1 Thessalonians 5:13

And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. VERY HIGHLY, [ huperekperissou (G5240a)] - 'exceeding abundantly.' FOR THEIR WORK'S SAKE - the high nature of it alone, the furtherance of your salvation and of the kingdom of Christ, should be a sufficient motive to claim your reverential love. At the same time the term teaches ministers that, while claiming the reverence due to their office, it is not a sinecure, but a "work" (cf. "labour" ) even to weariness [ kopiontas (G2872)] (1 Thessalonians 5:12). BE AT PEACE AMONG YOURSELVES - "and" is not in the original. Let there not only be peace between ministers and their flo...

13_With love. _Others render it _by love; _for Paul says _in love_, which, according to the Hebrew idiom, is equivalent to _by _or _with_. I prefer, however, to explain it thus — as meaning that he exhorts them not merely to respect them, (605) but also love them. For as the doctrine of the gospel is lovely, so it is befitting that the ministers of it should be loved. It were, however, rather stiff to speak of _having in esteem by love_, while the connecting together of love with honor suits well. _Be at peace_. While this passage has various readings, even among the Greeks, I approve rather of the rendering which has been given by the old translator, and is followed by Erasmus — _Pacem habete cum eis, vel colite _ — (_Have _or _cultivate peace with them_.) (606) For Paul, in my opinion, had in view to oppose the artifices o

12-15 The ministers of the gospel are described by the work of their office, which is to serve and honour the Lord. It is their duty not only to give good counsel, but also to warn the flock of dangers, and reprove for whatever may be amiss. The people should honour and love their ministers, because their business is the welfare of men's souls. And the people should be at peace among themselves, doing all they can to guard against any differences. But love of peace must not make us wink at sin. The fearful and sorrowful spirits, should be encouraged, and a kind word may do much good. We must bear and forbear. We must be long-suffering, and keep down anger, and this to all men. Whatever man do to us, we must do good to others....

Verse 13. _ESTEEM THEM VERY HIGHLY IN LOVE_] Christian ministers, who preach the _whole truth_, and _labour_ in the word and doctrine, are entitled to more than _respect_; the apostle commands them to be esteemed υπερεκπερισσου, _abundantly_, and _superabundantly_; and this is to be done _in love_; and as men delight to serve those whom they love, it necessarily follows that they should provide for them, and see that they want neither the _necessaries_ nor _conveniences_ of life; I do not say _comforts_, though these also should be furnished; but of these the genuine messengers of Christ are frequently destitute. However, they should have _food, raiment_, and _lodging_ for themselves and their household. This they ought to have _for their work's sake_; those who do not _work_ should not _eat_. As _ministers of Christ_, such as labour not are unworthy either of respect or support....

AND TO ESTEEM THEM VERY HIGHLY IN LOVE - To cherish for them an affectionate regard. The office of a minister of religion demands respect. They who are faithful in that office have a claim on the kind regards of their fellow-men. The very nature of the office requires them to do good to others, and there is no benefactor who should be treated with more affectionate regard than he who endeavors to save us from ruin; to impart to us the consolations of the gospel in affliction; and to bring us and our families to heaven. FOR THEIR WORK’S SAKE - Not primarily as a personal matter, or on their own account, but on account of the work in which they are engaged. It is a work whose only tendency, when rightly performed, is to do good. It injures no man, but contributes to the happiness of all. It promotes intelligence, industry, order, neatness, economy, temperance, chastity, charity, and kindne...

EXPOSITION CONTENTS.—With regard to the time of that glorious advent when believers, whether dead or living, will be gathered together to Christ, the Thessalonians had already been fully instructed. They knew well that the day of the Lord would come suddenly and unexpectedly, and surprise an ungodly world. But they were not in darkness so as to be taken by surprise. Still, however, they must exercise constant watchfulness and sobriety, and be armed with the Christian graces of faith, love, and hope, being comforted with the assurance that God had not appointed them to wrath, but to the acquisition of salvation through Jesus Christ, who died for their benefit, in order that, whether living or dead, they might share in the blessings of his advent. Now follows a series of short admonitions. The Thessalonians were to love and honor their ministers, to live in peace among themselves, to admo...

AND TO ESTEEM THEM VERY HIGHLY,.... Or, as the Ethiopic version renders it, "honour them abundantly"; for such are worthy of double honour, and to be had in reputation; they should be honourably thought of, and be high in the affections of the saints, who should esteem them better than themselves, or others in the community; and should be spoke well of, and their characters vindicated from the reproach and obloquy of others; and should be spoke respectfully to, and be honourably done by; should be provided for with an honourable maintenance, which is part of the double honour due to them in 1 Timothy 5:17 and this should be IN LOVE; not in fear, nor in hypocrisy and dissimulation; not in word and in tongue only, but from the heart and real affection: the Syriac version renders it, "that they be esteemed by you with more abundant love"; with an increasing love, or with

1 Thessalonians 5:1. _But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night._ It will be a great surprise to the wicked. It will take them at unawares. Just at that moment when they least expect it will Christ come; and as the thief comes to destroy and to kill, so will the coming of Christ be the death of their carnal ease the destruction of their earthly hopes. 1 Thessalonians 5:3. _For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape._ A terrible text that «They shall not escape.» They shall not escape by their own power or force

V. THE DAY OF THE LORD AND EXHORTATIONS CHAPTER 5 _ 1. The day of the Lord 1 Thessalonians 5:1)_ 2. Exhortations 1 Thessalonians 5:12) 3. Conclusions 1 Thessalonians 5:23) 1 Thessalonians 5:1 “But concerning the times and seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape.” The apostle next men

SUNDRY COUNSELS AND EXHORTATIONS. 1 Thessalonians 5:12. Christians are urged to respect their leaders. No officers and ministers are mentioned in this epistle, but this verse implies that the Church had leaders. The ministry at Thessalonica was a ministry of service. Those who laboured most were naturally regarded as being over the Church. They are entitled to esteem and love, not by reason of any official position but for their work's sake. 1 Thessalonians 5:14. admonish the disorderly: an insistence upon the maintenance of discipline. The disorderly are probably those who had abandoned their regular business under the excitement of the expected Parousia....