1 Thessalonians 4:12

1 Thessalonians 4:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
• New International Version (NIV)so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
• English Standard Version (ESV)so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
• New King James Version (NKJV)that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

Context of 1 Thessalonians 4:12

10In fact, you are showing love to all the Christians throughout the province of Macedonia. We encourage you as believers to excel in love even more. 11Also, make it your goal to live quietly, do your work, and earn your own living, as we ordered you. Then your way of life will win respect from those outside ⌞the church⌟, and you won’t have to depend on anyone else for what you need. 13Brothers and sisters, we don’t want you to be ignorant about those who have died. We don’t want you to grieve like other people who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and came back to life. We also believe that, through Jesus, God will bring back those who have died. They will come back with Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 4:12 word by word

ἵνα περιπατῆτε εὐσχημόνως πρὸς τοὺς ἔξω καὶ μηδενὸς χρείαν ἔχητε.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• ye may walkπεριπατέωperipateō · to walkG4043
• honestlyεὐσχημόνωςeuschēmonōs · properlyG2156
• towardπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• them that areὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• withoutἔξωexō · out/outside(r)G1854
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• ye may haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• lackχρείαchreia · needG5532
• of nothingμηδείςmēdeis mēdemia mēden · nothingG3367

Cross-references for 1 Thessalonians 4:12

• 1 Thessalonians 5:22Keep away from every kind of evil.
• Romans 12:17Don’t pay people back with evil for the evil they do to you. Focus your thoughts on those things that are considered noble.
• Romans 13:13We should live decently, as people who live in the light of day. Wild parties, drunkenness, sexual immorality, promiscuity, rivalry, and jealousy cannot be part of our lives.
• 2 Corinthians 8:20We don’t want anyone to find fault with the way we are administering this generous gift.
• Philippians 4:8Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable.
• 1 Peter 2:12Live decent lives among unbelievers. Then, although they ridicule you as if you were doing wrong while they are watching you do good things, they will praise God on the day he comes to help you.
• 1 Peter 3:16Keep your conscience clear. Then those who treat the good Christian life you live with contempt will feel ashamed that they have ridiculed you.
• Mark 4:11Jesus replied to them, “The mystery about God’s kingdom has been given ⌞directly⌟ to you. To those on the outside, it is given in stories:
• 1 Corinthians 5:12After all, do I have any business judging those who are outside ⌞the Christian faith⌟? Isn’t it your business to judge those who are inside?
• Colossians 4:5Be wise in the way you act toward those who are outside ⌞the Christian faith⌟. Make the most of your opportunities.
• 1 Timothy 3:7People who are not Christians must speak well of him, or he might become the victim of disgraceful insults that the devil sets as traps for him.
• 1 Peter 3:1Wives, in a similar way, place yourselves under your husbands’ authority. Some husbands may not obey God’s word. Their wives could win these men ⌞for Christ⌟ by the way they live without saying anything.
• 2 Corinthians 11:7Did I commit a sin when I humbled myself by telling you the Good News of God free of charge so that you could become important?

Commentaries on 1 Thessalonians 4:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12That ye may walk honestly - · Becomingly, decently, respectably; as is consistent with the purity, holiness, gravity, and usefulness of your Christian calling. Them that are without - The unconverted Gentiles and Jews. See this expression explained at large on Colossians 4:5. That ye may have lack of nothing - That ye may be able to get your bread by honest labor, which God will ever bless; and be chargeable to no man. He that is dependent on another is…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without - Out of the church; comp notes on Colossians 4:5. The word rendered honestly, means “becomingly, decorously, in a proper manner;” Romans 13:13; 1 Corinthians 14:40. It does not refer here to mere honesty in the transaction of business, but to their general treatment of those who were not professing Christians. They were to conduct themselves toward them in all respects in a becoming manner - to be…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-12Verses 9-12 We should notice in others what is good, to their praise, that we may engage them to abound therein more and more. All who are savingly taught of God, are taught to love one another. The teaching of the Spirit exceeds the teachings of men; and men's teaching is vain and useless, unless God teach. Those remarkable for this or any other grace, need to increase therein, as well as to persevere to the end. It is very desirable to have a calm and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12Not relying on non-Christians for financial help and behaving properly toward them will earn the respect of non-Christians (see Romans 13:13; 1 Corinthians 5:12–13; Colossians 4:5).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. honestly--in the Old English sense, "becomingly," as becomes your Christian profession; not bringing discredit on it in the eyes of the outer world, as if Christianity led to sloth and poverty (Ro 13:13; 1Pe 2:12). them ... without--outside the Christian Church (Mr 4:11). have lack of nothing--not have to beg from others for the supply of your wants (compare Ep 4:28). So far from needing to beg from others, we ought to work and get the means of…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Thessalonians 4:12

• Commandments
• Evil
• Honesty
• Industry
• Jesus Continued
• Labor

In the dictionaries

• Asleep
• Quiet
• Rise
• Sleep
• Trump
• Become
• Disorderly
• Honest; Honesty
• Thessalonians, the First Epistle of Paul to the
• Thessalonians, the Second Epistle of Paul to the

Commentaries on 1 Thessalonians 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings