1 Thessalonians 5:13 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
1 Thessalonians 5:13 kjv
And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
1 Thessalonians 5:13 nkjv
and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
1 Thessalonians 5:13 niv
Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.
1 Thessalonians 5:13 esv
and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
1 Thessalonians 5:13 nlt
Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.
1 Thessalonians 5 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Heb 13:7 | Remember your leaders... consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. | Remember and imitate faithful leaders |
| Heb 13:17 | Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch... | Submit to leaders who watch over souls |
| Gal 6:6 | Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. | Provide for those who teach |
| 1 Tim 5:17 | Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. | Honor elders, especially teachers |
| Phil 2:29 | So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men. | Honor those who serve selflessly |
| Rom 13:7 | Pay to all what is owed to them... respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. | Pay respect and honor where due |
| 1 Pet 5:1-3 | So I exhort the elders... shepherd the flock of God that is among you... | Elders are to shepherd the flock |
| John 13:34-35 | A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another... By this all people will know that you are my disciples. | Love for one another identifies disciples |
| Rom 12:10 | Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. | Affectionate brotherly love and mutual honor |
| 1 Cor 16:14 | Let all that you do be done in love. | Let all actions be driven by love |
| Eph 4:2 | With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love. | Humility, gentleness, patience, bearing in love |
| Col 3:14 | And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. | Love binds all in perfect harmony |
| Titus 1:7-9 | For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach... hold firm to the trustworthy word... | Qualifications for church leadership |
| 2 Cor 6:3-4 | We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry... through great endurance... | Ministry involving endurance and lack of offense |
| Rom 12:18 | If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. | Live peaceably with all |
| 2 Cor 13:11 | Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. | Pursue peace, and God of peace will be with you |
| Heb 12:14 | Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. | Strive for peace and holiness |
| Col 3:15 | And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. | Let Christ's peace rule hearts |
| Mark 9:50 | Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another. | Maintain peace within the community |
| Jam 3:17-18 | But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle... and a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace. | Wisdom fosters peace and righteousness |
| 1 Pet 3:8-9 | Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love... Live in harmony. | Unity, sympathy, love, and harmony |
| Rom 14:19 | So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. | Pursue peace and mutual upbuilding |
| Eph 4:1-3 | Walk in a manner worthy of the calling... with all humility and gentleness... eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. | Maintain unity in peace and humility |
| Acts 20:28 | Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. | Leaders' responsibility to the flock |
| 2 Tim 2:24 | And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone... | Servants of the Lord are not quarrelsome |
1 Thessalonians 5 verses
1 Thessalonians 5 13 meaning
The verse conveys a dual command for the Thessalonian believers. First, they are to hold their spiritual leaders in exceedingly high esteem, motivated by selfless love, because of the arduous spiritual labor these leaders undertake within the community. Second, the community is urged to actively pursue and maintain internal peace among its members. These instructions are presented as vital for a healthy, orderly, and harmonious church life.
1 Thessalonians 5 13 Context
This verse is part of Paul's concluding exhortations in his first letter to the Thessalonians. After discussing the return of Christ, the vigilance required of believers, and encouraging words regarding mutual edification (vv. 1-11), Paul shifts to practical instructions for community life. Verses 12 and 13 introduce the topic of relating to spiritual leadership within the church. Verse 12 identifies "those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you," laying the groundwork for how the congregation should esteem and respond to them. This community had faced persecution, and there were also some internal issues like idleness (4:11) and perhaps some misunderstandings about Christian living or the roles of leaders. Paul emphasizes internal harmony and proper recognition of leaders as crucial for the church's stability and witness in a challenging Greco-Roman cultural environment, where patron-client relationships and honor/shame dynamics were prevalent. The command for peace also reflects the necessity for unity and an orderly life amidst these challenges.
1 Thessalonians 5 13 Word analysis
- and to esteem them very highly: The Greek word is hyper-ekperissou en agapē hēgeisthai.
- hyper-ekperissou: An intensifier, meaning "exceedingly," "super-abundantly," "beyond all measure." This is not a casual respect but a profound, overflowing estimation.
- hēgeisthai: To lead, rule, consider, count, esteem. Here, it refers to an internal judgment or evaluation of worth, valuing them significantly. It signifies recognizing their worth and giving them appropriate honor.
- in love: en agapē. The motivation and atmosphere for this high esteem. This is not fear-based or obligation-based, but a sincere, God-originated agapē love, which is selfless and seeks the good of others. It shapes how the esteem is given.
- for their work's sake: dia to ergon autōn.
- dia: "because of," "on account of."
- to ergon: "the work," "the deed," "the toil." In this context, it refers to the spiritual labor of their leadership mentioned in v. 12—"those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you." This "work" involves diligent effort, pastoral care, teaching, and exhortation. The esteem is for their dedicated, often difficult, ministry, not for personal popularity or charisma. It specifies the legitimate basis for honor.
- Be at peace among yourselves: eirēneuete en heautois.
- eirēneuete: An imperative verb, "Be at peace," "Live in peace," "Maintain peace." It is an active command to promote and cultivate peace. This isn't merely the absence of conflict but a positive state of well-being, harmony, and reconciliation.
- en heautois: "among yourselves," "within your own selves/group." This emphasizes internal community peace, highlighting that the responsibility rests on each member within the church body to live harmoniously with one another.
1 Thessalonians 5 13 Bonus section
The juxtaposition of "esteem them very highly...for their work's sake" and "Be at peace among yourselves" suggests a causal link or at least a strong correlation. A church that honors its leaders appropriately, understanding that their "work" includes admonition and spiritual guidance (as per v. 12), is more likely to be a peaceful church. Disregard for leaders, or internal factionalism, often disrupts peace. Conversely, an environment of peace enables leaders to carry out their "work" effectively and joyfully, without undue contention or strife (cf. Heb 13:17). This verse also implicitly highlights the delicate balance of authority and submission within a loving community; leaders serve through arduous work, and the congregation responds with deep honor, all within the framework of peace and love, guided by the Lord. This is not about blind allegiance, but acknowledging a God-given function performed faithfully.
1 Thessalonians 5 13 Commentary
1 Thessalonians 5:13 succinctly captures two vital aspects of healthy church life: proper regard for spiritual leadership and fostering internal communal peace. The command to "esteem them very highly in love" signifies more than mere tolerance or grudging respect; it calls for a deep, genuine appreciation rooted in selfless agapē love, directed towards those who labor tirelessly for the spiritual good of the congregation. The reason for this exalted esteem is explicit: "for their work's sake," recognizing the strenuous, dedicated ministry of oversight, teaching, and admonition. This honor acknowledges their divine calling and sacrificial service, affirming their role not as a matter of personal status, but as a recognition of their Spirit-anointed toil in the Lord. This high esteem is crucial because it facilitates effective leadership and prevents internal dissent. Directly following this instruction, the second imperative, "Be at peace among yourselves," highlights that unity and harmony within the body are paramount. This internal peace is not automatic but requires active cultivation by every member. A church that respects its God-appointed leaders for their ministry and cultivates an atmosphere of mutual peace among its members is one that demonstrates Christian love and exemplifies God's intended order and purpose for His people.