We ask you, brothers, to respect those who are laboring among you and who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you, 13 and to show esteem for them with special love on account of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 We urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, cheer the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one returns evil for evil; rather, always seek what is good [both] for each other and for all. 16 Rejoice always. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophetic utterances. 21 Test everything; retain what is good. 22 Refrain from every kind of evil. 23 May the God of peace himself make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it. Brothers, pray for us [too].
As the Christian community grows, Paul strongly urges the community to respect and love the ministers who, because of their work, have been set apart to guide and admonish them (vv. 12-13). The leaders should rebuke those who are idle and be patient and charitable. All should live in peace experiencing a feeling of well-being and they should practice Christian charity. With patience and without retaliation, they are to encourage and build up one another and strengthen those who are suffering affliction. In all things rejoice; “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice (Phil. 4:4)!” Peace, patience, love, and joy are fruits of the Spirit. The 12 fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness gentleness, self-control, modesty, chastity, and goodness. The first nine are listed in Gal 5:22-23.
Incessant prayer (Luke 18:1) proceeds from the Spirit; “With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit (Eph. 6:18).” Always give thanks to God (Eph. 5:20). The community may have received charismatic gifts from the Holy Spirit. Paul encourages them to use charisms (v. 20), discerning between what is true and morally good, and what is false and evil. Paul uses a similar closing prayer in many of his letters. All blessings come from God including our ultimate sanctification.
Almighty God, we thank
you for the abundant blessings you shower upon us each day. Grant us charisms commensurate with your will and
teach us to discern between what is true and morally good, and what is false
and evil. This we pray through Christ
our Lord. Amen!
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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