5:13a

In love: The Thessalonians were not only to respect their leaders, they were also to love them. The word huperekperissou, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as highest, probably applies to this part of verse, as well as to hold them in…regard. Here, it would mean “love them greatly/exceedingly.”

hold them in highest regard: “To hold someone in regard” is another way in English of saying “to respect/esteem someone.” The verb is not the same in Greek as the one used in 5:12a, but the meaning is similar. Paul added the adverb huperekperissou, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as highest, in order to strengthen the verb. The Thessalonians were not only to respect their leaders, they were to respect them “greatly/exceedingly.”

because of their work: Paul stated that the Thessalonian believers must respect and love their leaders, not because of their status, but because of what they were doing for the rest of the Thessalonian believers.

5:13b

Live in peace with one another: Unlike the previous commands, this one was addressed to all the Christians in Thessalonica, including the leaders. But there is no need to make this explicit in your translation. Paul knew that the devil likes to cause believers to quarrel and so disrupt the fellowship that they have with one another. Paul gave similar commands in other letters too. For example, see 2 Corinthians 13:11.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.