1 Thessalonians 5:13

and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake exceeding highly (R. V.) the same Greek adverb as in ch. 1 Thessalonians 3:10, the strongest Intensive possible to the language. So deep and warm should be the affection uniting pastors and their flocks. Their appreciation is not to be a cold esteem; it has mutual "love" for its pervading element, a grace in which the Thessalonians were already "taught of God" (ch. 1 Thessalonians 4:9). Their "work," described in 1 Thessalonians 5:12, is the reason for this devoted esteem. In workthis Church excelled (ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:3); and this it knew how to appreciate.

And be at peace among yourselves Andis wanting in the Greek. But this appeal is closely connected with the last. Looking, moreover, at the exhortation to "admonish the unruly" that follows, and at the command "study to be quiet" of ch. 1 Thessalonians 4:11, and the measures prescribed against the idle and disorderly in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15, we can read between the lines sufficiently to see that the tendencies adverse to peace in this community were interfering with its discipline, and set the Church authorities at variance with a certain section of its membership.