“οὐ γὰρ ἐκάλεσεν ἡμᾶς ὁ Θεὸς ἐπὶ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ, ἀλλ’ ἐν ἁγιασμῷ”: Called to Holiness, Not Impurity (1 Thessalonians 4:7)

Introduction: The Nature of the Call

Paul admonishes the Thessalonians regarding sexual purity and sanctification. In verse 7, he anchors his ethical exhortation in the theology of divine calling:

οὐ γὰρ ἐκάλεσεν ἡμᾶς ὁ Θεὸς ἐπὶ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ, ἀλλ’ ἐν ἁγιασμῷ
“For God did not call us to impurity, but in holiness.”

This contrast establishes the goal and sphere of Christian living, expressed through two distinct prepositions: ἐπὶ (implying purpose or result) and ἐν (implying the moral environment of sanctification).

οὐ γὰρ ἐκάλεσεν ἡμᾶς ὁ Θεὸς ἐπὶ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ, ἀλλ’ ἐν ἁγιασμῷ

Morphological Breakdown

1. οὐ {ou} –
   Form: negative particle;
   Meaning: “not”;
   Usage: negates the finite verb ἐκάλεσεν
2. γὰρ {gar} –
   Form: coordinating conjunction;
   Meaning: “for,” “because”;
   Usage: introduces a theological rationale for the previous exhortation.
3. ἐκάλεσεν {ekálesen} –
   Root: καλέω {kaléō};
   Form: aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular;
   Meaning: “He called”;
   Notes: Refers to God’s decisive act of calling believers into salvation.
4. ἡμᾶς {hēmâs} –
   Form: accusative plural pronoun;
   Function: direct object of ἐκάλεσεν – “He called us”
5. ὁ Θεὸς {ho Theós} –
   Form: nominative singular subject;
   Translation: “God”;
   Function: subject of the verb
6. ἐπὶ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ {epì akatharsíāi} –
   Form: preposition ἐπί + dative feminine singular;
   Meaning: “for impurity,” or “with a view to impurity”;
   Usage: expresses purpose, goal, or result (rare use with dative);
   Notes: “Impurity” here refers especially to sexual uncleanness.
7. ἀλλ’ ἐν ἁγιασμῷ {all’ en hagiāsmō̂} –
   Form: adversative conjunction + preposition ἐν + dative;
   Meaning: “but in holiness”;
   Function: expresses the sphere, manner, or moral domain of the call.
   ἁγιασμῷ: “sanctification,” “consecration” — both process and state.

Syntactical Analysis: Contrast of Purpose and Sphere

– Main clause:
οὐ… ἐκάλεσεν ἡμᾶς ὁ Θεὸς – “God did not call us…”

– Negative goal:
ἐπὶ ἀκαθαρσίᾳ – “for the purpose/result of impurity”

– Positive counterpart:
ἀλλ’ ἐν ἁγιασμῷ – “but in the sphere of sanctification”

The preposition ἐπὶ with dative often implies goal or direction, though rare. Paul uses it here to describe what God’s calling was not for.

The shift to ἐν implies domain or environment—the believer’s new life is to be lived in holiness.

Semantic and Theological Implications

Paul’s point is emphatic:
– God’s call is not permissive toward sin
– It is a call into a life of sanctification

ἀκαθαρσία = moral uncleanness
ἁγιασμός = moral purity, being set apart

The contrast forms a strong ethical dichotomy:
> You were not called to defilement.
> You were called into a life that is sacred.

Literary and Pastoral Force

This brief sentence:
– Grounds Christian sexual ethics in God’s initiative
– Elevates the idea of vocation: not just belief, but transformation
– Frames sanctification not as optional, but definitional

Called in Holiness

Paul doesn’t just say “be holy.”

He says:
God called you in holiness.

So holiness isn’t just the goal—
It’s the very path you were called into.
And grammatically, it shows:
Where the call came from
determines where it leads.