King James Version

What Does 1 Thessalonians 2:11 Mean?

“As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you , as a father doth his children,”

Context

For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you , as a father doth his children,

That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Read full chapter →

Commentary

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(11) **As** (emphatic):” *we* lived holily—just (in fact) as you remember we tried to induce each one of *you* to live.” **Every one,—**Now they appeal to the *individual* recollection of the Thessalonians. It gives us an incidental glimpse of the apostolic method,—which was, to deal with individual souls. (Comp. Acts 20:20; Acts 20:31; Colossians 1:21.) St. Chrysostom exclaims: “Fancy! not one in all that multitude passed over!” The image is changed from that of motherly tenderness to that of fatherly direction. **Comforted** is here used as almost equivalent to “exhorted,” or, rather, *encouraged, *when the moral aspirations were beginning to flag. **Charged.**—Better, *adjured;* so Galatians 5:3.

Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Thessalonians. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Thessalonians 2:11 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.