1 Thessalonians 4:9 (DRB)

Passage

But as touching the charity of brotherhood, we have no need to write to you: for yourselves have learned of God to love one another.

Nearby Context

1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto sanctification.

1 Thessalonians 4:8 Therefore, he that despiseth these things, despiseth not man, but God, who also hath given his holy Spirit in us.

1 Thessalonians 4:9 But as touching the charity of brotherhood, we have no need to write to you: for yourselves have learned of God to love one another.

1 Thessalonians 4:10 For indeed you do it towards all the brethren in all Macedonia. But we entreat you, brethren, that you abound more:

1 Thessalonians 4:11 And that you use your endeavour to be quiet: and that you do your own business and work with your own hands, as we commanded you: and that you walk honestly towards them that are without: and that you want nothing of any man's.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "touching", "charity", "brotherhood", "need", "write", "yourselves", "learned", and "love". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "touching" and "charity", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "Therefore he that despiseth these things despiseth..." into verse 10's "For indeed you do it towards all...", so "touching" and "charity" 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 "touching" and "charity" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.