What Does 1 Thessalonians 4:7 Mean in the King James?
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
God’s call sets your life apart from what defiles and toward belonging to God.
THE MEANING
God’s call places your life in the direction of holiness now; uncleanness is not its destination. Holiness names being set apart for God, so the verse describes belonging and direction, not a badge to earn.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie that God’s call leaves impurity as an equally valid destination dissolves here: the verse draws a clear line between uncleanness and holiness.
THE ROOT
ἁγιασμός
hagiasmos
GROWS FROM
ἁγ-
hag-
Set apart; belonging to what is holy.
The Greek word carries the sense of being set apart, not merely appearing morally polished. The contrast in the verse shows holiness as the direction and condition of a life belonging to God, opposite to what defiles.
ALSO GROWS
hagios: Holy; set apart.
ἅγιος
This is the related word Peter uses for both the One who calls and the life shaped by that call.
hagiazō: To make holy or set apart.
ἁγιάζω
This verb shows the same word family describing the act of setting something apart for God.
hagiasmos: The state or process of being set apart.
ἁγιασμός
This is the word in the verse: holiness is presented as the sphere and direction of God’s call.
THE PATTERN
God’s call sets a life apart for belonging to God, carrying it away from what defiles.
And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,THE THREAD
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;The Greek word here is ἁγιασμός (hagiasmos, holiness or setting apart); Peter uses ἅγιος (hagios, holy or set apart) from the same word family. Thessalonians names the direction of the call, while Peter shows that the One calling and the life called into holiness share that quality.
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