1 Thessalonians 4:10
in 1 Thessalonians 4And you are indeed showing this love to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to excel more and more
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
for indeed ye do it toward all the brethren that are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brethren, that ye abound more and more;
KJV
And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
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This verse in 1 Thessalonians 4
Commentary
10 notes on this verseAnd indeed ye do it towards all the brethren,.... Whether high or low, rich or poor, bond or free, greater or lesser believers, and whether related in the bonds of nature or not; they exercised this grace of love without respect of persons, to all, and not only to all the brethren in the particular community at Thessalonica, but which are in all Macedonia; throughout the whole country, particularly at Philippi and Berea, and other places: but we beseech you, brethren.
This site's exposition
Now about brotherly love
on 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10
On brotherly love Paul declines to teach, because you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, theodidaktoi, a coined word. The promise of Jeremiah 31:34 stands behind the coinage, the new covenant's inward teaching seen in a young church.
This site's exposition
showing this love to all the brothers
Their love already reached the churches of the whole province. John Gill stresses that it went to all of them, rich and poor, near and far. Matthew Henry notes that no one this side of heaven loves perfectly, so even the best must grow.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"But concerning love of the brethren we have no need to write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another; for indeed ye do it toward all the brethren, and those which are in all Macedonia." Why then having discoursed with them earnestly concerning chastity, and being about to discourse about the duty of working, and about the not sorrowing for the departed, does he introduce that which was the principal of all good things, love, as if he were passing it over, saying, "We have no need to write to you"? This also is from his great wisdom, and belongs to spiritual instruction. For here he shows two things. First, that the thing is so necessary, as not to require instruction. For things that are very important are manifest to all. And secondly, by saying this he makes them more ashamed than if he had admonished them. For he who thinks that they have behaved aright, and therefore does not admonish them, even if they had not behaved aright, would the sooner lead them to it. And observe, he does not speak of love towards all, but of that towards the brethren. "We have no need to write unto you." He ought then to have been silent, and to say nothing, if there was no need. But now by saying there is no need, he has done a greater thing, than if he had said it. "For ye yourselves are taught of God." And see with how high a praise he has made God their Teacher in this matter. Ye need not, he says, to learn from man. Which also the prophet says, "and they shall all be taught of God." (Isa. liv. 13) "For ye yourselves," he says, "are taught of God to love one another. For indeed ye do it toward all the brethren, and those which are in all Macedonia"; and toward all the others, he means. These words are very encouraging to make them do so. And I do not merely say, that ye are taught of God, but I know it from the things which you do. […]
The Medieval Church2 voices
When Paul says: but we exhort you, brethren, to do so more and more, he is urging them to make progress in charity. He seemingly insists that since you have charity towards all men, we urge you to make progress in it. And though others …
You are taught by God not simply in word, but: I know this from your deeds. He mentioned Macedonia because Thessalonica is the chief city of Macedonia.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Though these Thessalonians had in some sense no need of an exhortation to brotherly love, as if it were wholly wanting, yet they must be exhorted to pray for more, and labour for more. There are none on this side heaven who love in perfection. Those who are eminent in this or any other grace have need of increase therein as well as of perseverance unto the end.
And a true Christian's is so to all the saints, though distant from him in place, and differing from him in some opinions or practices of less moment. The exhortation itself is to increase more and more in this great grace and duty of brotherly love,
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Ye do it toward all the brethren - Ye not only love one another at Thessalonica, but ye love all the brethren in Macedonia; ye consider them all as children of the same Father; and that all the Churches which are in Christ make one great and glorious body, of which he is the head.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And indeed ye do it - See the notes on 1Th 1:7. But we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more - See the notes at 1Th 3:12. Here, as elsewhere, the apostle makes the fact that they deserved commendation for what they had done, a stimulus to arouse them to still higher attainments. Bloomfield.
The words behind it
19 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ποιεῖτε | poieite | you are doing | G4160 → | 569 times |
| αὐτὸ | auto | this | G846 → | 5565 times |
| εἰς | eis | toward | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| πάντας | pantas | all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀδελφοὺς | adelphous | brothers | G80 → | 343 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the [ones] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ὅλῃ | hole | all | G3650 → | |
| τῇ | tea | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Μακεδονίᾳ.¶ | makedonia | Macedonia. | G3109 → | 22 times |
| Παρακαλοῦμεν | parakaloumen | We exhort | G3870 → | 108 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ὑμᾶς, | humas | you, | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἀδελφοί, | adelphoi | brothers, | G80 → | 343 times |
| περισσεύειν | perisseuein | to abound | G4052 → | 39 times |
| μᾶλλον | mallon | more and more | G3123 → |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ποιεῖτεyou are doing
poieiteG4160 →569 times
αὐτὸthis
autoG846 →5565 times
εἰςtoward
eisG1519 →1755 times
πάνταςall
pantasG3956 →1235 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
ἀδελφοὺςbrothers
adelphousG80 →343 times
τοὺςthe [ones]
tousG3588 →19766 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ὅλῃall
holeG3650 →
τῇ<the>
teaG3588 →19766 times
Μακεδονίᾳ.¶Macedonia.
makedoniaG3109 →22 times
ΠαρακαλοῦμενWe exhort
parakaloumenG3870 →108 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ὑμᾶς,you,
humasG4771 →2973 times
ἀδελφοί,brothers,
adelphoiG80 →343 times
περισσεύεινto abound
perisseueinG4052 →39 times
μᾶλλονmore and more
mallonG3123 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Philippians 1:9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 3:12
And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows,
- Colossians 1:9
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and…
- 2 Peter 1:5–6
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;
- Philemon 1:6
I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ.
- Colossians 3:10
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:12
Through
1 Thessalonians 3:12And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows,
it leads to
- Philippians 1:9
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Philippians 1:9
Through
1 Thessalonians 1:7As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
it leads to
- Titus 2:7
In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
- Titus 2:7
Through
2 Thessalonians 1:3We are obligated to thank God for you all the time, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith is growing more and more, and your love for one another is increasing.
it leads to
- 2 Peter 3:18
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
- 2 Peter 3:18
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies13
About 1 Thessalonians
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); J. B. Lightfoot, Notes on the Epistles of St Paul; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Thessalonians 6; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Thessalonians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Thessalonians.