11 “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11–13 (ESV)
What impact should the truth of God’s salvation by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone have on us personally and upon the church? Paul provided two very important disciplines in which believers are to engage because of our salvation. We are to encourage and build up one another.
To encourage (παρακαλεῖτε; parakaleite) means to implore, urge and exhort. It may even mean to console a fellow Christian who is hurting. This is a present, active, imperative, plural verb. This means all believers are to presently actively, obediently and collectively encourage each other. This is a command from God.
To build up (οἰκοδομεῖτε; oikodomeite) means to strengthen someone. It also is a present, active, imperative, plural verb. God commands us to make others more able to serve the Lord.
What must have encouraged and strengthened Paul was the Thessalonians were already encouraging and building up one another. It always does a pastor’s heart good when God’s people are doing what God commands them to do.
However, not only are believers in Christ to encourage and strengthen one another, they are also to do so on behalf of their pastors and elders. These local church leaders need encouragement and strength just as others do within a congregation.
The Apostle Paul mentioned three specific ways a church congregation can encourage and strengthen their pastors and elders. It is by respect, love and peace.
“We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you.” Paul, Silas and Timothy are in unity when they asked, begged, and urged the Thessalonians to treat their church leaders well with respect. They did not command them to do so, but rather requested they do so.
“The church leaders are probably the elders of the church in view of how they were described by Paul. These were men who worked hard to provide pastoral care for the flock, probably in their spare time since in the early church local church leaders often carried full-time jobs outside the church. These leaders are further described as being over you in the Lord. They had positions of spiritual leadership in the church and were responsible to God for those under their care (cf. Heb. 13:17). This responsibility included providing admonition as needed,” explains commentator Dr. Thomas Constable in the Bible Knowledge Commentary.
To respect (εἰδέναι; eidenai) means to honor and to know. Not only are believers to know their pastors and elders but also to honor and respect them for their work on behalf of Christ and the church. Paul used the plural form to indicate there were several leaders; a plurality of elders is in view (Acts 20:17-35; Phil. 1:1).
Labor (κοπιῶντας; kopiontas) is a present, active, plural participle. These men were individuals who consistently, actively, and collectively worked hard among the Thessalonian church. They were over (προϊσταμένους; proistamenos) or leading, guiding and directing the church. They did so consistently, personally and collectively. In other words, these church leaders worked hard at guiding and leading the church in godliness and holiness.
These leaders also admonished (νουθετοῦντας; nouthetountas) the believers. They taught, instructed and warned them consistently, actively and collectively. This is what these elders did. This is what elders are to do. This is why the church is to respect them.
Believers in Christ are not only to respect their church leaders, but also “to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.”
To esteem (ἡγεῖσθαι; hegeisthai) means to presently, personally and infinitely hold an opinion of judgment on something or someone. The opinion the church is to have regarding pastors and elders is to be very highly (ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ; hyperekperissou) or extremely in love (ἀγάπῃ; agape). This refers to a self- sacrificial love of the will. Believers are to have a great affection for these individuals as a response to their work among them.
“Be at peace among yourselves.” The church encourages and strengthens their pastors and elders by respecting and loving them, but also by being at peace among themselves (εἰρηνεύετε; eireneuete). Believers are to presently, actively, collectively and obediently behave and live in harmony with one another. This is not a request but rather a command.
“In connection with what immediately precedes, this must mean, “Stop your carping. Instead of continually criticizing the leaders, follow their directions, so that peace (here: absence of dissension) results,” comments Dr. William Hendriksen.
“First Thessalonians 5:12–13 tells us “to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you.” Paul describes how we are to act with respect to church leaders, particularly elders. Although all believers are equal with respect to the benefits of salvation (Gal. 3:28–29), Christians do not all possess the same authority in the church. God has ordained that the church appoint godly men to govern His church, elders who will teach, preach, and pray for the congregation. Elders are tasked with settling church disputes, issuing authoritative teaching, and carrying out discipline (Acts 6:1–4; 15:1–35; 1 Tim. 3:1–7). These elders must not lord their authority over the church but instead must labor “among” us, doing their work as fellow believers and not apart from the people (1 Thess. 5:12). In turn, those who are not elders are “to esteem them very highly in love because of their work” (v. 13). We are to do our best to make the job of our church elders easy, respecting their authority and following their lead unless they are commanding evident sin,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
“Respect for church elders is in view primarily in today’s passage, but Paul’s admonitions apply also to deacons and others who exercise leadership roles in the congregation. We must esteem our church leaders in love, not gossiping about them or refusing to follow their lead. Instead, we are to trust their guidance, heeding their instruction unless it clearly goes against God’s Word. Let us love our church leaders in this way.”
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 