1 Thessalonians 5:12

Contextual Overview

¹¹Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing. ¹¹ That's why you must encourage and help each other, just as you are already doing. ¹¹ Therefore, encourage each other, and build each other up — just as you are doing. ¹¹ Wherefore encourage one another, and build up each one the other, even as also ye do. ¹¹ So encourage each other and help each other grow stronger in faith, just as you are already doing. ¹¹ Wherefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as also ye do. ¹¹ So then, go on comforting and building up one another, as you have been doing. ¹¹ Wherefore exhort one another, and edifie one another, euen as ye doe. ¹¹ Wherefore comfort one another and edify one another, even as also you do. ¹¹ Therefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as you also do.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

to know: 1 Corinthians 16:18, Philippians 2:19, Hebrews 13:7, Hebrews 13:17

labour: 1 Thessalonians 2:9, Matthew 9:37, Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:1, Luke 10:2, Luke 10:7, John 4:38, Acts 20:35, 1 Corinthians 3:9, 1 Corinthians 15:10, 1 Corinthians 16:16, 2 Corinthians 5:9, 2 Corinthians 6:1, 2 Corinthians 11:23, Galatians 4:11, Philippians 2:16, Colossians 1:29, 1 Timothy 5:17, 1 Timothy 5:18, 2 Timothy 2:6, Revelation 2:3

and are: Acts 20:28, 1 Corinthians 12:28, Titus 1:5, Hebrews 13:7, Hebrews 13:17, 1 Peter 5:2, 1 Peter 5:3, Revelation 1:20, Revelation 2:1, Revelation 2:8, Revelation 2:12, Revelation 2:18, Revelation 3:1, Revelation 3:7, Revelation 3:14

and admonish: 1 Thessalonians 5:14, 1 Timothy 5:1, 1 Timothy 5:20, Titus 1:3, Titus 2:15

Reciprocal: Numbers 31:47 - the Levites 2 Kings 4:13 - thou hast Proverbs 5:13 - General Romans 12:1 - beseech Romans 12:8 - ruleth Romans 14:19 - and Romans 16:12 - labour Philippians 2:29 - and Colossians 1:28 - warning Colossians 3:16 - teaching

Cross-References

Luke 3:37
the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan,

Luke 3:37
Methuselah, Enoch, Jared, Mahalaleel, Kenan,

Luke 3:37
of Metushelach, of Hanokh, of Yered, of Mahalal'el, of Keinan,

Luke 3:37
of Methusala, of Enoch, of Jared, of Maleleel, of Cainan,

Luke 3:37
Lamech was the son of Methuselah. Methuselah was the son of Enoch. Enoch was the son of Jared. Jared was the son of Mahalaleel. Mahalaleel was the son of Cainan.

Luke 3:37
the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,

Luke 3:37
The son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,

Luke 3:37
The sonne of Mathusala, the sonne of Enoch, the sonne of Iared, the sonne of Maleleel, the sonne of Cainan,

Luke 3:37
The son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan,

Luke 3:37
the son of Metushelach, the son of Hanokh, the son of Yered, the son of Mahalal'el, the son of Kenan,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And we beseech you, brethren,.... Not in a natural or civil, but spiritual relation; and what follows relating to the ministers of the word, the apostle addresses this church on their behalf, not in an imperious and authoritative manner, but by way of entreaty, with great humility and strong affection:

know them that labour among you; who were not non-residents, but were upon the spot with them; and where indeed should pastors be, but with their flocks? and husbandmen and vinedressers, but in their fields and vineyards? and stewards, but in the families where they are placed? and parents, but with their children? nor were they loiterers in the vineyard, or slothful servants, and idle shepherds, but labourers; who laboured in the word and doctrine; gave up themselves to meditation, reading, and prayer; laboured hard in private, to find out the meaning of the word of God; and studied to show themselves workmen, that need not be ashamed; and preached the word in season and out of season; faithfully dispensed all ordinances, and diligently performed the duties of their office; and were willing to spend and be spent, for the glory of Christ, and the good of souls, and earnestly contended for the faith of the Gospel; and all this they did, as among them, so for them, for their spiritual good and welfare: some render the words, "in you"; they laboured in teaching, instructing, and admonishing them; they laboured to enlighten their understandings, to inform their judgments, to raise their affections, and to bring their wills to a resignation to the will of God; to refresh their memories with Gospel truths; to strengthen their faith, encourage their hope, and draw out their love to God and Christ, and the brethren: and what the apostle directs them to, as their duty towards these persons, is to "know" them; that is, not to learn their names, and know their persons, who they were; for they could not but know them in this sense, since they dwelt and laboured among them, and were continually employed in instructing them; but that they would make themselves known to them, and converse freely and familiarly with them, that so they might know the state of their souls, and be better able to speak a word in season to them; and that they would take notice of them, show respect to them, and an affection for them; acknowledge them as their pastors, and account of them as stewards of the mysteries of God, and own them as ministers of Christ; and reckon them as blessings to them, and acknowledge the same with thankfulness; and obey them, and submit unto them in the ministry of the word and ordinances, and to their counsel and advice, so far as is agreeable to the word of God: the Arabic version renders it, "that ye may know the dignity of them that labour among you"; and so conduct and behave towards them accordingly:

and are over you in the Lord; are set in the highest place in the church, and bear the highest office there; have the presidency and government in it, and go before the saints, and guide and direct them in matters both of doctrine and practice, being ensamples to the flock; the Syriac version renders it, "and stand before you"; ministering unto you in holy things, being servants to you for Jesus' sake: and this "in the Lord"; or by the Lord; for they did not take this honour to themselves, nor were they appointed by men, but they were made able ministers of the word by God; received their gifts qualifying them for this work from Christ, and were placed as overseers of the church by the Holy Ghost: and it was only in things pertaining to the Lord that they were over them; not in things civil, which distinguishes them from civil magistrates; nor in things secular and worldly, they had nothing to do in their families, to preside there, or with their worldly concerns, only in the church of Christ, and in things pertaining to their spiritual welfare; and though they were over them, yet under Christ, and in subjection to him, as their Lord and King; governing not in an arbitrary and tyrannical way, lording it over God's heritage, usurping a dominion over the faith of men, coining new doctrines, and making new laws; but according to the word of God, and laws of Christ, in the fear of the Lord, and with a view to the glory of God, and in love to souls: hence the Arabic version renders it, in the love of the Lord; the phrase, "in the Lord", is omitted in the Syriac version:

and admonish you; or instruct you, put into your minds good and wholesome things, and put you in mind of the doctrines of the Gospel, of the duties of religion, of former experiences; and give warning of sin and danger, and reprove and rebuke with faithfulness; and as the case requires, either in public or private, and with sharpness or tenderness.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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 (Acts 20:17; Titus i. 5), and that there were bishops and deacons at Philippi Philippians 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 first is, that they “labor” - that is, evidently, in preaching the gospel. For the use of the word, see John 4:38, where it occurs twice; 1Co 15:10; 1 Corinthians 16:16. The word is one which properly expresses wearisome toil, and implies that the office of preaching is one that demands constant industry.

And are over you in the Lord - That is, by the appointment of the Lord, or under his direction. They are not absolute sovereigns, but are themselves subject to one who is over them - the Lord Jesus. On the word here rendered “are over you” (προΐσταμένους proistamenous) see the notes on Romans 12:8, where it is translated “ruleth.”

And admonish you - The word here used (νουθετέω noutheteō) is rendered “admonish,” and “admonished,” in Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16; 1Th 5:12; 2 Thessalonians 3:15; and warn, and warning, 1 Corinthians 4:14; Col 1:28; 1 Thessalonians 5:14. It does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. It means, to put in mind; and then to warn, entreat, exhort. It is a part of the duty of a minister to put his people in mind of the truth; to warn them of danger; to exhort them to perform their duty; to admonish them if they go astray.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 12. Know 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. John 1:10.

Them which labour among you — The words τους κοπιωντας have appeared to some as expressing those who had laboured 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 προισταμενους, the superintendents, refer to persons then actually employed in the work of God. These were all admonishers, teachers, and instructers of the people, devoting their time and talents to this important work.