Deeper Reflection
PAUL EXHORTS THE THESSALONIANS TO RELATE RIGHTLY and properly with their church leaders (vv.12-13). Luke mentions two leaders from Thessalonica in Acts: Aristarchus and Secundus, who were Paul’s travel companions (Acts 20:4). Aristarchus was with Paul in Ephesus (Acts 19:29) and on the dangerous sea journey to Rome (Acts 27:2), and as “Aristarchus my fellow prisoner” in Rome (Col 4:10). This shows that the Thessalonian church “had responsible leaders”⁴². We are not told, and so we do not know, why Paul gives the particular exhortation. “Probably some church members had been disrespectful towards their leaders”, or “some leaders may have provoked this reaction by their heavy-handed or autocratic behaviour”⁴³.One fundamental mark of spiritual leaders is, they “labour” or “work hard” (kapiaō) among God’s people (v.12). (Side note: When you are discipling a younger believer, you are a spiritual leader and a shepherd doing pastoral work). True pastoral work is hard work. Kapiao “normally refers to manual occupations”, and means to “toil, strive, struggle and to grow weary in doing so”⁴⁴. It is “to engage in hard work, implying difficulties and troubles”⁴⁵. It “conjures up pictures of rippling muscles and pouring sweat”⁴⁶.Scripture talks about spiritual leaders “who labour (kapiaō) in preaching and teaching” the Word of God (1 Tim 5:17). This presupposes labouring in studying the Scriptures, not just merely for ministry, but personal growth (cf. Ezr 7:10), so that God’s Word is ministered out of a running stream. Christian ministry that aims to grow people to maturity in Christ requires “toiling (kapiaō) and struggling” with God’s “power mightily working within me” (Col 1:28-29).

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⁴² John R. W. Stott, Thessalonians, 119 ⁴³ John R. W. Stott, Thessalonians, 119 ⁴⁴ John R. W. Stott, Thessalonians, 119 ⁴⁵ Johannes P. Louw & Eugene A. Nida, 42.47 ⁴⁶ John R. W. Stott, Thessalonians, 119