1 Thessalonians 5:12
in 1 Thessalonians 5But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who preside over you in the Lord and give you instruction.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
KJV
And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
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This verse in 1 Thessalonians 5
Commentary
12 notes on this verseKnow them - Act kindly towards them; acknowledge them as the messengers of Christ; and treat them with tenderness and respect. This is a frequent meaning of the word γινωσκω. See on Joh 1:10 (note). Them which labor among you - The words τους κοπιωντας have appeared to some as expressing those who had labored among them; but as it is the participle of the present tense, there is no need to consider it in this light. Both it and the word προΐσταμενους, the superintendents, refer to persons then actually employed in the work of God.
This site's exposition
we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge
on 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
The letter turns to church order: acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who preside over you in the Lord and give you instruction. In love, hold them in highest regard because of their work grounds the honor in the work.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Let us reverence the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was given for us; let us esteem those who have the rule over us; let us honour the aged among us; let us train up the young men in the fear of God; let us direct our wives to that which is good.
"But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them exceeding highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves." For Christ indeed has subjected them with so strict a necessity, that He says, "The Scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat. All things therefore whatsoever they bid you, these do and observe: but do not ye after their works." (Matt. xxiii. 2, 3) And since he had said, "build each other up," lest they should think that he raised them to the rank of teachers, he has added, See, however, that I gave leave to you also to edify one another, for it is not possible for a teacher to say everything. "Them that labor among you," he says, "and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you." And how, he says, is it not absurd? If a man stand up for thee before a man, thou doest anything, thou confessest thyself much indebted; but he stands up for thee before God, and thou dost not own the favor. And how does he stand up for me? thou sayest. Because he prays for thee, because he ministers to thee the spiritual gift that is by Baptism, he visits, he advises and admonishes thee, he comes at midnight if thou callest for him; he is nothing else than the constant subject of thy mouth, and he bears thy injurious speeches. What necessity had he? Has he done well or ill? Thou indeed hast a wife, and livest luxuriously, and choosest a life of commerce. But from this the Priest has hindered himself by his occupation; his life is no other than to be employed about the Church. "And to esteem them," he says, "exceeding highly in love for their work's sake; be at peace with them." Seest thou how well he is aware that unpleasant feelings arise? He does not merely say "love," but "very highly," as children love their fathers. […]
The Medieval Church3 voices
Since he said: "exhort one another," then, lest they conclude that he himself elevates them to the dignity of teachers, and lest they rise up against their teachers, he says: even if I have entrusted to you the edification of one another, I still urge …
A commentator
BonaventureDisputed Questions on Evangelical Perfection, Question 2 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
First Thessalonians 5: We beseech you that you acknowledge those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord; the Gloss says: "Just as riches beget negligence of salvation, so want, while it desires to be satisfied, turns aside from justice"; but what …
Those who are subject to bishops owe them, first, the acknowledgement of blessings; secondly, charity; and thirdly, peace. Respect those who labor among you, that is, acknowledge their work: "Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God" (Heb. 13:7). And I …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Sometimes the same person may both labour, that is, preach; be over, or govern; and admonish the flock by particular application to each: sometimes two or more different persons, according as God variously dispenses his gifts. But O, what a misery is it when a man undertakes this whole work without either gifts or graces for any part of it!
They are over the people in the Lord, to distinguish them from civil magistrates, and to denote also that they are but ministers under Christ, appointed by him, and must rule the people by Christ's laws, and not by laws of their own. This may also intimate the end of their office and all their labour; namely, the service and honour of the Lord.
And we beseech you, brethren,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Paul's practice seems to have been to ordain elders in every Church soon after its establishment (Ac 14:23). them which labour . . . are over . . . admonish you--not three classes of ministers, but one, as there is but one article common to the three in the Greek.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you - Who they were is not mentioned. It is evident, however, that the church was not left without appointed persons to minister to it when its founders should be away. We know that there were presbyters ordained over the church at Ephesus, and over the churches in Crete (Act 20:17; Titus i. 5), and that there were bishops and deacons at Philippi Php 1:1, and there is every reason to believe that similar officers would be appointed in every newly organized church, The word “know” seems to mean that they were not to make themselves strangers to them - to be cold and distant toward them - to be ignorant of their needs, or to be indifferent to them. While a people are not obtrusively to intermeddle with the business of a minister, anymore than they are with that of any other man, yet there are things in regard to him with which they should be acquainted. They should seek to be personally acquainted with him, and make him their confidant and counselor in their spiritual troubles. They should seek his friendship, and endeavor to maintain all proper contact with him. They should not regard him as a distant man, or as a stranger among them. They should so far understand his circumstances as to know what is requisite to make him comfortable, and should be on such terms that they may readily and cheerfully furnish what he needs. And they are to “know” or regard him as their spiritual teacher and ruler; not to be strangers to the place where he preaches the word of life, and not to listen to his admonitions and reproofs as those of a stranger, but as those of a pastor and friend. Which labour among you - There is no reason to suppose, as many have done, that the apostle here refers to different classes of ministers. He rather refers to different parts of the work which the same ministers perform. […]
The words behind it
17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ἐρωτῶμεν | erotomen | We implore | G2065 → | |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ὑμᾶς, | humas | you, | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἀδελφοί, | adelphoi | brothers, | G80 → | 343 times |
| εἰδέναι | eidenai | to know | ||
| τοὺς | tous | those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κοπιῶντας | kopiontas | toiling | G2872 → | |
| ἐν | en | among | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ὑμῖν | humin | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| προϊσταμένους | proistamenous | taking the lead | G4291 → | |
| ὑμῶν | humon | over you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| κυρίῳ | kurio | [the] Lord | G2962 → | 711 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| νουθετοῦντας | nouthetountas | admonishing | G3560 → | |
| ὑμᾶς | humas | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
ἘρωτῶμενWe implore
erotomenG2065 →
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ὑμᾶς,you,
humasG4771 →2973 times
ἀδελφοί,brothers,
adelphoiG80 →343 times
εἰδέναιto know
eidenai
τοὺςthose
tousG3588 →19766 times
κοπιῶνταςtoiling
kopiontasG2872 →
ἐνamong
enG1722 →2738 times
ὑμῖνyou
huminG4771 →2973 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
προϊσταμένουςtaking the lead
proistamenousG4291 →
ὑμῶνover you
humonG4771 →2973 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
κυρίῳ[the] Lord
kurioG2962 →711 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
νουθετοῦνταςadmonishing
nouthetountasG3560 →
ὑμᾶςyou
humasG4771 →2973 times
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
Hebrews 13:17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for…
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13
But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who preside over you in the Lord and give you instruction.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Timothy 5:17
Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
- Hebrews 13:7
Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
- 1 Peter 5:5
Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Acts 20:28
Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13
Through
Hebrews 13:7Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
it leads to
- Hebrews 13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Philippians 3:17
Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who walk according to the pattern we set for you.
- Hebrews 6:12
Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
- Hebrews 13:17
Where this verse is studied
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About 1 Thessalonians
This page draws on 12 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); Bonaventure, Disputed Questions on Evangelical Perfection, Question 2; Clement of Rome, Letter to the Corinthians (Clement); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary on 1 Thessalonians; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Thessalonians 10; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Thessalonians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Thessalonians.