1Th 5:12-13 | RWP | e4.org | Them that labour among you ( τους κοπιωντας εν υμιν ). Old word for toil even if weary. And are over you in the Lord ( κα προισταμενους υμων εν Κυριω ). Same article with this participle. Literally, those who stand in front of you, your leaders in the Lord, the presbyters or bishops and deacons. Get acquainted with them and follow them. And admonish you ( κα νουθετουντας υμας ). Old verb from νουθετης and this from νους (mind) and τιθημ , to put. Putting sense into the heads of people. A thankless, but a necessary, task. The same article connects all three participles, different functions of the same leaders in the church.

‏ 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

Them that labour among you ( τους κοπιωντας εν υμιν ). Old word for toil even if weary.

And are over you in the Lord ( κα προισταμενους υμων εν Κυριω ). Same article with this participle. Literally, those who stand in front of you, your leaders in the Lord, the presbyters or bishops and deacons. Get acquainted with them and follow them.

And admonish you ( κα νουθετουντας υμας ). Old verb from νουθετης and this from νους (mind) and τιθημ, to put. Putting sense into the heads of people. A thankless, but a necessary, task. The same article connects all three participles, different functions of the same leaders in the church.

And to esteem them ( κα ηγεισθα ). Get acquainted with them and esteem the leaders. The idlers in Thessalonica had evidently refused to follow their leaders in church activities. We need wise leadership today, but still more wise following. An army of captains and colonels never won a battle.