1 Thessalonians 4:6
That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
Study Note
Study Note
'That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified' — the verse's 'matter' (pragma) has been interpreted as either sexual transgression (continuing the context of verses 3–5) or commercial fraud, or both. The theological ground — 'the Lord is the avenger' (ekdikos) — gives the injunction its weight: covenantal ethics are not merely social conventions but violations of divine order that God himself will prosecute. The passage illustrates how Paul's ethical instruction is consistently eschatological: behavior is shaped by the reality of divine accountability at the Parousia (verse 6: 'as we told you before').
Other Translations
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.
that no one go beyond and defraud in the matter his brother, because an avenger <FI>is<Fi> the Lord of all these, as also we spake before to you and testified,
And that no man may make attempts to get the better of his brother in business: for the Lord is the judge in all these things, as we said to you before and gave witness.
Cross References
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, …
Thou shalt not steal.
To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is …
For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the Lord thy God.
Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small.
If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, …
And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man’s hand.
Behold, here I am: witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or …
What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?
If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;