonica had informed and solemnly warned them of these dire consequences. We do not know what prompted him to put in writing this admonition about judgment. Perhaps urgency required stern words.