1 Thessalonians 4:9 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 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 is introduced, not with a compliment, but with a commendation, because they were remarkable in the exercise of it, which made it less needful that he should write to them about it, 1 Thess. 4:9. Thus by his good opinion of them he insinuated himself into their affections, and so made way for his exhortation to them. Note, We should take notice of... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

4:9-12 You do not need that I should write to you about brotherly love; for you yourselves are taught of God to love one another. Indeed you do this very thing to all the brothers who are in the whole of Macedonia. But we do urge you, brothers, to go on to more and more, and to aim at keeping calm and minding your own business. We urge you to work with your hands, as we instructed you to do, so that your behaviour may seem to those outside the Church a lovely thing and so that you may need no... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 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, 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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 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 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 1 Thessalonians 3:6 . read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 4:9

Verse 9 9As 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, (1 John 2:27) but that their hearts were... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:1-18

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:9

The apostle now proceeds to a new exhortation. But as touching brotherly love. Brotherly love is the love of Christians to Christians, that special affection which believers bear to each other; a virtue which was carried to such perfection in the primitive Church as to call forth the admiration of their heathen adversaries. This virtue is often inculcated in Scripture ( Hebrews 13:1 ; 1 John 3:14 ), and is distinguished from love in general ( 2 Peter 1:7 ). Ye need not that I write... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Thessalonians 4:9

But as touching brotherly love - The “peculiar charity and affection which one Christian owes to another.” Doddridge; see the notes on John 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... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12. As touching brotherly love That peculiar affection which one disciple of Christ owes to another; ye need not so much that I should write unto you; for ye yourselves Independent of any teaching of mine; are taught of God By his Spirit; to love one another In an especial manner, even with pure hearts fervently, 1 Peter 1:22. And indeed ye do it And not only with respect to the brethren in your own city, but toward all who are in Macedonia All the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

4:1-12 TEACHING ABOUT MARRIAGE AND WORKGod’s will is that there be continual progress in the lives of believers, leading them to increasing holiness. As they try more to please God, they will become increasingly different from those who do not know God (4:1-3a).For example, in relations between the sexes, Christians will not be uncontrolled as the pagans are, but will restrain their sexual passions (3b-5). If they commit immoral acts they shame themselves and harm others. They also sin against... read more