1 Thessalonians 4:9
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse doesn't just say believers love each other; it emphasizes that this love is a divine education – a skill God Himself has directly taught them. This means genuine brotherly love isn't just a nice personality trait, but a supernatural work of God actively at play within the church.
Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is continuing his encouragement to the Thessalonian believers, addressing practical aspects of their faith. After correcting some misunderstandings about the return of Christ and addressing idleness, he now shifts to the importance of mutual love within the community. This section builds on their existing faith and reassures them that their love for one another is something God has actively taught them.
Paul praises the Thessalonians for their love, but hints at a deeper source. What makes their love so special?
Paul doesn't just mean they're generally nice people. He's pointing to a divine impartation of love. They haven't just learned about love from a book or a teacher; they've been taught by God Himself.
This divine teaching isn't necessarily a loud voice from heaven. It's the Holy Spirit working within believers, transforming their hearts and minds so that loving others becomes a natural outflow of their new life in Christ. It’s a love that stems from experiencing God’s own love for us.
Paul opens with 'concerning brotherly love.' Why is this specific kind of love so important to mention?
The term 'brotherly love' here refers to the deep affection and care believers have for one another within the Christian community. It's not just casual friendship; it's a familial bond rooted in their shared identity in Christ.
Paul's commendation means this love was already a visible hallmark of the Thessalonian church. It served as tangible evidence that their faith was genuine and that God was truly at work among them. It’s the love that binds the family of God together.
Understand the original words
Ask a follow-up
philadelphia · Greek Noun
Specifically, brotherly affection among the people of God. It is the natural, God-wrought love that should characterize the relationships between fellow believers.
adelphoi · Greek Noun
A term of endearment and spiritual equality for fellow believers. It highlights the shared relationship and common identity of those who are in Christ.
Jesus gives a new commandment: to love one another, marking believers as His disciples. This highlights the divine source of the love Paul mentions in Thessalonians.
1 John 4:7-8This passage emphasizes that love comes from God and that those who do not love do not know God, reinforcing the idea that true brotherly love is divinely imparted.
Galatians 5:22-23Brotherly love is presented as a fruit of the Spirit, aligning with the Thessalonians' teaching 'by God' and showing that this love is an internal work of God's Spirit.
Romans 12:10Paul directly instructs believers to 'love one another with brotherly affection,' echoing the Thessalonians' own experience of being taught this love by God.
The verse doesn't just say believers love each other; it emphasizes that this love is a divine education – a skill God Himself has directly taught them. This means genuine brotherly love isn't just a nice personality trait, but a supernatural work of God actively at play within the church.
Paul is continuing his encouragement to the Thessalonian believers, addressing practical aspects of their faith. After correcting some misunderstandings about the return of Christ and addressing idleness, he now shifts to the importance of mutual love within the community. This section builds on their existing faith and reassures them that their love for one another is something God has actively taught them.
Paul is continuing his encouragement to the Thessalonian believers, addressing practical aspects of their faith. After correcting some misunderstandings about the return of Christ and addressing idleness, he now shifts to the importance of mutual love within the community. This section builds on their existing faith and reassures them that their love for one another is something God has actively taught them.
"Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another," — The verse doesn't just say believers love each other; it emphasizes that this love is a divine education – a skill God Himself has directly taught them. This means genuine brotherly love isn't just…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
