1 Thessalonians 4:8

He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 4:8, King James Version

1 Thessalonians 4:8 in other translations

BSB	Anyone, then, who rejects this command does not reject man but God, the very One who gives you His Holy Spirit.
WEB	Therefore he who rejects this doesn’t reject man, but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to you.
ASV	Therefore he that rejecteth, rejecteth not man, but God, who giveth his Holy Spirit unto you.
YLT	he, therefore, who is despising--doth not despise man, but God, who also did give His Holy Spirit to us.
DARBY	He therefore that in this disregards his brother, disregards, not man, but God, who has given also his Holy Spirit to you.
BBE	Whoever, then, goes against this word, goes against not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
Webster	He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given to us his holy Spirit.

What does 1 Thessalonians 4:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

8. despiseth, &c.--Greek, "setteth at naught" such engagements imposed on him in his calling, 1Th 4:7; in relation to his "brother," 1Th 4:6. He who doth so, "sets at naught not man (as for instance his brother), but God" (Psa 51:4) is used of despising or rejecting God's minister, it may mean here, "He who despiseth" or "rejecteth" these our ministerial precepts. who hath also given unto us--So some oldest manuscripts read, but most oldest manuscripts read, "Who (without 'also') giveth (present) unto you" (not "us"). his Spirit--Greek, "His own Spirit, the Holy (One)"; thus emphatically marking "holiness" (1Th 4:7) as the end for which the Holy (One) is being given. "Unto you," in the Greek, implies that the Spirit is being given unto, into (put "into" your hearts), and among you (compare 1Th 2:9; Ep 4:30). "Giveth" implies that sanctification is not merely a work once for all accomplished in the past, but a present progressive work. So the Church of England Catechism, "sanctifieth (present) all the elect people of God." "His own" implies that as He gives you that which is essentially identical with Himself, He expects you should become like Himself (1Pe 1:16; 2Pe 1:4).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 8. He therefore that despiseth. Marg., rejected. That is, he who disregards such commands as these, which call him to a holy life, is really rejecting and disobeying God. Some might be disposed to say that these were merely the precepts of man, and that therefore it was not important whether they were obeyed or not. The apostle assures them, in the most solemn manner, that though communicated to them by man, yet they were really the commands of God.

Who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. This is a claim to inspiration. Paul did not give these commands as his own, but as taught by the Spirit of God. Comp. 1Cor 7:40.

(3) "despiseth" "rejecteth"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 8 He therefore that despiseth - He who will not receive these teachings, and is led either to undervalue or despise them, despises not us but God, from whom we have received our commission, and by whose Spirit we give these directions. See Clarke's note on 1Thes 4:15. Hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit - Instead of εις ἡμας, unto Us, εις ὑμας, unto You, is the reading of BDEFG, a great many others, the Syriac, all the Arabic, Armenian, later Syriac in the margin, some of the Itala, Clement, Didymus, and Ambrosiaster; this seems to be the better reading. God has taught us that we may teach you; and he has also given you his Holy Spirit that ye might understand and be enabled to practice these things. It is one thing to receive a revelation from the Spirit of God; it is another thing to receive that Spirit to enable a man to live according to that revelation. In the first sense the apostles alone received this Holy Spirit; in the latter sense all true Christians, as well as the Thessalonians, receive it. I think ὑμας, you, is the true reading, and that it is confirmed by the following verse: For ye yourselves are Taught of God to love one another. Griesbach has inserted it in the margin, but has not admitted it into the text, because it has not what he deemed full support from those MSS. which are of the Alexandrian recension; but he thought its genuineness very probable.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

To abide in the faith of the gospel is not enough, we must abound in the work of faith. The rule according to which all ought to walk and act, is the commandments given by the Lord Jesus Christ. Sanctification, in the renewal of their souls under the influences of the Holy Spirit, and attention to appointed duties, constituted the will of God respecting them. In aspiring after this renewal of the soul unto holiness…

Read the full comment on 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 →

1 Thessalonians 4:8 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

τοιγαροῦνtoigarounSo thenG5105

ὁhothe [one]G3588

ἀθετῶνathetōnrejecting [this]G114

οὐκouknotG3756

ἄνθρωπονanthrōponmanG444

ἀθετεῖatheteidisregardsG114

ἀλλὰallabutG235

τὸνton<the>G3588

θεὸνtheonGodG2316

τὸνtonthe [One]G3588

καὶkaialsoG2532

διδόνταdidontagivingG1325

τὸtotheG3588

πνεῦμαpneumaSpiritG4151

αὐτοῦautouof HimG846

τὸto<the>G3588

ἅγιονhagionHolyG40

εἰςeistoG1519

ὑμᾶς.¶humasyou.G4771

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Thessalonians 4:8

1 John 3:24
And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
Luke 10:16
He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
1 Samuel 8:7
And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
John 12:48
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
2 Peter 1:21
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Proverbs 23:9
Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
Romans 5:5
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Galatians 4:6
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
1 Samuel 10:19
And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes, and by your thousands.
1 Corinthians 7:40
But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
Jude 1:8
Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

despiseth. or, rejecteth.
1Sa 8:7; 10:19; Joh 12:48
despiseth not.
Pr 1:7; 23:9; Isa 49:7; 53:10; Lu 10:16; Ac 13:41; Jude 1:8
who.
Ne 9:30; Ac 5:3,4; 1Co 2:10; 7:40; 1Pe 1:12; 2Pe 1:21; 1Jo 3:24

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

1 Thessalonians 4:7
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
1 Thessalonians 4:8
He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 4:9
But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

Read all of 1 Thessalonians 4

1 Thessalonians 4:8 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Así que, el que menosprecia, no menosprecia á hombre, sino á Dios, el cual también nos dió su Espíritu Santo.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	C’est pourquoi celui qui méprise, ne méprise pas l’homme, mais Dieu, qui vous a aussi donné son Esprit Saint.
German Elberfelder 1871	Deshalb nun, wer dies verachtet, verachtet nicht einen Menschen, sondern Gott, der euch auch seinen Heiligen Geist gegeben hat.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Itaque qui hæc spernit, non hominem spernit, sed Deum: qui etiam dedit Spiritum suum Sanctum in nobis.