1 Thessalonians 5 23

1 Thessalonians 5:23 kjv

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 nkjv

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 niv

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 esv

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 nlt

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

1 Thessalonians 5 verses

1 Thessalonians 5 23 Meaning

The Apostle Paul earnestly prays that the God of peace Himself would completely sanctify the Thessalonian believers, preserving their entire being—spirit, soul, and body—blameless until the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5 23 Context

This verse is the final benediction of Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians. The letter was written to encourage and instruct believers who were facing persecution and questioning concerning the return of Christ. Paul has addressed issues of Christian conduct, their hope in Christ's second coming, and clarified misunderstandings. In this concluding verse, he offers a profound prayer for their holistic spiritual well-being, invoking the "God of peace" to actively work within them until the day Christ returns. The immediate context leading up to this verse is Paul’s exhortation to rejoice, pray, and give thanks, underscoring the constant Christian life.

1 Thessalonians 5 23 Word analysis

• "Now" (Nuni / νῦν): This adverb indicates a present immediacy or a transition to a final wish or prayer. It suggests this blessing is for them now and continuing forward.
• "may" (genoito / γένοιτο): A potential optative verb expressing a wish or prayer. It's not a command but a heartfelt desire for God's action.
• "the God" (Theos / θεός): Refers to the one true God of creation and revelation.
• "of peace" (eirenes / εἰρήνης): Genitive case of "eirene," meaning peace, tranquility, well-being, and harmony. It emphasizes God's nature as the source of all peace. This isn't just absence of conflict, but a wholistic shalom.
• "Himself" (autos / αὐτός): Emphatic pronoun, highlighting that the God of peace is the direct agent of this sanctification. It’s God’s own power at work, not just a passive granting.
• "sanctify" (hagiasai / ἁγιάσαι): Aorist active infinitive of "hagiazo," meaning to make holy, set apart, purify. This action refers to both positional holiness (set apart by God) and progressive holiness (growing in likeness to God).
• "you" (humas / ὑμᾶς): Plural pronoun, referring to the entire church community at Thessalonica.
• "completely" (holoteles / ὁλοτελῶς): Adverb meaning perfectly, entirely, fully, without deficiency. It indicates the thoroughness of the sanctification process desired.
• "and" (kai / καὶ): Conjunction linking the elements of the prayer.
• "may your" (genoito ... humon / γένοιτο ... ὑμῶν): Reinforces the optative mood and personalizes the blessing to "your."
• "spirit" (pneuma / πνεῦμα): Refers to the inner spiritual life, the seat of personality and relationship with God.
• "soul" (psyche / ψυχή): Refers to the seat of life, mind, will, emotions, and personality. The inner self.
• "body" (soma / σῶμα): Refers to the physical, material aspect of the person, the earthly vessel.
• "be preserved" (teresateth ... amomous / τηρηθείη ... ἀμώμους): Third person aorist passive optative of "tereo" (to guard, keep) and plural accusative adjective "amomous" (blameless, unblemished, pure). It expresses the desire for God to keep these entire beings, making them faultless.
• "blameless" (amomous / ἀμώμους): Unstained, without fault or defect, irreproachable. This refers to an outward appearance of blamelessness as well as an inner purity.
• "until" (heos / ἕως): Indicates the duration of the keeping and sanctification.
• "the coming" (parousia / παρουσίας): Refers to the arrival or presence, specifically used in the New Testament for the second coming of Christ.
• "of our Lord" (tou Kuriou / τοῦ Κυρίου): Possessive, indicating Christ's Lordship.
• "Jesus Christ" (Iesou Christou / Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ): The full name and title, identifying the object of their faith and hope.

Words-group analysis:

• "God of peace": Connects God's essential nature with the result He brings, establishing harmony within believers and among them.
• "sanctify you completely": Emphasizes a comprehensive, holistic work of God throughout the entire person, not just one part.
• "spirit and soul and body": Represents the tripartite view of the human person as understood in some biblical contexts, signifying the entirety of their being that God seeks to make holy.
• "preserved blameless": Focuses on God's protective action ensuring an unblemished state until the final appearance of Christ, pointing to Christ's imputed righteousness and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5 23 Bonus section

The emphasis on the tripartite nature of man (spirit, soul, body) is a common thread in early Christian thought and a consistent theme in Pauline theology, highlighting the integration of all aspects of human existence in God's redemptive plan. This comprehensive sanctification reflects God’s desire for a holy people, mirroring His own perfect holiness. The prayer is ultimately a blessing for their eschatological hope—their unblemished presentation at Christ’s glorious return. This is not a conditional prayer; it’s a fervent wish from an apostle relying on God's omnipotence and faithfulness to complete His work in His saints.

1 Thessalonians 5 23 Commentary

This verse encapsulates Paul's deepest concern for the Thessalonians: their complete spiritual and moral purity maintained by God’s power until Christ’s return. The prayer highlights that sanctification is a divine work initiated and sustained by the God of peace. It’s not merely an act but a continuous process covering every dimension of a believer’s existence – their innermost spirit, their inner self (mind, will, emotions), and their physical actions. This comprehensive holiness ensures they will stand unblemished, without fault, when Christ reappears. The emphasis is on God’s faithful ability to keep them.

Practical usage:

• Daily Prayer: Believers can pray this verse daily, asking God to continue His sanctifying work in their lives, guarding their thoughts, words, and deeds.
• Trust in God's Keeping Power: When facing temptation or sin, remember God's promise and power to preserve you, and rely on Him rather than self-sufficiency.
• Anticipation of Christ's Return: Let the hope of Christ’s appearing motivate a desire for holiness and purity in every area of life.