1 Thessalonians 5:12 - Respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord

Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you.

And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction,

1 Thessalonians 5:12

Commentary

The leaders whom God places over His people are described by the phrase "those who labor among you," which is also rendered "those who work even when weary." These leaders possess the Lord's authority ("in the Lord"). God places them in a position to "admonish" or instruct believers. Paul commanded believers to love and honor their pastors ("those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord"). This support was not due to the pastor's personality but to his divinely assigned position and ministry (Heb. 13:7, 17).

Thomas Nelson, I. (1997, c1995). Woman's study Bible . (1 Th 5:12). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 - For when I am weak, then I am strong.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness " Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. herefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9

Commentary

The present tense of the verb translated "is sufficient" reveals the constant availability of divine grace. God would not remove the thorn, as Paul had requested, but would continually supply him with grace to endure it (cf. 1 Cor. 15:10; Phil. 4:13; Col. 1:29). The weaker the human instrument, the more clearly God's grace shines forth. Paul took no pleasure in the pain itself, but rejoiced in the power of Christ that it revealed through him.

MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (2 Co 12:9). Nashville: Word Pub.