The Meaning of 1 Thessalonians 4:9 Explained

1 Thessalonians 4:9

KJV: But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

YLT: And concerning the brotherly love, ye have no need of my writing to you, for ye yourselves are God-taught to love one another,

Darby: Now concerning brotherly love ye have no need that we should write to you, for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

ASV: But concerning love of the brethren ye have no need that one write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  as touching  brotherly love  ye need  not  that I write  unto you:  for  ye  yourselves  are  taught of God  to  love  one another. 

What does 1 Thessalonians 4:9 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Whereas the previous exhortation to avoid sexual immorality is a negative prohibition, this one is a positive encouragement. The Thessalonians needed instruction from Paul concerning their sexual behavior. However, God Himself had taught them by His Spirit to love one another (cf. Galatians 5:22).

Context Summary

1 Thessalonians 4:9-18 - United Now And Hereafter In The Lord
It is suggested that God Himself is the teacher of love. Others may teach the lower classes in the school of grace, but the highest is reserved for the Supreme Teacher. Note that recurring more and more, 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:10. The distribution of goods in the early Church may have led to abuses, which the injunctions here given were intended to rectify. It is well to bring up every child to know one means of livelihood, and children are much more likely to grow up into noble and useful people, if they are encouraged to work for their living. Do something in the world!
These disciples anticipated the speedy return of the Lord and feared lest those who had died would be worse off than they: The Apostle bade them dismiss such fears, because they who remained alive until the coming of the Lord would have no precedence over others who had died. Paul assures them that they who had fallen asleep were with Jesus, and that they would accompany Him when He came again; To those who needed to be raised, Jesus would be "the Resurrection"; to those who were living, He would be "the Life." They that believed in Him, though they had died, yet would they live; and they who lived till He came would never die. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Thessalonians 4

1  He exhorts them to go forward in all manner of godliness;
6  to live holily and justly;
9  to love one another;
11  and quietly to follow their own business;
13  and last of all, to sorrow moderately for the dead
17  followed by a brief description of the resurrection, and second coming of Christ to judgment

Greek Commentary for 1 Thessalonians 4:9

Concerning love of the brethren [περι της πιλαδελπιας]
Late word, love of brothers or sisters. In profane Greek (one papyrus example) and lxx the word means love of those actually kin by blood, but in the N.T. it is the kinship in the love of Christ as here. [source]
Are taught by God [τεοδιδακτοι εστε]
Only here and ecclesiastical writers. Passive verbal adjective in τος — ̇tos from διδασκω — didaskō as if τεο — theȯ in ablative case like διδακτοι τεου — didaktoi theou (John 6:45). To love one another (εις το αγαπαιν αλληλους — eis to agapāin allēlous). Another example of εις το — eis to and the infinitive. Only those taught of God keep on loving one another, love neighbours and even enemies as Jesus taught (Matthew 5:44). Note the use of αγαπαω — agapaō not πιλεω — phileō f0). [source]
To love one another [εις το αγαπαιν αλληλους]
Another example of εις το — eis to and the infinitive. Only those taught of God keep on loving one another, love neighbours and even enemies as Jesus taught (Matthew 5:44). Note the use of αγαπαω — agapaō not πιλεω — phileō f0). [source]
Taught of God [θεοδίδακτοι]
N.T.oolxx. Not in Class. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Thessalonians 4:9

John 6:45 Taught of God [διδακτοὶ τοῦ Θεοῦ]
The idea is thrown into a compound adjective, θεοδίδακτοι , in 1 Thessalonians 4:9. [source]
John 6:45 Taught of God [διδακτοι τεου]
A free quotation from Isaiah 54:13 with this phrase in the lxx. There is here the ablative case τεου — theou with the passive verbal adjective διδακτοι — didaktoi (Robertson, Grammar, p. 516). In 1 Thessalonians 4:9 we have the compound verbal τεοδιδακτοι — theodidaktoi The same use of διδακτος — didaktos with the ablative occurs in 1 Corinthians 2:13. And hath learned Second aorist active participle of μαντανω — manthanō It is not enough to hear God‘s voice. He must heed it and learn it and do it. This is a voluntary response. This one inevitably comes to Christ. [source]
Romans 12:10 In love of the brethren [τηι πιλαδελπιαι]
Late word for brotherly love for which see note on 1 Thessalonians 4:9. [source]
Hebrews 13:1 Let brotherly love continue [φιλαδελφία μενέτω]
Φιλαδελφία in Paul, Romans 12:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:9. As a proper name, Revelation 1:11; Revelation 3:7. It is not necessary to suppose that the admonition implies signs of estrangement among those addressed. Comp. Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 6:10; Hebrews 10:24; Hebrews 12:12-15. [source]
Hebrews 10:39 But we [ημεις δε]
In contrast to renegades who do flicker and turn back from Christ. Of them that shrink back unto perdition Predicate genitive of υποστολη — hupostolē as in Hebrews 12:11, from υποστελλω — hupostellō with same sense here, stealthy retreat in Plutarch, dissimulation in Josephus. Here alone in the N.T. Unto the saving of the soul Old word from περιποιεω — peripoieō to reserve, to preserve (Luke 17:33) to purchase (Acts 20:28). So here preserving or saving one‘s life as in Plato, but possession in Ephesians 1:14, obtaining in 1 Thessalonians 4:9. Papyri have it in sense of preservation. [source]
Hebrews 13:1 Brotherly love [πιλαδελπια]
Late word from πιλαδελπος — philadelphos (1 Peter 3:8). See 1 Thessalonians 4:9. It is always in order in a church. To show love unto strangers Old word for hospitality, from πιλοχενος — philoxenos (1 Timothy 3:2), in N.T. only here and Romans 12:3. In genitive case with επιλαντανεστε — epilanthanesthe (present middle imperative, cf. Hebrews 6:10). Have entertained angels unawares Second aorist active indicative of λαντανω — lanthanō old verb to escape notice and first aorist active participle of χενιζω — xenizō old verb to entertain a guest (χενος — xenos stranger), according to a classic idiom seen with λαντανω τυγχανω πτανω — lanthanō class="translit"> tugchanō class="translit"> phthanō by which the chief idea is expressed by the participle (supplementary participle), here meaning, “some escaped notice when entertaining angels.” The reference is to Gen 18; 19 (Abraham and Sarah did this very thing). [source]
James 1:19 Swift to hear [ταχυς εις το ακουσαι]
For this use of εις το — eis to with the infinitive after an adjective see 1 Thessalonians 4:9. For εις το — eis to after adjectives see Romans 16:19. The picture points to listening to the word of truth (James 1:18) and is aimed against violent and disputatious speech (James 3:1-12). The Greek moralists often urge a quick and attentive ear.Slow to speak (βραδυς εις το λαλησαι — bradus eis to lalēsai). Same construction and same ingressive aorist active infinitive, slow to begin speaking, not slow while speaking.Slow to anger He drops the infinitive here, but he probably means that slowness to speak up when angry will tend to curb the anger. [source]
1 Peter 1:22 In your obedience [εν τηι υπακοηι]
With repetition of the idea in 1 Peter 1:2, 1 Peter 1:14 (children of obedience).To the truth (της αλετειας — tēs aletheias). Objective genitive with which compare John 17:17, John 17:19 about sanctification in the truth and 2 Thessalonians 2:12 about believing the truth. There is cleansing power in the truth of God in Christ.Unfeigned Late and rare double compound, here alone in Peter, but see James 3:17; 2 Corinthians 6:6, etc. No other kind of πιλαδελπια — philadelphia (brotherly love) is worth having (1 Thessalonians 4:9; Hebrews 13:1; 2 Peter 1:7).From the heart fervently (εκ καρδιας εκτενως — ek kardias ektenōs). Late adverb (in inscriptions, Polybius, lxx). The adjective εκτενης — ektenēs is more common (1 Peter 4:8). [source]
1 Peter 1:22 Unfeigned [ανυποκριτον]
Late and rare double compound, here alone in Peter, but see James 3:17; 2 Corinthians 6:6, etc. No other kind of πιλαδελπια — philadelphia (brotherly love) is worth having (1 Thessalonians 4:9; Hebrews 13:1; 2 Peter 1:7).From the heart fervently (εκ καρδιας εκτενως — ek kardias ektenōs). Late adverb (in inscriptions, Polybius, lxx). The adjective εκτενης — ektenēs is more common (1 Peter 4:8). [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Thessalonians 4:9 mean?

Concerning now - brotherly love no need you have [for me] to write to you yourselves for you taught by God are in order - to love one another
Περὶ δὲ τῆς φιλαδελφίας οὐ χρείαν ἔχετε γράφειν ὑμῖν αὐτοὶ γὰρ ὑμεῖς θεοδίδακτοί ἐστε εἰς τὸ ἀγαπᾶν ἀλλήλους

Περὶ  Concerning 
Parse: Preposition
Root: περί 
Sense: about, concerning, on account of, because of, around, near.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
τῆς  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
φιλαδελφίας  brotherly  love 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: φιλαδελφία  
Sense: love of brothers or sisters, brotherly love.
οὐ  no 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὐ  
Sense: no, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer.
χρείαν  need 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: χρεία  
Sense: necessity, need.
ἔχετε  you  have  [for  me] 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἔχω  
Sense: to have, i.e. to hold.
γράφειν  to  write 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: γράφω 
Sense: to write, with reference to the form of the letters.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
αὐτοὶ  yourselves 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
θεοδίδακτοί  taught  by  God 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: θεοδίδακτος 
Sense: taught of God.
εἰς  in  order 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀγαπᾶν  to  love 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: ἀγαπάω  
Sense: of persons.
ἀλλήλους  one  another 
Parse: Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀλλήλων  
Sense: one another, reciprocally, mutually.