Bible Strands
1 Thessalonians 4:9
Now about brotherly love, you do not need anyone to write to you, because you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the Thessalonian church, pivoting from the command to be holy (v. 8) to an affirmation of their existing practice of mutual love, immediately followed by an exhortation to excel further (v. 10).
The words — philadelphias (φιλἀδελφίας) is a compound of philos (lover, friend) and adelphos (brother), naming the bond as both chosen and familial. Chreian (χρειάν) carries the sense of a practical necessity or requirement, not a mere preference.
The thread — The same command appears in 1 John 3:11 ("we should love one another"), Romans 12:10 ("be devoted to one another in brotherly love"), and 1 John 3:23, where it is paired with belief in Christ as a single commandment.
Why it lands — Paul removes the excuse of ignorance: the Thessalonians already know what to do, and the verse sets up the real demand, which is to outdo what they are already doing.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
Cross-references
- 1 John 3:11 This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
- Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
- 1 John 3:23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and we should love one another just as He commanded us.
- John 13:34 A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.
- Hebrews 13:1 Continue in brotherly love.
- 1 John 4:21 And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.
- Acts 4:32 The multitude of believers was one in heart and soul. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they owned.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:1 Now about the times and seasons, brothers, we do not need to write to you.
- 1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
- 1 John 2:10 Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him.