12 But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 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 [24] commanded (Matt. 28:20). Such teaching is an essential duty of an elder (1 Tim. 3:2; 2 Tim. 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. [Mark 9:50. Contempt for the instruction and authority of the elders is the first step toward that strife and faction which is here reproved.] 14 And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all. [The word "disorderly" describes the soldier who does not remain in the ranks; it is the following out of the military figure introduced at verse 8. The whole is an admonition against a too strictly disciplinarian spirit. The disorderly are not to be too hastily considered apostates, nor are the fainthearted to be regarded as cowards, nor the weak called backsliders, nor are any to be hastily cast out; but the church, being slow to condemn, is to bear with offenders, and seek to reclaim them.] 15 See that none render unto any one evil for evil [Christians are repeatedly bidden to return good for evil (Matt. 5:38-48; Rom. 12:19-21; 1 Pet. 2:18-25). "See that" puts the Thessalonians on notice that the practice of retaliation or revenge was apt to creep in unawares, and so it was, for persecution wakens revenge as fire kindles fire, thus making two wrongs out of one]; but always follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all. ["Make," says the Cambridge Bible, "the good of your fellow-men your constant pursuit, and let no injury or unworthiness on their part turn you aside from it. Revenge must be cherished neither toward those within nor those without the church, but good must be rendered to all--Gal. 6:10.] 16 Rejoice always [A short time previous to Paul's letter the Thessalonian Christians had all been pagans, and as such, under similar conditions of distress and persecutions, would have been apt to seek escape from their troubles by suicide; but now they are bidden to make their sufferings for Christ a source of new joy, as Jesus [25] had commanded (Matt. 5:10-12), and as Paul, who practiced this teaching, had so often enjoined (Rom. 5:3-5; 2 Cor. 12:10). Confidence in the good providence of God made such joy possible--Rom. 8:28]; 17 pray without ceasing [This not only means to observe habitual seasons of prayer, and to cultivate a disposition to pray, but to be ever in a prayerful spirit, to have constantly a subconsciousness of the presence of God. Compare 1:9; 12:12; Eph. 6:18; Col. 4:2]; 18 in everything give thanks [not for peace and prosperity only, but also for affliction and persecution (Acts 5:41), and as did Paul and Silas at Philippi--Acts 16:25]: for this [the discharge of the three duties just named] is the will [desire] of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward. 19 Quench not the Spirit [as fire may be smothered out by overwhelming it with noncombustible matter, so the Spirit of God in the breast of a man may be quenched by overloading the life with worldly cares]; 20 despise not prophesyings [Prophesyings were instructions given through inspired men, and included moral and spiritual precepts as well as predictions as to the future. Such instructors stood next in rank to the apostles (1 Cor. 12:28). Compare also Eph. 2:20; 1 Cor. 14:1-5, 39. They were neither to neglect to hear nor refuse to obey prophecy]; 21 prove all things; hold fast that which is good [Sift the bad from the good (1 John 4:1-13), and cherish the good. To this corresponds the "unwritten saying" attributed to Jesus, "Show yourselves approved money-changers;" i. e., distinguish between the true coin and the counterfeit. Surely such advice has always been pertinent, when false teaching of every kind abounds]; 22 abstain from every form of evil. [These words close the sentence; the full thought is this: despise no prophecy, but prove it; if it is good, hold fast to it, but abstain from every form of evil teaching or practice.] 23 And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. [May God, who makes peace between himself and mankind, himself prepare [26] you for his judgment-day, making your entire being, in all its threefold nature, fit to be preserved, and wholly above all censure.] 24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it. [If God were not thus faithful to sanctify and preserve blameless, it would be useless for him to call us; for it is certain that left to ourselves we can not keep ourselves from sin and evil-doing. This faithfulness is elsewhere noted (1 Cor. 1:8, 9; 10:13; 2 Thess. 3:3; 1 John 1:9); and is the basis of the glorious and sublime confidence expressed at Rom. 8:31-39.] 25 Brethren, pray for us. [It was Paul's habit to ask for the prayers of those to whom he wrote (Rom. 15:30; 2 Cor. 1:11; Eph. 6:19; Col. 4:3; 2 Thess. 3:1). Compare Heb. 13:18. 26 Salute all the brethren with a holy kiss. [In the East, a kiss was and still is a common salutation among kindred and near friends. Paul did not, by this command, create a church ordinance or ceremony; nor did he even create a new custom. He merely injected a spiritual virtue into an old-established, time-honored custom. This custom never prevailed among the nations of the West, and we feel that we obey Paul when we shake hands with holiness; i. e., with cordial sincerity and honest good-will. The Bible was not written as a work on etiquette, nor was it intended in this case that the Syrian and Grecian custom should become universal.] 27 I adjure you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the brethren. [The importance of the Epistle is shown by the solemnity of the adjuration. The command in this, the first of the Epistles, is fittingly echoed in the last written of the New Testament books. See Rev. 1:3. They suggest that the New Testament writings were to be read in the churches, and by all the people, just as the Old Testament was read in the synagogues. "What Paul commands with an adjuration," says Bengel, "Rome forbids under a curse."] 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. [This is the benediction with which Paul closes most of his Epistles. It is a prayer that they may have all the blessings which the loving favor of God can bestow.] [27]

[TCGR 24-27]