That every one of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor;
All Commentaries on 1 Thessalonians 4:4 Go To 1 Thessalonians 4
John Chrysostom
AD 407
He says, That each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel. It is, then, a matter to be learned, and that diligently, not to be wanton. But we possess our vessel, when it is pure; when it is impure, sin possesses it. And reasonably. For it does not do the things which we wish, but what sin commands. Not in the passion of lust, he says. Here he shows also the manner, according to which one ought to be temperate; that we should cut off the passions of lust. For luxury, and wealth, and idleness, and sloth, and ease, and all such things, lead us on to irregular lust. Even as the Gentiles, he says, which know not God. For such are they who do not expect that they shall suffer punishment.
