and to respect and honor them in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
Parallel Translations
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and to respect and honor them in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
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that ye have them the more in love for their workes sake and be at peace with them.
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That yee haue them in singular loue for their workes sake. Bee at peace among your selues.
Cross-references (20)
Passages linked to 1 Thessalonians 5:13 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Mark 9:50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
- Hebrews 12:14 Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord,
- John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
- 1 Corinthians 9:7-11 What soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and doesn’t eat of its fruit? Or who feeds a flock, and doesn’t drink from the flock’s milk? Do I speak these things according to the ways of men? Or doesn’t the law also say the same thing? For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it for the oxen that God cares, or does he say it assuredly for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake, because he who plows ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should partake of his hope. If we sowed to you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your fleshly things?
- Galatians 6:6 But let him who is taught in the word share all good things with him who teaches.
- James 3:18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
- Psalms 133:1 See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity!
- 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants, and stewards of God’s mysteries. Here, moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
- Ephesians 4:3 being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
- Genesis 45:24 So he sent his brothers away, and they departed. He said to them, “See that you don’t quarrel on the way.”
- Luke 7:3-5 When he heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and save his servant. When they came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he built our synagogue for us.”
- Romans 4:17-19 As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were. Besides hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your offspring be.” Without being weakened in faith, he didn’t consider his own body, already having been worn out, (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.
- Galatians 4:14 That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn’t despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
- Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,
- Matthew 10:40 He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me.
- John 15:17 “I command these things to you, that you may love one another.
- 2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brothers, rejoice! Be perfected. Be comforted. Be of the same mind. Live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.
- Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all.
- 2 Timothy 2:22 Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (15 sources)
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John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain 13 With love. Others render it by love; for…
13 With love. Others render it by love; for Paul says in love, which, according to the Hebrew idiom, is equivalent to by or with. I prefer, however, to explain it thus — as meaning that he exhorts them not merely to respect them, but also love them. For as the doctrine of the gospel is lovely, so it is befitting that the ministers of it should be loved. It were, however, rather stiff to speak of having in esteem by love, while the connecting together of love with honor suits well.
Be at peace. While this passage has various readings, even among the Greeks, I approve rather of the rendering which has been given by the old translator, and is followed by Erasmus — Pacem habete cum eis, vel colite — (Have or cultivate peace with them.) For Paul, in my opinion, had in view to oppose the artifices of Satan, who ceases not to use every endeavor to stir up either quarrels, or disagreements, or enmities, between people and pastor. Hence we see daily how pastors are hated by their Churches for some trivial reason, or for no reason whatever, because this desire for the cultivation of peace, which Paul recommends so strongly, is not exercised as it ought.
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain This maintenance of mutual concord, is especially to be…
This maintenance of mutual concord, is especially to be looked unto.
So then, where this cause ceaseth, there must the honor cease.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 13 And to esteem them very highly in love…
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
Ver. 13. Very highly] Gr. υπερ εκ περισσου, more than exceeding. {a} Turks and Papists shall else condemn us, who honour every hedge priest of theirs, and have them in singular esteem, above their merits. The Grecians gave great respect to their philosophers above their orators, because these taught them how to speak, but those how to live well.
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For their work’s sake] Which is high and honourable, divine and heavenly, a worthy work, 1Ti 3:1. Such as both in the preparation to it and execution of it draweth them to God, keepeth them with God, and to be ever mindful of God, and no less active for God, Eph 4:12, by gathering together the saints and building up the body of Christ.
And be at peace among yourselves] So shall your pastor have the better life, and follow his work with more content and comfort.
{a} Apud Groecos maiori in honore habebantur philosophi quam oratores. Illi enim recte vivendi, &c. Lactantius.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain And to esteem them very highly,.... Or, as the…
And to esteem them very highly,.... Or, as the Ethiopic version renders it, "honour them abundantly"; for such are worthy of double honour, and to be had in reputation; they should be honourably thought of, and be high in the affections of the saints, who should esteem them better than themselves, or others in the community; and should be spoke well of, and their characters vindicated from the reproach and obloquy of others; and should be spoke respectfully to, and be honourably done by; should be provided for with an honourable maintenance, which is part of the double honour due to them in Ti1 5:17 and this should be
in love; not in fear, nor in hypocrisy and dissimulation; not in word and in tongue only, but from the heart and real affection: the Syriac version renders it, "that they be esteemed by you with more abundant love"; with an increasing love, or with greater love than is shown to the brethren in common, or to private members: and that for their works' sake; for the sake of the work of the ministry, which is a good work as well as honourable; is beneficial to the souls of men, and is for the glory of God, being diligently and faithfully performed by them; on which account they are to be valued, and not for an empty title without labour.
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And be at peace among yourselves. The Vulgate Latin version reads, "with them"; and so the Syriac version, connecting the former clause with this, "for their works' sake have peace with them"; that is, with the ministers of the word; do not disagree with them upon every trivial occasion, or make them offenders for a word; keep up a good understanding, and cultivate love and friendship with them; "embrace them with brotherly love", as the Ethiopic version renders the words, understanding them also as relating to ministers; a difference with them is of bad consequence, and must render their ministry greatly useless and unprofitable to those who differ with them, as well as render them very uncomfortable and unfit for it. The Arabic version renders it, "in yourselves"; as referring to internal peace in their own souls, which they should be concerned for; and which only is attained to, enjoyed, and preserved, by looking to the blood, righteousness, and sacrifice of Christ: or else it may regard peace among themselves, and with one another as brethren, and as members of the same church; which as it is for their credit and reputation without doors, and for their comfort, delight, and pleasure within, in their church state and fellowship, so it tends to make the ministers of the Gospel more easy and comfortable in their work: thus the words, considered in this sense, have still a relation to them.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain Esteem them very highly - Literally, more than abundantly,…
Esteem them very highly - Literally, more than abundantly, in love - The inexpressible sympathy that is between true pastors and their flock is intimated, not only here, but also in divers other places of this epistle. See
chap. ii, 7, 8. For their work's sake - The principal ground of their vast regard for them. But how are we to esteem them who do not work at all?
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 13. Esteem them very highly in love] Christian…
Verse 13. Esteem them very highly in love] Christian ministers, who preach the whole truth, and labour in the word and doctrine, are entitled to more than respect; the apostle commands them to be esteemed υπερεκπερισσου, abundantly, and superabundantly; and this is to be done in love; and as men delight to serve those whom they love, it necessarily follows that they should provide for them, and see that they want neither the necessaries nor conveniences of life; I do not say comforts, though these also should be furnished; but of these the genuine messengers of Christ are frequently destitute. However, they should have food, raiment, and lodging for themselves and their household. This they ought to have for their work's sake; those who do not work should not eat. As ministers of Christ, such as labour not are unworthy either of respect or support.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain And to esteem them very highly in love -…
And to esteem them very highly in love - To cherish for them an affectionate regard. The office of a minister of religion demands respect. They who are faithful in that office have a claim on the kind regards of their fellow-men. The very nature of the office requires them to do good to others, and there is no benefactor who should be treated with more affectionate regard than he who endeavors to save us from ruin; to impart to us the consolations of the gospel in affliction; and to bring us and our families to heaven.
For their work’s sake - Not primarily as a personal matter, or on their own account, but on account of the work in which they are engaged. It is a work whose only tendency, when rightly performed, is to do good. It injures no man, but contributes to the happiness of all. It promotes intelligence, industry, order, neatness, economy, temperance, chastity, charity, and kindness in this world, and leads to eternal blessedness in the world to come. A man who sincerely devotes himself to such a work has a claim on the kind regards of his fellow-men.
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And be at peace among yourselves - See the Mar 9:50 note; Rom 12:18; Rom 14:19 notes.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain very highly--Greek, "exceeding abundantly."
very highly--Greek, "exceeding abundantly."
for their work's sake--The high nature of their work alone, the furtherance of your salvation and of the kingdom of Christ, should be a sufficient motive to claim your reverential love. At the same time, the word "work," teaches ministers that, while claiming the reverence due to their office, it is not a sinecure, but a "work"; compare "labor" (even to weariness: so the Greek), Th1 5:12.
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be at peace among yourselves--The "and" is not in the original. Let there not only be peace between ministers and their flocks, but also no party rivalries among yourselves, one contending in behalf of some one favorite minister, another in behalf of another (Mar 9:50; Co1 1:12; Co1 4:6).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 13. Esteem… in love—There should be an official esteem…
13. Esteem… in love—There should be an official esteem for them, but that esteem should be grounded in Christian love. Love should lie as the basis of the whole structure of their Christian republic.
For their work’s sake—They have not, like magistrates, a power of physical compulsion to secure respect; but in Christian love and duty they have a deeper claim. For the sake of the work they perform, as necessary and beneficial to the cause of Christ, you are bound to cultivate a voluntary esteem for them.
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At peace among yourselves—Which can be attained only by cultivating this harmony with your rulers.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 13. and to esteem them very highly in love…
13. and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake] exceeding highly (R. V.)—the same Greek adverb as in ch. 1Th_3:10, the strongest Intensive possible to the language. So deep and warm should be the affection uniting pastors and their flocks. Their appreciation is not to be a cold esteem; it has mutual “love” for its pervading element, a grace in which the Thessalonians were already “taught of God” (ch. 1Th_4:9). Their “work,” described in 1Th_5:12, is the reason for this devoted esteem. In work this Church excelled (ch. 1Th_1:3); and this it knew how to appreciate.
And be at peace among yourselves] And is wanting in the Greek. But this appeal is closely connected with the last. Looking, moreover, at the exhortation to “admonish the unruly” that follows, and at the command “study to be quiet” of ch. 1Th_4:11, and the measures prescribed against the idle and disorderly in 2Th_3:6-15, we can read between the lines sufficiently to see that the tendencies adverse to peace in this community were interfering with its discipline, and set the Church authorities at variance with a certain section of its membership.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (13) Very highly in love.—The original here is difficult;…
(13) Very highly in love.—The original here is difficult; but it seems best, with most good commentators, ancient and modern, to construe “in love” with “esteem,” and to make “very highly” (a very enthusiastic word in the Greek) an expletive attached to “in love,” implying “hold in a most extraordinary degree of love.” The bond which binds the Christian community to their directors is not to be one of “recognition” and obedience only (1Th_5:12), but of holy affection above all.
For their work’s sake.—Our love is to be paid them not for any social or intellectual qualities they may have in themselves; it is the work which they have to do that should attract our sympathy. The original seems to mean that we are to love them, not only because they do such work, but also ‘for the sake of their work,” i.e., to help it forward.
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Be at peace among yourselves.—Discipline to be observed towards equals, as well as superiors.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain And to esteem them very highly in love for…
And to esteem them very highly in love for their work"s sake; that is, both on account of their labors, and especially on account of the dignity of their office, for their work is the work of the Lord. Both love for their persons and respect for their authority are here enjoined. And; to be omitted, as not in the original. Be at peace among yourselves. A new exhortation, entirely independent of the preceding; it is not addressed to the presbyters, but to the members of the Church in general.
Inculcation of mutual peace.
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be at peace among yourselves." This is connected with the previous verse, for a faithful pastorate tends to unity and peace.
I THIS PEACE DEPENDS UPON OUR DIVINE CALLING. For it is the "peace unto which we are called". (Col_3:15)
II IT IS ESSENTIAL TO GROWTH AND BLESSING. (Psa_133:1; Jam_3:18)
III IT IS ONE OF THE BLESSINGS ALWAYS TO BE PRAYED (Psa_122:6-8)
IV IT IS ONE OF THE BEATITUDES WITH A PROMISE. (Mat_5:9)
V IT IS ONE OF THE FAIREST GROWTH OF THE SPIRIT. (Gal_5:22) T.C.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 13. Esteem them. This esteem is due them on…
13. Esteem them. This esteem is due them on account of their work. Compare Heb. 13:17, and Phil. 1:22. Be at peace. Let there be no factious spirit.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.
J. W. McGarvey 1914 · Public Domain and to esteem them exceeding highly in love for…
and to esteem them exceeding highly in love for their work's sake . [Paul here admonishes the church as to how it shall treat its elders. He bids the church recognize their leadership, respect them, and hold them in affection because of the blessed and divine work which they were discharging, the work being that enjoined by the third term of the great commission; viz.: admonishing or teaching the church to observe all things whatsoever Jesus commanded ( Mat_28:20 ). Such teaching is an essential duty of an elder ( 1Ti_3:2 ; 2Ti_2:24 ; Tit_1:9 ). This section is closely connected with the last verse of the preceding one, the instruction of the elders being the chief means of effecting the edification there mentioned.] Be at peace among yourselves. [ Mar_9:50 . Contempt for the instruction and authority of the elders is the first step toward that strife and faction which is here reproved.]
J. W. McGarvey (with Philip Y. Pendleton), Commentaries on the New Testament (The Fourfold Gospel, 1914; Acts; and the epistles) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 5:13 Leaders were to receive honor and love not…
5:13 Leaders were to receive honor and love not because of their high position but because of their work. • live peacefully: Teaching about community peace and harmony was a standard topic in ancient moral instruction. Harmony between believers and leaders was especially important because of the persecution the church suffered (2:14).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.