1 Thess. 5:11. Therefore encourage one another and edify one another, just as you also do.
You see? So why do you make excuses, saying "I am not a teacher"? "Exhort one another," he says, since teachers do not have the ability to teach everyone.
1 Thess. 5:12. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you,
Since he said: "exhort one another," then, lest they conclude that he himself elevates them to the dignity of teachers, and lest they rise up against their teachers, he says: even if I have entrusted to you the edification of one another, I still urge you to treat them with honor. For teachers are compelled to endure many hardships, which honor for them will, of course, somewhat alleviate.
1 Thess. 5:12. and your leaders in the Lord, and those who admonish you,
If you honor those who intercede for you before man, then how much more should you show full gratitude to those who intercede for you before God? "In the Lord," that is, he does not preside over worldly things, but over spiritual things, which are in the Lord — he prays for you, regenerates you through baptism, watches over you, admonishes and heals you — at midnight, if you call, he comes. You see how he intercedes for you.
1 Thess. 5:13. and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake;
He did not simply say "love," but "exceedingly," as children love parents. For whoever loves Christ will also love His servant, whatever kind he may be, because through him he was deemed worthy of the dread Mysteries. If you have taken an honorable wife, do you not respect and love the one who brought her to you? You have received the Kingdom of Heaven, and you despise the one who brought it to you. Heed Paul: "for their work's sake," he says, love them.
1 Thess. 5:13. Be at peace among yourselves.
Some also read: "with them," that is, with the teachers. For he knew the possibility of the arising of displeasures against them. Since they rebuke and restrain them from evil, they are hated. Therefore one must "be at peace" with them, and moreover not in outward appearance, but within themselves.
1 Thess. 5:14. We exhort you also, brethren, admonish the disorderly,
Here the apostle addresses the teachers. Not with severity, he says, or with haughtiness make reproofs, but with meekness "admonish." For, having fallen into despair, a person becomes more insolent when given a harsh reproof. "The unruly" are those who act contrary to what God has ordained. God has appointed to each his own rank; the one who transgresses it is unruly. The drunkard, the reviler, the covetous person, and all who sin live in a disorderly manner.
1 Thess. 5:14. Comfort the fainthearted,
Fainthearted is he who does not endure temptation. He is precisely the one sown on the rock (Matt. 13:5). Thus, he too is in need of support.
1 Thess. 5:14. support the weak,
That is, support the weak in faith, as he says in another place: "Him that is weak in the faith receive" (Rom. 14:1).
1 Thess. 5:14. Be patient with everyone.
And to the disorderly, and the fainthearted, and the weak. For this is the most fitting means for a teacher, capable of converting all, even the most coarse.
1 Thess. 5:15. See that none render evil for evil to anyone;
If one must not repay evil for evil, then how much more so — evil for good, or to begin doing evil and harming one who has done no harm at all.
1 Thess. 5:15. But always seek what is good both for one another and for all.
It is not enough not to repay evil for evil; one must, he says, repay with good the one who has done evil. This is exactly what the apostle teaches when he says: "seek what is good." That is, earnestly strive to do good, both toward one another, that is, toward the faithful, and toward all, that is, toward the unfaithful as well.
1 Thess. 5:16. Rejoice always.
Even if you have fallen into temptation. Look: after he said that one must not repay evil for evil, he further commands to rejoice. If a person is trained such that he never avenges himself against anyone, but on the contrary, even does good to the person who caused him grief, then from where can the sting of sorrow penetrate him?
1 Thess. 5:17. Pray without ceasing.