Explanation of the Text 1 Thess. 5:14 Responsibilities of Leaders

1Th 5:14  And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the unruly, comfort the timid, sustain the weak, and be patient towards all. 

Notes : And we exhort you, Brothers and Sisters ( or we entreat you Brothers) Shogren.

Now Paul addresses those who are responsible to 'admonish' other believers. Vvs 12 -22 could be addressed to all believers because all are expected to help their fellow Christians and companions in the faith. (4:18; and 5;11). Shogren prefers to address the Leaders (the Elders)

admonish = warn those who are idle or disruptive, or are disorderly ASV (the correct translation) or are undisciplined NJB.

2Th 3:6  But, by the authority of the Lord, we command you, brethren, to stand aloof from every brother whose life is disorderly and not in accordance with the teaching which all received from us. 

2Th 3:7  For you yourselves know that it is your duty to follow our example. There was no disorder in our lives among you, 

2Th 3:8  nor did we eat any one's bread without paying for it, but we laboured and toiled, working hard night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you. 

2Th 3:9  This was not because we had not a claim upon you, but it arose from a desire to set you an example--for you to imitate us. 

2Th 3:10  For even when we were with you, we laid down this rule for you: "If a man does not choose to work, neither shall he eat." 

2Th 3:11  For we hear that there are some of you who live disorderly lives and are mere idle busybodies. 

2Th 3:12  To persons of that sort our injunction--and our command by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ--is that they are to work quietly and eat their own honestly-earned bread. 

2Th 3:13  But you, brethren, must not grow weary in the path of duty; 

2Th 3:14  and if any one refuses to obey these our written instructions, mark that man and hold no communication with him--so that he may be made to feel ashamed. 

2Th 3:15  And yet do not regard him as an enemy, but caution him as a brother. 

These people are disorderly because of their failure to work.

comfort the timid, ( or discouraged) 

1Th 2:11  For you know that we acted towards every one of you as a father does towards his own children, encouraging and cheering you, 

1Th 2:12  and imploring you to live lives worthy of fellowship with God who is inviting you to share His own Kingship and glory. 

These people were being persecuted by families, society and work-places.

Eze 34:4  The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought back that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with rigor have ye ruled over them. 

Paul always pastored with great sensitivity those under His care.

sustain the weak  stand by the weak. A Caring Ministry is always to stand by the weak. 

Physically  Pe 3:7  Ye husbands, in like manner, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered. 

The sick: Jas 5:14  Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 

Jas 5:15  and the prayer of faith shall save him that is sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, it shall be forgiven him. 

Even the spiritually over-sensitive :1Co 9:22  To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. 

1Co 8:7  Howbeit there is not in all men that knowledge: but some, being used until now to the idol, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 

Weakness here denotes someone who is not strong in the truth of God's Word.

and be patient towards all. 

This is a general instruction towards all believers. Patience and Long-suffering are attributes of God especially mentioned in the OT.

Jer 15:15  O Jehovah, thou knowest; remember me, and visit me, and avenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered reproach. 

2Co 1:6  But whether we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which worketh in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: 

1Co 13:4  Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

Gal 5:23  meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.