1 Thessalonians 5:13 (KJV)

Passage

And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

Nearby Context

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

1 Thessalonians 5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

1 Thessalonians 5:13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "esteem", "very", "highly", "love", "sake", "peace", and "yourselves". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "esteem" and "very", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 12's "And we beseech you brethren to know..." into verse 14's "Now we exhort you brethren warn them...", so "esteem" and "very" belong inside that flow. In 1 Thessalonians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "esteem" and "very" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.