What Does 1 Thessalonians 5:14 Mean?

(14) **Now we exhort you, brethren.**—Rather *and* than *now.* The writers turn to the presbytery, and explain their duty in the administration of discipline to the flock. The flock will be more apt to receive the discipline when they see with what apostolic authority their pastors are armed. Several special parts of the clerical office are then enumerated. **Warn.**—The same Greek word as “admonish” in 1Thessalonians 5:12, and selected for that very reason. The “unruly” or “disorderly” are those who infringe good discipline—said of soldiers who leave their ranks: here notably of those mentioned in 2Thessalonians 3:11. **Feebleminded.**—Or, *fainthearted, pusillanimous.* Such persons, *e.g., *as were overburdened with sorrow for the dead, or afraid of the persecutions, or the like. **Support the weak.**—Or, *keep hold* of them, to help them on. The “weak” are not quite the same as the “feebleminded,” but rather (judging from Romans 14:1 *et seq.*) those who have not attained that robust common-sense and breadth of conscience which discriminates between truths and superstitions, necessities and expediencies; or who are not yet ripe enough Christians to be sure of standing in persecution. **Patient toward all men.**—Church officers are not to be rendered impatient by the defects, errors, weakness, stupidity, unbelief of any one, catholic, heretic, or heathen.