Meaning, commentary and cross references
1 Thessalonians 5:11
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
NIV · New International Version
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
WEB · World English Bible
Therefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as you also do.
What does 1 Thessalonians 5:11 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Wherefore comfort yourselves together,.... Either with the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, the second coming of Christ, and the thoughts of being for ever with him, and one another, and so may be a repetition of the advice in 1 Thessalonians 4:18 or with this consideration, that they were not in a state of darkness, ignorance, and infidelity, but were children of the light, and of the day, being called out of darkness into marvellous light, and should enjoy the light of life; and with the doctrine of predestination, they being appointed not to that wrath they were deserving of, but to be possessed of salvation by Jesus Christ, of which they could never fail, since the purpose of…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on 1 Thessalonians 5:11–15
Such should comfort themselves, or exhort one another, and edify one another, Th1 5:11. 1. They must comfort or exhort themselves and one another; for the original word may be rendered both these ways. And we may observe, As those are most able and likely to comfort others who can comfort themselves, so the way to have comfort ourselves, or to administer comfort to others, is by compliance with the exhortation of the word. Note, We should not only be careful about our own comfort and welfare, but to promote the comfort and welfare of others also.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on 1 Thessalonians 5:11–14
11. Quare exhortamini (vel, consolamini) vos invicem, et aedificate singuli singulos, sicut et facitis. 12. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 12. Rogamus autem vos, fratres, ut agnoscatis eos, qui laborant in vobis, et praesunt vobis in Domino, et admonent vos: 13.
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: 1 Thessalonians 5:8–14 (WEB)
8But since we belong to the day, let’s be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9For God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11Therefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as you also do. 12But we beg you, brothers, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13and to respect and honor them in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves. 14We exhort you, brothers: Admonish the disorderly; encourage the faint-hearted; support the weak; be patient toward all.
Cross references
- Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.
- Romans 15:2
Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, to be building him up.
- Hebrews 10:25
not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
- Hebrews 3:13
but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called “today”, lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:18
Therefore comfort one another with these words.
- Romans 14:19
So then, let’s follow after things which make for peace, and things by which we may build one another up.
- 1 Corinthians 14:12
So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.
- Ephesians 4:12
for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ,