1 Thessalonians 5:25-Paul, Silvanus and Timothy Request the Thessalonians Intercede in Prayer for Them

1 Thessalonians 5:25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us too. (NET)

1 Thessalonians 5:25 Brothers and sisters, likewise each and every one of you please continue to make it your habit of occupying yourselves with praying on behalf of each and every one of us. (My translation)

In 1 Thessalonians 5:25, Paul, Silvanus and Timothy solemnly request that each member of the Thessalonian Christian community continue to make it their habit of occupying themselves with praying on behalf of each one of them.

It is solemn because it is extremely important to these three men that the Thessalonians continue to intercede in prayer to the Father for them.

This request is also an impassioned plea or request from these three men.

This is indicated by the fact that in this verse, the noun adelphos, “brothers and sisters” is functioning as a vocative of emphatic emotional address.

This noun adelphos describes each member of the Thessalonian Christian community as being spiritual brothers and sisters since they have all been declared justified by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone and thus regenerated by the Spirit.

It denotes that Paul, Silvanus, Timothy and the recipients of First Thessalonians are related to each other and the Lord Jesus Christ through regeneration.

Therefore, this term emphasizes the equality of those sinners declared justified through faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior (cf. Gal. 3:26-28; Col. 3:11).

Paul, Silvanus and Timothy’s request here in 1 Thessalonians 5:25 corresponds to Paul, Silvanus and Timothy’s intercessory prayer request to the Father on behalf of each member of the Thessalonian Christian community in 1 Thessalonians 5:23.

This is indicated by the conjunction kai which is marking the correspondence between Paul, Silvanus and Timothy’s intercessory prayer request to the Father on behalf of the Thessalonians in verse 23 and the Thessalonians interceding in prayer to the Father on behalf of Paul, Silvanus and Timothy here in verse 25.

This word is expressing the idea of reciprocation, which is an expression of the love of God in the life of the believer.

Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary defines the noun reciprocation, “a mutual exchange, a return in kind or of like value; alternating motion.”

They define the verb reciprocate, “to give and take mutually; to return in kind or degree, compliment gracefully; to make a return for something.”

If we paraphrase these definitions and apply them to these two intercessory prayer requests in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 and 25, we could say that these two prayer requests would express a mutual exchange, a give and take between Paul, Silvanus and Timothy and each member of the Thessalonian Christian community.

G. L. Green writes “Reciprocity was a fundamental element in the relationship between the apostle and the church, being expressed principally in prayer (Rom. 15:30–32; 2 Cor. 1:11; Eph. 6:19–20; Phil. 1:19; Col. 4:3–4, 18; 2 Thess. 3:1–2; and Phlm. 22), although it was not limited to this act of devotion (Rom. 1:11–12; 1 Thess. 3:8–9). The author does not explain why prayer was requested, but possibly he desired prayer for the mission, including the return visit to Thessalonica, and for security in the face of so much persecution (1 Thess. 2:16; 3:7, 10–11; 2 Thess. 3:1–2; and cf. Rom. 15:30–32; Eph. 6:19–20; Col. 4:3–4). The prayers Paul and his associates offered for them served as a model that they were to imitate (1:2–3; 3:9–13).”[1]

Now, the present imperative conjugation of this verb proseuchomai is expressing the idea that each member of the Thessalonian Christian community must continue to make it their habit of interceding in prayer to the Father on behalf of Paul, Silvanus and Timothy.

It implies that the Thessalonians were already doing so and were thus to continue to do so.

This interpretation is indicated by several factors.

First, Paul affirms in this epistle that the individual members of the Thessalonian Christian were making it their habit of practicing the love of God when interacting with each other and for all believers throughout the Roman Empire (cf. 1 Thess. 1:3; 4:9-12).

This clearly implies that they were interceding in prayer for each other and all Christians since this would be a manifestation of the love of God in their lives (cf. 1 Cor. 13:4; Eph. 4:2; Col. 1:11; 3:12) which is a manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit (cf. Gal. 5:22-23).

Secondly, in 1 Thessalonians 3:6, Paul mentions that Timothy came back from visiting the Thessalonians and reported that latter greatly desired to see Paul and Silvanus.

Therefore, the fact that the Thessalonians were practicing the love of God in relation to all believers and greatly desired to see Paul and Silvanus, who were believers, it can be inferred that the Thessalonians were interceding in prayer for these two men.

So therefore, the customary present imperative conjugation of this verb proseuchomai here in 1 Thessalonians 5:25 is expressing the idea of the Thessalonians persevering in prayer on behalf of Paul, Silvanus and Timothy.

One of the characteristics of an effective prayer life is perseverance (Matt. 26:39-44; Luke 11:9-10; 18:1-8; 21:36; Rom. 12:12; 15:30; Acts 1:14; 6:4; 12:5; Eph. 6:18; 1 Thess. 5:17; 1 Tim. 5:5; 2 Tim. 1:3; Col. 1:9; 4:2, 12; Heb. 10:22).

Perseverance is being steadfast and faithful in applying the Word of God despite the many obstacles and cares of life in the cosmic system of Satan.

It is being steadfast in picking up one’s cross daily and being willing to experience identification with Christ in His death and resurrection.

The believer must have this characteristic in his life, which is produced by God the Holy Spirit in order to overcome the various difficulties and obstacles in life.

This is why the Christian way of life is characterized as a race to be run (1 Co. 9:24; He. 12:1; 2 Ti. 4:7).

It is also described in Scripture as a struggle or athletic contest to be fought (1 Th. 2:2; 1 Ti. 4:9; 6:12; 2 Ti. 2:5; He. 10:32).

Now, as we noted, Paul, Silvanus and Timothy are requesting that the Thessalonian Christian community continue to make it their habit of interceding in prayer for them.

Another essential element to a productive prayer life is that of intercession, which means to pray for both the temporal and spiritual needs of believers and unbelievers, friends and enemies (Luke 23:34; Eph 1:16-23; 3:14-19; 6:18; 1 Ti 2:1-4).

Intercessory prayer refers to praying for both the temporal and spiritual needs of believers and unbelievers, friends and enemies (Luke 23:34; Eph 1:16-23; 3:14-19; 6:18; 1 Ti 2:1-4).

It is an expression of the love of God in our lives and, therefore, directly relates to what the Scriptures teach on love.

Paul, Silvanus and Timothy’s request here in 1 Thessalonians 5:25 that each member of the Thessalonian Christian community intercede in prayer to the Father on behalf of them was not only to be fulfilled on an individual basis but also on a corporate basis.

In other words, they wanted the Thessalonians to pray for them when they were going to the Father in prayer as individuals, but they also wanted them to do this when they prayed together as a corporate unit.

[1] Green, G. L. (2002). The letters to the Thessalonians (p. 270). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos.