Study 8 1 Thess. 5:12-28

Final Instructions

1 Thessalonians 5:12-

1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 ESV

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

Respect—hold in high regard, honor, acknowledge the high status of another

Those who labor among you—fellow believers who are active in the work of the church, labor of love

And are over you in the Lord—they hold a higher position, one in the service of the Lord to the body

Admonish—either teach on proper behavior but here it’s a rebuke for a wrong done, could also be to warn

Esteem them very highly in love because of their work—hold in high regard as if a governor or procurator.

The labor and work is hard tiring and wearisome

Be at peace among yourselves?? So who is he talking to and what is the issue? To the believers who don’t have high positions within the church.

Why? They were disrespecting the church leaders and not giving them the respect they are due. Paul says this is in the Lord, put in these positions by God Himself, they are over them in the Lord.

They are fellow laborers, their labor of love prove they are worthy of their position, no favoritism, no partiality, just worthy and deserving, so give them respect.

Does this apply across the board? Does it matter that they labor among them? Esteem them highly “because of their work”

1 Thessalonians 5:14-

1 Thessalonians 5:14–22 ESV

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

Lists

We urge you brothers, ask for earnestly, plead, encourage, do this

Admonish the idle—instruct on proper behavior and/or correct a wrong, what is wrong, they are idle, not working, not doing what they need to do for the kingdom. Possibly idle because they were waiting for Christs return

Encourage the fainthearted—encourage the timid, the sad and the fainthearted, those who feel inadequate

Help the weak—state of limited capacity, morally weak, weak in the faith, young

Be patient with them all—longsuffering, internal and external self-control, God is patient, not wanting any to perish, patience is also one of the parts listed in the fruit of the Spirit

See that no one repays anyone evil for evil—See to it, be the voice of reason, stand in the way, don’t allow, Jesus taught non-retaliation.

How do you overcome evil?

Always seek to do good—pursue, press forward, strive to always do good, what’s right and best in regard to another or everyone, without selfishness, Christian love and good

Rejoice always—be glad and/or delighted, joy in the lord displayed at all times, regardless of circumstances, or tribulation

Pray without ceasing—constantly, without stopping, at all times. This cannot be a verbatim formalized prayer, must be conversational, must take on a variety of forms, living dependently of God and in interaction with Him.

Give thanks in all circumstances, (for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you)—It is God’s will for us to give thanks to Him in all circumstances, both good and bad. How can we do this? How can we be thankful for crappy circumstances, for bad doctors visits or test results, for failures and devastating events? Not thankful for them, but in the midst of them. Who is God? Is He in control? Is He always working? Will this somehow work for the greater good? Has He already conquered our greatest problem?

Do not quench the Holy Spirit—How do we quench the Holy Spirit? What quenches the Holy Spirit? What puts out His fire? What restricts His work? Maybe part is what he says next.

Do not despise prophecies

Test everything

Hold fast to what is good

Abstain from every form of evil