1 Thessalonians 5:12 Meaning and Explanation
“And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul asks them to recognize and value those who work hard among them, leading and instructing them in the Lord.
What Does 1 Thessalonians 5:12 Mean?
Paul turns to life within the church and asks them 'to know' their leaders, to recognize and appreciate those who serve them. He describes these workers in three ways: they 'labour among you' (working hard to the point of weariness), they 'are over you in the Lord' (giving guidance and care), and they 'admonish you' (offering correction and counsel).
Every healthy community needs those who give themselves to its care, and Paul wants such people honored rather than taken for granted. Notice the nature of their leadership: it is 'in the Lord,' a service under Christ, not a worldly authority for its own sake. Their work involves real labor and the sometimes difficult task of admonishing, gently warning those who stray. Paul asks the church simply to 'know' them, to value the ones who pour themselves out for the flock. This is a quiet but important grace, the recognition of faithful service. Those who labor in the Lord's work deserve to be appreciated by those they serve.
1 Thessalonians 5:12 in the Original Language
kopiao (κοπιάω), 'labour' -- to toil to the point of weariness, to work hard until exhausted.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Thessalonians 5:12
What does 1 Thessalonians 5:12 mean?
Paul asks them to recognize and value those who work hard among them, leading and instructing them in the Lord.