1 Thessalonians 5:12–22: Interpretation, Application, and Prayer

Written by Adam Robinson in 1 & 2 Thessalonians

In this article, I will first interpret 1 Thessalonians 5:12–22, including discerning the main point and providing an outline of the passage. Then I will show how the passage can be applied to modern Christians, while concluding with a prayer that is based on the passage.

1 Thessalonians 5:12–22

“12We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do not despise prophecies, 21but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22Abstain from every form of evil.”

1 Thessalonians 5:12–22

Interpretation of 1 Thessalonians 5:12–22

1 Thessalonians 5:12–22 is quite different from all previous passages in 1 Thessalonians. It is filled with multiple commands, one right after another.  Since the beginning of chapter 4, we have encountered many commands, but not such a high concentration of them like in 5:12–22.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:12–22, Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy have moved on from speaking about deceased Christians and the return of Jesus, which should be evident from the content of 5:12–22.  1 Thessalonians 5:12–22 begins the final exhortations.  Thus, the main connection between 1 Thessalonians 5:12–22 and the preceding passage is that both are instructions from the apostles.

Topic and Main Point

The topic of 1 Thessalonians 5:12–22 is final instructions, or final exhortations.  The myriad of different commands make it difficult to find a single unifying theme or topic that is more specific than “final instructions.”  Thus, it is best not to force a more specific topic.  

The main point of 1 Thessalonians 5:12–22 is: do the various things we (the apostles) exhort you (the Thessalonians).  At the beginning of verse 12 and verse 14, the apostles make two petitions: “We ask you” (v 12) and “we urge/exhort you” (v 14).  Both petitions are followed by a list of commands that the apostles desire the Thessalonians to obey.  Based on the petitions and the lack of a clear unifying theme that can summarize all the commands, the main point becomes do the various things we (the apostles) exhort you (the Thessalonians).

1 Thessalonians 5:12–22

There are two distinct sections (or sets) of commands in 1 Thessalonians 5:12–22. The two sections are (1) verses 12–13 and (2) verses 14–22.  Each section begins with a petition followed by what the apostles want the Thessalonians to do: “We ask you, brothers” (v 12) and “And we urge you, brothers” (v 14). 

1 Thessalonians 5:12–13

The apostles ask three things from the Thessalonians: 

  1. To respect/appreciate/acknowledge those who labour among the Thessalonians, who are over the Thessalonians in a leadership capacity, and who admonish the Thessalonians (v 12).  That is, the Thessalonians should respect their Christian leaders.  
  2. To esteem their leaders very highly (v 13a).  Note that both “to respect” (v 12) and “to esteem” (v 13a) are both complementary infinitives, which indicate these are separate, yet parallel, requests. 
  3. To be at peace among themselves (v 13b).  If the Thessalonians are respecting and esteeming their leaders, peace should certainly result.  

The Thessalonians should esteem their leaders because of the work that the leaders do within the community.  The prepositional phrase “for/because of their work” is causal, indicating the reason for the command. 

1 Thessalonians 5:14–22

The apostles urge fourteen practices from the Thessalonians in 5:14–22.  Each practice is given as a command.  Thus, we can say that the apostles command fourteen practices from the Thessalonians:

  1. Admonish the idle/undisciplined (v14).  As the different translations show, those who are to be admonished in the Christian community are either (a) the idle, those who are lazy and not working (CSB, ESV, NRSV) or (b) the undisciplined (KJV, NASB, NET).  The NIV does not make a decision; it includes both nuances in its translation, showing the difficulty of making a choice.  Both translation options fit the context of 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians. 
  2. Encourage/comfort the fainthearted/discouraged (v 14).  Note the lack of any specifier or limiter on “fainthearted/discouraged,” which indicates that anyone who is discouraged for any reason should be encouraged/comforted.  
  3. Help the weak (v 14).  Again, note the lack of specifier or limiter on “weak.”  The term “weak” could refer to a physically weak person, someone weak in the faith (either doubting or still adhering to the OT law), or even someone with an economic need.  Since there is no specifier or limiter, all types of weak people should be helped.  
  4. Be patient with everyone (v 14).  
  5. Do not repay anyone evil for evil (v 15).  In other words, do not retaliate. 
  6. Always pursue the good for one another and for all people (v 15).  
  7. Rejoice always (v 16).  
  8. Pray without ceasing (v 17).  The apostles are not demanding the Thessalonians pray 24 hours a day, seven days a week without ever stopping once.  Rather, this is a command for regular and consistent prayer.  
  9. Give thanks in everything/every circumstance (v 18).  To give thanks to God in everything or every circumstance does not mean we are thankful when evil happens to us or others. Rather, as Wanamaker says, “This is not to say that God causes suffering and affliction, but to acknowledge, as Paul does in Rom. 8:28, that God works for the good of the elect through every situation. For this reason the Christian is obliged to give thanks to God at all times” (Charles A. Wanamaker, The Epistles to the Thessalonians, NIGTC, 200).
  10. Do not quench the Spirit (v 19).  Another way to translate “quench” is “suppress” or “extinguish.”  The command is not to suppress or stop the Holy Spirit in any way, especially his work in the lives of the individual or the Christian community.  Some suggest the apostles are more concerned with the so-called miraculous or charismatic gifts of the Spirit, such as tongues and prophecy (Charles A. Wanamaker, The Epistles to the Thessalonians, NIGTC, 202).  Thus, the apostles are commanding the Thessalonians not to stop the speaking in tongues or the giving of prophecies.  Others suggest that the apostles are more concerned with the sanctification process within individuals and the Christian community, such as the development of the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22–23).  Because there is no specifier or limiter stating what aspects of the Holy Spirit’s ministry must not be quenched, it is best to understand the apostles as commanding that no aspect or manifestation of the Holy Spirit or his ministry should be quenched or suppressed. 
  11. Do not despise prophecies (v 20).  The Thessalonians should not despise prophecies because a prophecy is a message direct from God.  
  12. Test/examine everything (v 21).  The Thessalonians should test everything, including prophecies to ensure they are from God.  This command would limit the abuse of prophecies.
  13. Hold fast to what is good (v 21). 
  14. Abstain from every form of evil (v 22).  The idea is not to do evil or engage in evil practices.  

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, the apostles state, “for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” The antecedent to “this” could be any one of the following options: 

  1. The command to give thanks in all circumstances (v 18). 
  2. The previous three commands: rejoice (v 16), pray (v 17), and give thanks (v 18). 
  3. All commands from verses 12–18.  

Although all three options are possible, it is most likely that rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks is God’s will (option #2) because verses 16–18 are in parallel with one another (this is a little easier to see in the Greek text). 

Summary of 1 Thessalonians 5:12–22

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy make a total of seventeen exhortations that the Thessalonians must follow.  These exhortations range from the way to treat Christian leaders, to the way to treat faltering fellow Christians, to the way to live one’s life, even how to respond to God’s work within the Christian community. 

Another helpful way of summarizing a passage is by producing an outline. An outline can help you remember the main points and the argument of a passage at a glance and is a useful tool for teaching a passage.

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy ask and urge the Thessalonians to do the following:

            A. Respect those who labour among them, are over them in the Lord, 

                 and admonish them (v 12)

            B. Esteem their leaders very highly (v 13a)

                        1. In love

                        2. Because of their work 

            C. Be at peace among themselves (v 13b)

            D. Admonish the idle (v 14a)

            E. Encourage the fainthearted (v 14b)

            F. Help the weak (v 14c)

            G. Be patient with all (v 14d)

            H. Do not repay anyone evil for evil (v 15a)

            I. Always pursue what is good for one another and all people (v 15b)

            J. Rejoice always because this is the will of God (v 16)

            K. Pray without ceasing because this is the will of God (v 17)

            L. Give thanks in all circumstances because this is the will of God (v 18)

            M. Do not quench the Spirit (v 19)

            N. Do not despise prophecies (v 20)

            O. Test everything (v 21a)

            P. Hold fast to what is good (v 21b)

            Q. Abstain from every form of evil (v 22)

Application of 1 Thessalonians 5:12–22 to Modern Christians

Every command in 1 Thessalonians 5:12–22 that is given to the Thessalonians is also directly applicable to all modern Christians because (1) both the Thessalonians and modern Christians are disciples of Jesus, part of the Church, members of the kingdom of God, and under the New Covenant and (2) there is nothing in the biblical text that explicitly limits the commands to any individual, to the Greco-Roman culture, or to the first century.  Thus, what is commanded of the Thessalonians is also commanded of all Christians of all times.  

To apply 1 Thessalonians 5:12–22, modern Christians must do the following: 

  1. Respect those who labour among you, are over you in the Lord, and admonish you (v 12).  All Christians must respect their Christian leaders, such as their pastors, elders, or bishops.  To respect them, you should obey them and not attempt to undermine them.  Remember, they were given by Jesus to ensure you are faithfully following Jesus.  
  2. Esteem your leaders very highly in love because of their work (v 13a).  Esteem your Christian leaders by giving them the honour that is due to them, including paying them a fair wage for their work.  Many of us are too busy to spend hours every day studying God’s Word to ensure we know what God requires of us.  This is one of the jobs our Christian leaders have.  We should esteem them for their work of ensuring we are in the faith and will obtain salvation when Jesus returns on the day of the Lord (1 Thess 5:8–10).  Too often we forget that our Christian leaders do that for which we do not have the time because of our other commitments. 
  3. Be at peace among yourselves (v 13b).  Christians and Christian communities should always seek to be at peace amongst each other.  Strife should have no place in a Christian community.  If we respect and esteem our Christian leaders, the chance of peace is quite high. 
  4. Admonish the idle (v 14a).  Those who are not working and not supporting themselves or their family must be warned, admonished, and instructed on the right thing to do (i.e., the will of God).  There should be no able-bodied person who is idle and not working.  We should also note that “work” does not always refer to paid work.  For example, a mother is working when she makes meals for her children, teaches them, and ensures their well-being. 
  5. Encourage the fainthearted (v 14b).
  6. Help the weak (v 14c). 
  7. Be patient with all (v 14d). 
  8. Do not repay anyone evil for evil (v 15a). 
  9. Always pursue what is good for one another and all people (v 15b).  Too often we pursue the good for ourselves and neglect the good for others.  We need to be intentional about knowing those in our community and their needs so that we can do good to them.  
  10. Rejoice always (v 16).  
  11. Pray without ceasing (v 17). 
  12. Give thanks in all circumstances (v 18).  Commands 10–12 are modified by “for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (v 18b).  Many Christians want to know what God’s will is for their life.  Well, once again, the apostles have told us God’s will (the first time was in 1 Thess 4:3–8).  God’s will for the lives of all his people is that they rejoice, pray, and give thanks.  These three practices should characterize every Christian’s life.  Focus on these three practices and you will be in the will of God. 
  13. Do not quench the Spirit (v 19).  Regardless of one’s denominational background, no one has the right the quench and suppress the work of the Holy Spirit, the third member of the Trinity.  This includes not suppressing the miraculous or charismatic gifts, such as speaking in tongues, interpreting tongues, gifts of miracles, healings, prophecies, etc., which some denominations shun.  
  14. Do not despise prophecies (v 20).  Prophecies are another way God speaks to his people.  As such, no Christian should despise or look down upon prophecies.  The command not to despise prophecies is a clear reminder that the apostles Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy affirm that prophecy still exists after the ascension of Jesus.  Indeed, Silvanus is himself a prophet (Acts 15:32).  Unfortunately, some Christian denominations either do not believe God gives prophecies to people or they do not allow anyone to give a prophecy when the church is gathered.  Not allowing prophecies is a chief way of despising them and is tantamount to rejecting what God has to say to his people. 
  15. Test everything (v 21a).  Everything should be tested, such as prophecies, the correct use of spiritual gifts (such as having an interpreter when someone is speaking in tongues, 1 Cor 14:27–28), the pastor’s sermon, someone’s interpretation or application of the Bible, and what culture claims is good and right (for example, Western culture now says there is no such thing as gender, that a person can choose whether they are male or female, that homosexuality is good and right, that no-fault divorce is good and right, etc.). 
  16. Hold fast to what is good (v 21b).  Determine what is good according to the Bible and hold fast to it.  That is, adhere to and do that which is good. 
  17. Abstain from every form of evil (v 22).  Do not practice or do whatever the Bible says is evil or bad. 

The above commands are all necessary for living a successful Christian life and for living within the will of God.  If we Christians do the above, we can be confident that we are living within the will of God for our lives.  For many, the above list may be overwhelming.  If you feel this way, I suggest taking one command and focus on it for a week.  Then take another one and focus on it for a week until you have made it through all seventeen commands.  

Prayer Based on 1 Thessalonians 5:12–22

To pray 1 Thessalonians 5:12–22, we should thank God for making his will for us clear and ask the Lord for the desire, motivation, and ability to do all that he has asked of us in this passage.  My prayer will be somewhat general, but I encourage you to pray through each of the seventeen commands individually. 

Dear God, thank you for making your will for my life clear and understandable.  As someone who loves you, Lord, and has been saved by your grace, I desire to obey and please you.  Sometimes, however, my desire and motivation are lacking.  Please forgive me when my desire to please you wanes.  Please put within me a burning desire to do all that you have commanded me in this passage.  Grant me the ability to do them.  Grant me success when I undertake them.  Through my adherence to your will, continue to sanctify me so that I may be found blameless on the day I see you face-to-face.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. 

Adam Robinson

I am a Sessional Lecturer in New Testament and Academic Tutor at Malyon Theological College in Brisbane, Australia. I received my PhD in New Testament from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Recent Posts