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Text -- 1 Thessalonians 4:9 (NET)

Strongs On/Off
Context
4:9 Now on the topic of brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.
Parallel   Cross Reference (TSK)   ITL  
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Robertson , Vincent , Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Calvin , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , PBC , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , Maclaren , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Barclay , Constable , College , McGarvey

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Robertson: 1Th 4:9 - -- Concerning love of the brethren ( peri tēs philadelphias ). Late word, love of brothers or sisters. In profane Greek (one papyrus example) and lxx ...

Concerning love of the brethren ( peri tēs philadelphias ).

Late word, love of brothers or sisters. In profane Greek (one papyrus example) and lxx the word means love of those actually kin by blood, but in the N.T. it is the kinship in the love of Christ as here.

Robertson: 1Th 4:9 - -- Are taught by God ( theodidaktoi este ). Only here and ecclesiastical writers. Passive verbal adjective in ̇tos from didaskō as if theȯ in...

Are taught by God ( theodidaktoi este ).

Only here and ecclesiastical writers. Passive verbal adjective in ̇tos from didaskō as if theȯ in ablative case like didaktoi theou (Joh 6:45).

Robertson: 1Th 4:9 - -- To love one another ( eis to agapāin allēlous ). Another example of eis to and the infinitive. Only those taught of God keep on loving one anot...

To love one another ( eis to agapāin allēlous ).

Another example of eis to and the infinitive. Only those taught of God keep on loving one another, love neighbours and even enemies as Jesus taught (Mat 5:44). Note the use of agapaō , not phileō .

Vincent: 1Th 4:9 - -- Taught of God ( θεοδίδακτοι ) N.T.o . o lxx. Not in Class.

Taught of God ( θεοδίδακτοι )

N.T.o . o lxx. Not in Class.

Wesley: 1Th 4:9 - -- Largely.

Largely.

Wesley: 1Th 4:9 - -- By his Spirit.

By his Spirit.

JFB: 1Th 4:9 - -- Referring here to acts of brotherly kindness in relieving distressed brethren. Some oldest manuscripts support English Version reading, "YE have"; oth...

Referring here to acts of brotherly kindness in relieving distressed brethren. Some oldest manuscripts support English Version reading, "YE have"; others, and those the weightiest, read, "WE have." We need not write, as ye yourselves are taught, and that by God: namely, in the heart by the Holy Spirit (Joh 6:45; Heb 8:11; 1Jo 2:20, 1Jo 2:27).

JFB: 1Th 4:9 - -- Greek, "with a view to," or "to the end of your loving one another." Divine teachings have their confluence in love [BENGEL].

Greek, "with a view to," or "to the end of your loving one another." Divine teachings have their confluence in love [BENGEL].

Clarke: 1Th 4:9 - -- Touching brotherly love - They were remarkable for this; and though the apostle appears to have had this as a topic on which he intended to write to...

Touching brotherly love - They were remarkable for this; and though the apostle appears to have had this as a topic on which he intended to write to them, yet, from the account which he received of their prosperous state by Timothy, he finds that it is unnecessary to spend any time in inculcating a doctrine which they fully understood and practised. See 1Th 3:6.

Calvin: 1Th 4:9 - -- 9.As to brotherly love. Having previously, in lofty terms, commended their love, he now speaks by way of anticipation, saying, ye need not that I w...

9.As to brotherly love. Having previously, in lofty terms, commended their love, he now speaks by way of anticipation, saying, ye need not that I write to you. He assigns a reason — because they had been divinely taught — by which he means that love was engraven upon their hearts, so that there was no need of letters written on paper. For he does not mean simply what John says in his first Canonical 571 Epistle, the anointing will teach you, (1Jo 2:27) but that their hearts were framed for love; so that it appears that the Holy Spirit inwardly dictates efficaciously what is to be done, so that there is no need to give injunctions in writing. He subjoins an argument from the greater to the less; for as their love diffuses itself through the whole of Macedonia, he infers that it is not to be doubted that they love one another. Hence the particle for means likewise, or nay more, for, as I have already stated, he adds it for the sake of greater intensity.

TSK: 1Th 4:9 - -- touching : Lev 19:8; Psa 133:1; Joh 13:34, Joh 13:35, Joh 15:12-17; Act 4:32; Rom 12:10; Eph 5:1, Eph 5:2; Heb 13:1; 1Pe 3:8; 2Pe 1:7; 1Jo 2:10, 1Jo 3...

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: 1Th 4:9 - -- But as touching brotherly love - The "peculiar charity and affection which one Christian owes to another."Doddridge; see the notes on Joh 13:34...

But as touching brotherly love - The "peculiar charity and affection which one Christian owes to another."Doddridge; see the notes on Joh 13:34.

Ye need not that I write unto you - That is, "as I have done on the other points."They were so taught of God in regard to this duty, that they did not need any special instruction.

For ye yourselves are taught of God - The word here rendered "taught of God"- θεοδίδακτοί theodidaktoi - occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It is correctly translated, and must refer here to some direct teaching of God on their own hearts, for Paul speaks of their being so taught by him as to need no special precepts in the case. He probably refers to that influence exerted on them when, they became Christians, by which they were led to love all who bear the divine image. He calls this being "taught of God,"not because it was of the nature of revelation or inspiration, but because it was in fact the teaching of God in this case, though it was secret and silent. God has many ways of teaching people. The lessons which we learn from his Providence are a part of his instructions. The same is true of the decisions of our own consciences, and of the secret and silent influence of his Spirit on our hearts, disposing us to love what is lovely, and to do what ought to be done. In this manner all true Christians are taught to love those who bear the image of their Saviour. They feel that they are brethren; and such is their strong attachment to them, from the very nature of religion, that they do not need any express command of God to teach them to love them. It is one of the first - the elementary effects of religion on the soul, to lead us to love "the brethren"- and to do this is one of the evidences of piety about which there need be no danger of deception; compare 1Jo 3:14.

Poole: 1Th 4:9 - -- But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: the apostle proceeds from chastity and justice to speak of brotherly love, which is...

But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: the apostle proceeds from chastity and justice to speak of brotherly love, which is love upon a spiritual ground; to love the saints as such, with respect to God as a common Father, and so all his children are brethren, 1Th 2:8,9 ; so Heb 13:1 . And he persuadeth the practice of it by a loving and winning insinuation; Sure you are forward enough of yourselves; as he useth the same artifice, Act 26:27,28 2Co 9:1 ; wherein the apostle tacitly commends them, and hereby would engage them to answer the commendation, and good opinion he had of them.

For ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another what need I write to teach you that which you have already been taught of God? The saints have this promise, Isa 54:13 Jer 31:34 ; fulfilled, 1Jo 2:26,27 : and this Divine teaching is always efficacious, for none teacheth like God. Not that all teaching of men is to be laid aside, as some enthusiasts would hence infer, but that the apostle thought he had less need to teach that which God himself had so effectually taught them. Hereby we perceive that God’ s teaching doth not only enlighten the mind, but reacheth the affections, and especially inclines the heart to love, for God is love; and though they were taught other things of God besides this love, yet he mentions only this as the most proper work of the Spirit of God by the gospel; and though common love of man to man may be found in mere nature.

PBC: 1Th 4:9 - -- Hear message below A healthy church, a model church, doesn't require blood defense for accusations.  It requires reasonableness and graciousness. ...

Hear message below

A healthy church, a model church, doesn't require blood defense for accusations.  It requires reasonableness and graciousness.  So Paul first of all begins by defending his ministry both by motive and example as being a good steward of the gospel and of Jesus Christ.  He calls, not the false accusers, but he calls the Thessalonians themselves to the witness stand.  "For yourselves brethren know our entrance in unto you that it was not in vain but even after that we had suffered before and were shamefully entreated as ye know at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention." 

By the way, and this really begins some of the points I want to emphasize as forcefully as I can this morning in terms of the church's culture - this word contention is not debate, harsh, angry or emotional exchanges.  It is rather the Greek word AGON SGreek: 73. agon , the root for our English word "agony" and it referred in the first century primarily to the energy and effort invested by olympic competetors in the games. 

We know today, not only because of the wonderful publicity of the olympic events that we see on television, but sometimes by the less than perfect demonstrations, that large body of rules governs both the administration and participation of the olympic events and if a competitor in the events has gone through all of the qualifications and the training and is a worthy competetitor, if he breaks the rules he becomes disqualified.  He cannot compete nor gain the goal or any other honor for his competetion.  We think sometimes as we hear about these rules and see perhaps an energetic competitior breaking the rules and being disqualified, "well those rules are so demanding and so strict" but that's the rules and he knew those rules when he entered the competition. 

The issue here is that there are rules of competition and there is a spirit of teaching and interaction within the family of God that should prevail.  It is not the spirit of harsh, competitive or abrasive accusation and acrimony but it is rather a spirit of gracious and winsome gentleness. 

Like it or not, today Christians, as probably at no other time in our lifetime, are we faced with competition in the marketplace of ideas with a variety, a very wide variety, of world views.  I grew up in the bible belt, in the deep South.  It was the competition of Christianity was whether you were a Baptist, a Methodist, a Presbyterian, an Assembly of God or someone like that.  Not only do you have those issues today but you have the competition of many of the cults.  You have the competion of world religions such as Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and you take some of the synergestic blends of all those and you have New Ageism that is far more commonplace in our American culture than we'd like to admit and sometimes it threatens our own thinking and minds with relativism beyond what scripture allows. 

It's not only "what" we say but how we say it that makes our ideas either competitive or non-competitive in this marketplace of ideas in religious thought.  J. T. operates his business based on reputation and the knowledge of people out in the world that he has a certain degree of expertise.  You could go into a marketplace or in to a prospective client - you could convince them that you know exactly what they need, you know exactly how to fix it and you can do it with expertise but you could put on an attitude that would cause you to lose the account before you even got it.  I think sometimes Christians may at times present the truth but they do it in such an unappealing and ungracious spirit that they lose the battle of ideas before the competition begins. 41

Gill: 1Th 4:9 - -- But as touching brotherly love,.... Another branch of sanctification; which is distinct from love to God and Christ, though it always accompanies it, ...

But as touching brotherly love,.... Another branch of sanctification; which is distinct from love to God and Christ, though it always accompanies it, and from love to all mankind; and is what is peculiar to brethren in a spiritual relation, and ought to be universal, fervent, and sincere, and as Christ has loved them: concerning which the following things are said,

ye need not that I write unto you. The Vulgate Latin version reads, "we have no need to write unto you"; and so some copies. It seems that it was needful to write unto them about other things, as to refresh their memories with the instructions they had given them, when with them, how they should walk and please God; and to put them in mind of the commandments given them by Christ, and that their sanctification was the will of God; and particularly it was necessary to write unto them about chastity, and purity of life, whether in or out of the conjugal state; but as for brotherly love, there was no immediate absolute necessity to write about that, either about the nature of it, or to describe the objects of it, or point out instances of it, or to exhort to it in a pressing manner: the reason is,

for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another; not merely by the light of nature, which teaches men to be kind, courteous, affable, and beneficent; nor by the law of Moses, which obliges men to love their neighbours as themselves; nor only doctrinally by the ministry of the Gospel, which frequently inculcates the exercise of this grace as a matter of great importance and consequence; nor only by the new commandment, and example of Christ; but by the Spirit of God internally in regeneration, who, according to the tenor of the new covenant, writes this law of love, and of Christ, upon the heart; and this being written upon the hearts of the Thessalonians, by the finger of the Spirit of God, whereby they were dearly directed, and powerfully taught to exercise this grace, and discharge this duty, and under the influence of the same spirit did exercise it, it was unnecessary for the apostle to write about it, and press them to it.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: 1Th 4:9 Grk “concerning brotherly love.”

Geneva Bible: 1Th 4:9 ( 6 ) But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. ( 6 ) Thirdly, he re...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: 1Th 4:1-18 - --1 He exhorts them to go forward in all manner of godliness;6 to live holily and justly;9 to love one another;11 and quietly to follow their own busine...

Maclaren: 1Th 4:9-18 - --Small Duties And The Great Hope But as touching brotherly love, ye need not that I write unto you; for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one an...

MHCC: 1Th 4:9-12 - --We should notice in others what is good, to their praise, that we may engage them to abound therein more and more. All who are savingly taught of God,...

Matthew Henry: 1Th 4:9-12 - -- In these words the apostle mentions the great duties, I. Of brotherly love. This he exhorts them to increase in yet more and more. The exhortation i...

Barclay: 1Th 4:9-12 - --This passage begins with praise but it ends in warning; and with the warning we come to the immediate situation behind the letter. Paul urged the Th...

Constable: 1Th 4:1-12 - --A. Christian living 4:1-12 Paul used the opportunity this epistle afforded him to give his readers basic...

Constable: 1Th 4:9-12 - --3. Brotherly love 4:9-12 4:9 Whereas the previous exhortation to avoid sexual immorality is a negative prohibition, this one is a positive encourageme...

College: 1Th 4:1-18 - --1 THESSALONIANS 4 IV. EXHORTATION (4:1-5:22) A. EXHORTATION CONCERNING CHRISTIAN LIVING (4:1-12) 1. To Continue in Current Behavior (4:1-2) 1 Fina...

McGarvey: 1Th 4:9 - --But concerning love of the brethren ye have no need that one write unto you [having spoken of that false, unclean, lustful thing which the world calle...

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Introduction / Outline

Robertson: 1 Thessalonians (Book Introduction) First Thessalonians From Corinth a.d. 50-51 By Way of Introduction We cannot say that this is Paul’s first letter to a church, for in 2Th_2:2 h...

JFB: 1 Thessalonians (Book Introduction) The AUTHENTICITY of this Epistle is attested by IRENÆUS [Against Heresies, 5.6.1], quoting 1Th 5:23; CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA [The Instructor, 1.88], qu...

JFB: 1 Thessalonians (Outline) ADDRESS: SALUTATION: HIS PRAYERFUL THANKSGIVING FOR THEIR FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE. THEIR FIRST RECEPTION OF THE GOSPEL, AND THEIR GOOD INFLUENCE ON ALL...

TSK: 1 Thessalonians 4 (Chapter Introduction) Overview 1Th 4:1, He exhorts them to go forward in all manner of godliness; 1Th 4:6, to live holily and justly; 1Th 4:9, to love one another; 1Th ...

Poole: 1 Thessalonians 4 (Chapter Introduction) THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 4

MHCC: 1 Thessalonians (Book Introduction) This epistle is generally considered to have been the first of those written by St. Paul. The occasion seems to have been the good report of the stedf...

MHCC: 1 Thessalonians 4 (Chapter Introduction) (1Th 4:1-8) Exhortations to purity and holiness. (1Th 4:9-12) To brotherly love, peaceable behaviour, and diligence. (1Th 4:13-18) Not to sorrow und...

Matthew Henry: 1 Thessalonians (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The First Epistle of st. Paul to the Thessalonians Thessalonica was formerly the metropolis of Macedoni...

Matthew Henry: 1 Thessalonians 4 (Chapter Introduction) In this chapter the apostle gives earnest exhortations to abound in holiness, with a caution against uncleanness, enforced with several arguments (...

Barclay: 1 Thessalonians (Book Introduction) A GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE LETTERS OF PAUL The Letters Of Paul There is no more interesting body of documents in the New Testament than the letter...

Barclay: 1 Thessalonians 4 (Chapter Introduction) The Summons To Purity (1Th_4:1-8) The Necessity Of The Day's Work (1Th_4:9-12) Concerning Those Who Are Asleep (1Th_4:13-18)

Constable: 1 Thessalonians (Book Introduction) Introduction Historical background Thessalonica was an important city. Cassander, the ...

Constable: 1 Thessalonians (Outline)

Constable: 1 Thessalonians 1 Thessalonians Bibliography Askwith, E. H. "I' and We' in the Thesalonian Epistles." Expositor. Series 8:1 (19...

Haydock: 1 Thessalonians (Book Introduction) THE FIRST EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL, THE APOSTLE, TO THE THESSALONIANS. INTRODUCTION. St. Paul having preached with success at Thessalonica, the chi...

Gill: 1 Thessalonians (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO 1 THESSALONIANS Thessalonica was a very large, populous, and flourishing city, it was "liberae conditionis", as Pliny says a, a fre...

Gill: 1 Thessalonians 4 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO 1 THESSALONIANS 4 In this chapter the apostle proceeds to exhort in general to the performance of good works, particularly to purit...

College: 1 Thessalonians (Book Introduction) FOREWORD This commentary has been produced through a full schedule of college and seminary teaching and church-based ministry. In the current climate...

College: 1 Thessalonians (Outline) OUTLINE I. GREETING - 1:1 II. THANKSGIVING - 1:2-10 A. The Initial Thanksgiving - 1:2-5 1. Paul's Constant Prayers for the Readers - 1:2 ...

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