I Thessalonians 5:12 · Bible study
1 Thessalonians 5:12 Commentary: Know Your Leaders
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore Paul's call to 'know' church leaders in 1 Thessalonians 5:12, recognizing their labor, leadership, and admonition with respect and love.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Paul urges believers to acknowledge, respect, and honor their spiritual leaders, not merely to be aware of them.
- Key words: eidenai (know/recognize), kopiōntas (toil with wearisome effort), proistamenous (preside/lead), nouthetountas (admonish/instruct).
- Main debate: Whether the three participles describe one office with three functions (majority view) or three distinct offices (minority view, e.g., Wesley).
- Theological theme: The honor due to those who serve Christ in leadership; church order as a matter of love, not just structure.
- Best use: A foundational text for encouraging congregations to value and support their pastors and elders.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who preside over you in the Lord and give you instruction.
WEB World English Bible 2000
But we beg you, brothers, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
KJV King James Version 1769
And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
ASV American Standard Version 1901
But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And we ask you, brethren, to know those labouring among you, and leading you in the Lord, and admonishing you,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
But we beg you, brethren, to know those who labour among you, and take the lead among you in [the] Lord, and admonish you,
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And we beseech you, brethren, to know them who labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you;
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y os rogamos, hermanos, que reconozcáis á los que trabajan entre vosotros, y os presiden en el Señor, y os amonestan:
Irmãos, nós vos rogamos que reconheçais os que trabalham entre vós, e que lideram sobre vós no Senhor, e vos advertem;
Nous vous prions, frères, d’ avoir de la considération pour ceux qui travaillent parmi vous, qui vous dirigent dans le Seigneur, et qui vous exhortent.
Wir bitten aber euch, liebe Brüder, daß ihr erkennet, die an euch arbeiten und euch vorstehen in dem HERRN und euch vermahnen;
En wij bidden u, broeders, erkent degenen, die onder u arbeiden, en uw voorstanders zijn in den Heere, en u vermanen;
Or, fratelli, vi preghiamo di avere in considerazione coloro che faticano fra voi, che vi son preposti nel Signore e vi ammoniscono,
A prosimy was, bracia! abyście poznali tych, którzy pracują między wami i którzy są przełożonymi waszymi w Panu, i napominają was;
Просим же вас, братия, уважать трудящихся у вас, и предстоятелей ваших в Господе, и вразумляющих вас,
弟兄們，我們勸 你們 敬重 那 在你們 中間 勞苦的人，就 是在主 裡 面治理 你們、 勸戒 你們的；
But we make this request to you, my brothers: give attention to those who are working among you, who are over you in the Lord to keep order among you;
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · I Thessalonians 5:12
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Paul is not introducing a new idea but reinforcing a necessary one. The church at Thessalonica, though well-regarded (1 Thessalonians 1), needed explicit teaching on how to treat its leaders. The word “know” (eidenai) carries the sense of acknowledging, recognizing, and respecting, not merely being aware of their existence. Vincent notes that in the LXX and early Christian writings (e.g., Ignatius, Smyrn. 9), the verb implies appreciation and honor for office. The three participles, laboring (kopiōntas), presiding (proistamenous), and admonishing (nouthetountas), describe the same group of people, not three distinct orders. The single article governing all three participles (as Jamieson-Fausset-Brown and the Cambridge Bible point out) unifies them. Clarke and Gill stress the present tense: these leaders are actively working; they are not absentees. Calvin emphasizes that such leaders are to be held in esteem not primarily for their own sake but for the Church’s good. Matthew Henry summarizes: they deserve respect because of their work.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Believers are called to recognize and honor those who lead and teach them, acknowledging the effort behind their service.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'know' (εἰδέναι) | All traditions agree it means more than intellectual awareness, it involves recognition, respect, and honor. | Some emphasize relational knowing (making the leader a confidant, as Barnes suggests), while others focus on acknowledging their office and authority (Calvin, Gill). |
| Identity of the leaders | Most agree the three participles refer to the same persons, not separate offices, because of the single article. | Wesley allows that sometimes the same person does all three, sometimes different persons. A few earlier commentators saw distinct orders (e.g., presbyters, bishops, teachers), but this is a minority view. |
| Nature of their authority | Their leadership is 'in the Lord', under Christ’s lordship, not arbitrary power. | Some traditions (e.g., Catholic, Anglican) see this as support for a sacramental/ministerial order; others (e.g., Baptist, Congregationalist) emphasize the functional and voluntary recognition of those who serve. |
| The work that merits honor | Honor is due 'for their work’s sake' (v.13), not for personal qualities. | Some argue the work itself (especially preaching and teaching) is the primary ground; others include the moral character required by the office (cf. 1 Timothy 3). |
Historical & Cultural Context
Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians from Corinth around AD 51, just months after founding the church in Thessalonica during his second missionary journey (Acts 17). He and Silas had been driven out by a mob, leaving a congregation of mostly Gentile converts. Though young, the church was organized. Paul’s practice was to appoint elders in every city (Acts 14:23), and the reference to “those who labor among you” suggests such leaders were already in place.
Several cultural pressures could tempt the Thessalonians to overlook their leaders. First, Paul’s own apostolic authority was enormous; local elders might seem small by comparison. Second, some leaders may have been recent converts themselves (1 Timothy 3:6 warns against appointing novices), which could breed contempt. Third, the congregation likely met in homes, making leadership informal and easy to disregard.
The phrase “in the Lord” qualifies the leaders’ authority: they preside not as secular rulers but as servants of Christ (Barnes, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown). Their labor (kopiaō) implies wearisome toil, the same word Paul uses for his own apostolic work (1 Corinthians 15:10; Colossians 1:29). The leaders were not distant officials but fellow toilers who admonished, a word that means “to put in mind” (Vincent), suggesting gentle but firm instruction. Paul frames his request not as a command but as a plea: “we beg you” (erōtōmen), as if asking a personal favor (Gill).
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for 1 Thessalonians 5:12. The Greek text is stable across the major manuscript families, with only minor differences in word order (e.g., the position of “you” after “admonish”) that do not affect meaning. All consulted editions read the same three participles with the same grammatical structure.
Reception History
This verse has been central to Christian reflection on pastoral honor from the earliest centuries. Vincent notes that Ignatius of Antioch, writing around AD 108, uses similar language in his letter to the Smyrnaeans, urging believers to “know” (εἰδέναι) the bishop as they would the Lord. In the medieval period, the verse was used to support the dignity of the priesthood and the duty of parishes to provide for their clergy. Reformation commentators like Calvin and the Geneva Bible emphasized that the honor is not for the person but for the work, and that idle or unfaithful ministers forfeit this claim. In modern times, the verse remains a touchstone for lay-clergy relations, encouraging mutual respect without clericalism. Wesley’s note adds a pastoral edge: it is a misery when a man undertakes this work without the requisite gifts or graces.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- Know Them, Paul calls believers to “know” their leaders: to recognize their office, respect their person, and relate to them with warmth and openness (Clarke, Barnes). This is not distant admiration but active acknowledgment.
- Their Work, Leaders “labor” (toil with weariness), “preside” (lead under Christ’s authority), and “admonish” (instruct with love). These three functions describe a single pastoral calling, not three separate offices (Cambridge, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown).
- Respond with Honor, Verse 13 continues: esteem them “very highly in love for their work’s sake.” The ground of honor is not personality but the work itself (Calvin, Matthew Henry).
Five-Point Outline
- The Plea: “We beg you”, Paul entreats, not commands, showing humility and urgency (Gill).
- The Recognition: “Know”, a relational acknowledgment that goes beyond cold awareness (Vincent).
- The Labor: “Those who toil”, the cost of ministry is wearisome effort; leaders spend and are spent (Clarke).
- The Authority: “Are over you in the Lord”, they lead as under-shepherds, not lords (Barnes).
- The Instruction: “Admonish”, they put the congregation in mind of truth, a gentle but essential task (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown).
Illustration Hooks
- A teacher who stays late grading papers, preparing lessons, and calling parents. Her work is invisible but constant. Congregations can similarly overlook the behind-the-scenes labor of pastors who visit, pray, and prepare sermons.
- A team captain who not only plays but also encourages teammates and corrects mistakes. That dual role of leading and admonishing mirrors the pastor’s call: to guide and to gently correct.
- A volunteer coordinator in a local charity who spends hours scheduling, training, and encouraging volunteers. The work is tiring, and the recognition is often minimal. Paul asks Christians to change that pattern in the church.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- How can I “know” my pastor without being intrusive or demanding too much of their time?
- What does it look like to honor a leader when I disagree with their decisions or style?
- Is it wrong to leave a church if I feel the leadership is not laboring well?
Leading a Discussion
This passage is part of Paul’s closing exhortations, where he moves from mutual encouragement (5:11) to specific responsibilities toward leaders. The call to “know” is about recognition and respect, not just information. Use these questions to let the text shape how your group thinks about and relates to church leaders.
Discussion Questions
- What do you think Paul meant by “know” those who labor among you? Why do you think he uses a plea (“we beg you”) instead of a command?
- The leaders are described by three verbs: laboring, presiding, admonishing. Which of these do you most associate with your own pastors or elders? Which might be easy to overlook?
- In what ways could the Thessalonian church have been tempted to disregard their leaders? Are any of those same temptations present in your church context?
- How does the phrase “in the Lord” shape the kind of authority leaders have? What does it mean for how they should lead and how the congregation should respond?
- Verse 13 calls us to “esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.” Is it possible to esteem a leader without agreeing with them on everything? How?
- What is one concrete way you can “know” your church leaders better this week, without overstepping boundaries or adding to their burden?
- How does this passage challenge the way our culture often views authority, especially in a church setting?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Matthew 9:37 | Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few. |
| Matthew 9:38 | Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest.” |
| Luke 10:1 | Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every city and place where he was about to come. |
| Luke 10:2 | Then he said to them, “The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest. |
| Luke 10:7 | Remain in that same house, eating and drinking the things they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Don’t go from house to house. |
| John 4:38 | I sent you to reap that for which you haven’t labored. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” |
| Acts 20:28 | Take heed, therefore, to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood. |
| Acts 20:35 | In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke reads the instruction to "know them" as a call to acknowledge and treat church leaders with kindness and respect, not merely recognize them. He also stresses that the labor and oversight described refer to people currently active in God's work, not those who served in the past.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin argues that the command to esteem faithful ministers serves the whole church, not the ministers themselves. An ungrateful congregation risks God removing those shepherds. He insists true pastors are those who actually labor in teaching, and distinguishes the Spirit's approval from merely having the title.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The writer highlights that Paul's call to "know" church leaders implies understanding their duties and character, not just their existence. The three tasks of labouring, presiding, and admonishing form a single ministerial calling, not separate offices. This mutual knowledge, the commentator argues, is meant to foster respect from the congregation.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Nowe we beseeche you, brethren, that ye acknowledge them, which labour among you, and are ouer you in the Lord, and admonish you,
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill clarifies that "know them" means more than recognizing who your pastors are; it means freely conversing with them, showing them respect, and acknowledging their authority. He stresses that these leaders are "over you in the Lord" only in spiritual matters, under Christ, not in civil or worldly affairs.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB stresses that "labor among you," "are over you," and "admonish you" describe one class of ministers, not three, since Greek uses a single article. He sees Paul urging personal favor toward these leaders, whose authority is gentle, not arbitrary, and strictly limited to matters belonging to the Lord.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange sees Paul's closing exhortations as deliberately ordered, not miscellaneous. He notes Paul uses "beseech" when addressing the congregation about their leaders, but "exhort" when urging all believers to action, and that Paul describes leaders by their functions (toil, preside, admonish) rather than official titles, avoiding any hierarchical tone.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry observes that the Greek word carries a double sense of both comfort and exhortation, and that the two belong together. Those who can draw comfort from Scripture are best able to comfort others, and mutual edification involves building each other up in faith through shared knowledge, prayer, and praise.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent stresses that "know" here means to fully recognize church leaders for who they are and respect them because of their role. He argues that "are over you" describes a function rather than a fixed office, since the early Pauline congregations were self-governing bodies whose leaders earned recognition through service, not by holding a formal title.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley's distinctive point is a sharp warning: a man who takes on pastoral work without the necessary gifts or graces, and does it just for pay, is a wretch who sells both his own soul and the souls of the flock. He notes that preaching, governing, and admonishing may be done by one person or by different ones.