4:4a

to control his own body: The Greek word skeuos, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as body, literally means “vessel, implement of any kind.” In this verse it is used in a figurative way. However, commentators do not agree what the word means here. There are two possible meanings:

(1) It means “body.” If this is the case, Paul was telling people to be self-controlled, in particular, to control their sexual desires. If a person does so, he is being pure and honorable. Most commentators agree with this meaning.

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) It means “wife.” If this is the case, then Paul meant that men should learn the right way to acquire a wife or behave toward a wife.

(Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, NET Bible, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version)

It is recommended that you follow the first option (1), as it makes best sense in the context, where Paul was talking about avoiding sexual immorality (4:3b) and lust (4:5a).

4:4b

holiness: For holiness, see the note on 2:10b.

honor: To behave with honor means to behave in a way that will cause someone to praise/respect you. In this verse, Paul did not state whose respect or praise was wanted. If you need to specify this, it is probably best to say “in a way that would cause people to honor/respect you.”

© 2002 by SIL International®

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.