VERSE OF THE DAY

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (New Living Translation)

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So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

So hold each other lifted high building one another up just as you have done before and are doing encourage and uplift one another in motivation and cheer

1 Thessalonians 5:11, KJV: “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” … 1 Thessalonians 5:11, NLT: “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Meaning of Encourage One Another

Jul 4, 2020 by Editor in Chief

1 Thessalonians 5:11
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

Explanation and Commentary of 1 Thessalonians 5:11

It is an enormous blessing that God, who said, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Gen 2:18), has designed his Church to be a family. Understanding the susceptibility that humans have to the lies and blows of the evil one in isolation (Prov 18:1), he sent his Son to reconcile us, not only with himself but also with one another (2 Cor 5:18). This is to the praise of his glory. The Thessalonians were, “in fact” encouraging one another and building each other up already, but Paul exhorts them to continue to do so.

To encourage one another is to give courage where it is needed. The life to which God has called the Christian to be in this world, but not of it, requires moral courage. Encouragement can be given through prayer for one another, through speaking the truth in love (Eph 4:15), and through blessing others with words and deeds. These encouragements are often the difference-maker for someone who is on the edge of falling away. Along with encouragement, building one another up is part of God’s plan to grow us in Christlikeness, holiness, and perfection. This, along with evangelism, is the main goal for participation in the local church.

Breaking Down the Key Parts of 1 Thessalonians 5:11

#1 “Therefore…”

After the exhortation to stay awake and prepared for the day of the Lord, which will come like a “thief in the night” (1 Thes 5:2), Paul calls on them to be “children of the day” who have received the salvation of Christ. The instruction in verse 11 concludes the section.

#2 “…encourage one another and build each other up,”

The primary encouragement Paul commanded by Paul is so that they can be prepared for the return of Christ, which very well may come when they least expect it. The encouragement should be to live as Christians who await his coming, rather than the “children of the night” (1 Thes 5:5), who get drunk and live in darkness. It seems there may have been some problems to this end with the congregation in Thessalonica.

#3 “just as in fact you are doing.”

Paul acknowledges that he is telling them something they already know. His message seems to be, “I know you are doing this, but keep it up, even do it more.”

What Does 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Mean? ►

Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11(NASB)

Verse Thoughts

1 Thessalonians holds a special place in the canon of Scripture, as this was the first epistle the apostle Paul wrote, and it contains a significant amount of Church-age doctrine, including much notable information about the rapture of the Church, and Christ’s second coming, to set up His millennial kingdom.

Unlike many of his other epistles, there are no controversies to correct or false teachings to refute in this book. 1 Thessalonians is characterised by its simple, yet clear biblical teaching, together with instructions, which attests to Paul’s obvious love for these believers and tenderness towards them.

The first eleven verses of this chapter give important information about the prophesised ‘Day of the Lord’, which will come upon the inhabitants of the earth like a thief in the night. ‘The Day of the Lord’ is that coming time of terrible tribulation, which is sometimes called ‘Daniel’s 70th week’ or ‘The Time of Jacob’s Trouble’.

‘The Day of the Lord’ starts with the seven-year long tribulation period, and the return of Christ.. and it stretches forward for a further 1000 years, when Jesus, God’s appointed King, will rule and reign on earth with a rod of iron. And we, who have believed on Christ, during this current Church-age, will rule and reign alongside our Lord and Saviour.

Not only does this passage give important information about the Day of the Lord, but encourages each member of Christ’s body, with some reassuring information about the rapture of Church-age saints, which takes place at the end of this age, and which is called ‘the Dispensation of the Grace of God’ – about which Paul teaches, in greater detail, in the book of Ephesians.

Paul had already given these believers many significant details about the rapture, in the previous chapter. He told them that the Lord Himself would descend from heaven with a shout. He revealed that Christ would come with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God – to meet us in the clouds.

The bodies of Christians who have died, in Christ, will be resurrected before any believers, who are still alive. After the resurrection of Church-age saints, those of us who are still living and remain on earth, will be caught up into the clouds.. together with the resurrected saints, where we will all meet the Lord Jesus in the air. Indeed, Paul exhorts us to comfort one another with these reassuring words.

Having laid out the sequential events of the rapture, at the end of chapter 4, Paul then proceeds to explain what will happen on earth, to those that are left behind, during the first few, terrible years of the prophesised ‘Day of the Lord’.

A ‘Day of Darkness’, will descend on the unsaved, who are left on earth – very suddenly. It will come unexpectedly.. like a thief in the night, after the Church has been removed. Those who rejected God’s offer of salvation will be calling for ‘Peace and safety!’ – But destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labour pains on a woman about to give birth, and they will not escape.

However, Paul reminds us that God has told His children, the end from the beginning. We are not in darkness, like the rest of the unbelieving world. We are not going to be overtaken by this terrible time of trouble, when God pours out His wrath on a God-hating, Christ rejecting, sinful world – for in the previous chapter Paul explained what was in store for Christians! The rapture and resurrection of believers!!

What a comfort to hear Paul explain that God has not destined us for His wrath, during the first part of the Day of the Lord, because we have obtained salvation, by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. The wrath of God was poured out on Him in our stead at Calvary, which is why we are not appointed to wrath. We are not destined go through this 70th week of Daniel. The punishment for our sin has already been paid in full. Christ triumphantly declared on the cross ‘Telestai.’ The price of sin paid in full. ‘It is finished’ and He did it on our account. Because we are already saved, we are to be removed, in the rapture, before this terrible time, and will be with the Lord forever.

Jesus, died for us. He paid the price for our sins. The wrath of God was poured out on Him in our stead, so that whether we are still alive on earth when He comes in the clouds, or cold in our graves, we are not appointed to wrath. We are not appointed to go through the Great Tribulation. Instead, we will be taken to live to be with Him, at the rapture of the saints. No wonder Paul exhorted the Thessalonians, and us.. to encourage one another with this truth and build up one another, with this heartening and joyful revelation – just as you all are doing

Source: https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/1-thessalonians-5-11

Biblical Translations of 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.Jul 4, 2020

What does 1 Thessalonians 5:11 mean?

These verses encourage the Thessalonian Christians to be active, alert, and purposeful in their spiritual lives. The reason for this is the prospect of Christ’s return (1 Thessalonians 5:2), which will physically bring both living and dead believers into His presence (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18).

According to this verse, Christians should let the prospect of spending eternity with Jesus motivate them to encourage and edify one another. Instead of being dismayed as world events unfold, we should remind one another that a better day lies ahead. We look forward to the day when Jesus arrives to rapture His church. In the meantime we should help one another become more like Jesus and better equipped to serve Him.

Paul acknowledges that the Thessalonian believers were edifying one another, because after giving the exhortation to encourage one another, he added, “just as you are doing.” He simply wanted his readers to keep on encouraging one another.

Hebrews 10:23–25 implores us to “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Context Summary

First Thessalonians 5:1–11 informs believers about the day of the Lord. This phrase refers both to the moment of the rapture as well as the seven-year tribulation period that follows the rapture. The passage assures us that believers will not experience the tribulation. The day of the Lord will commence unexpectedly, like the arrival of a thief at night. It is described as a time of darkness with dreadful consequences. Unbelievers, identified as those who belong to the night, will be overtaken by destruction. But believers are, symbolically, of the day not the night. They are not the objects of God’s wrath, but are destined to receive a full rescue from the day of God’s wrath. In view of their exemption from the day of the Lord, believers ought to encourage and edify one another.

Chapter Summary

First Thessalonians chapter 5 reiterates that the rapture will occur quickly, catching the unbelieving world unprepared. In contrast, Paul presents faithful Christians as those who are aware and ready for this event. This passage uses the contrast of day versus night to highlight those differences. Paul also completes his letter by offering various practical instructions. These include the need to be peaceful, hardworking, and forgiving. He also commends constant prayer and an attitude of joyfulness, before closing his letter with a command for this letter to be read aloud