that each of you should know how to acquire his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
Truth to Learn
Sex within a marriage is undefiled, sacred, and honorable.
Behind the Words
Eidō it the Greek word translated “know.” We have pointed out previously that this word literally means “to see with perception.” However, Paul may be using this word as a Hebrew expression meaning “to have regard for” or “to care for.” This is the apparent meaning in 1 Thessalonians 5:12 (know those who labor …), and is probably Paul’s intent here.
The Greek verb translated “acquire” is ktaomai, which literally means “to get for oneself, to acquire, or to purchase.” When expressed in the perfect tense (past completed action with an ongoing effect) it can also mean “to have acquired” or “to possess.” Although it is expressed here as a present tense infinitive, many Biblical scholars believe that Paul’s meaning here is “to possess” or “to take care of.” However, that is not what Paul is teaching here. He clearly uses the word meaning “to acquire,” not “to possess.”
“Vessel” is translated from skeuos, meaning “a container, utensil, or implement.”
Meaning Explained
This is probably one of the most difficult verses to translate in this letter to the Thessalonians. The difficulty is due primarily to the three words we looked at above (eidō, ktaomai, and skeuos) along with the word porneia, which we saw in the previous verse.
Let’s start with proneia. This word originally referred to “prostitution.” If we look at the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament) we can see the meaning of the Hebrew words that were translated with porneia. These various words mean, “lying down like a prostitute, harlotry, prostitution, or unfaithfulness.” Thus, it does not refer to just any sexual sin, but specifically to “sex with another person that you are not married to.” The best translation of this word is “fornication.”
Now let’s look at ktaomai. It literally means “to acquire.” Again, looking at the Septuagint, we see in Ruth 4:10 that ktaomai is used to translate a word that means “to acquire.”
… I have acquired as my wife … (Ruth 4:10)
There is a similar word in Greek, kektesthai, which means “to possess.” But that is not the word Paul uses here. He uses ktaomai, “to acquire.” Thus, I believe the proper translation in this verse is “to acquire.”
Skeuos, as noted above, refers to “a container, utensil, or implement.” In 1 Peter 3:7, it refers specifically to the physical body of a man’s wife. But in 2 Corinthians 4:7 and 2 Timothy 2:21 it refers to a person’s own body, so it isn’t necessarily a reference to a wife, though it most likely is here.
Therefore, a reasonable translation of this verse would be “each of you should know how to acquire his own vessel in sanctification and honor.” But Paul is talking about abstaining from fornication. Why would the knowledge of acquiring a wife prevent fornication? In our current society, it is acceptable to many to engage in sexual activity before being married. Many people believe that keeping oneself a virgin until being married is an outdated, archaic notion. However, I believe that this is exactly what Paul is teaching here. Knowing how to acquire one’s own vessel (referring to a wife) in sanctification (set apart to God) and honor (respecting the honor of the one you desire to marry) is what Paul is teaching. This can only be done by abstaining from sexual immorality as Paul noted in yesterday’s verse. We will talk a little more about this in tomorrow’s verse.
Application
Sexual gratification should never be the reason for getting married and it should never be a precursor to marriage. Marriage is an intimate relationship between a man and a woman, and the pleasure of sexual intercourse is only a part of that relationship. According to Paul, there is no justification for sex outside of marriage. Marriage (and sex within a marriage) is intended to be undefiled, sacred, and honorable before God. It is of critical importance for a man to respect his wife to be and not expect any sexual activity until after the marriage ceremony is completed.
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved