And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
Parallel translations
- WEB for indeed you do it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brothers, that you abound more and more;
- BSB And you are indeed showing this love to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to excel more and more
- NKJV and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;
- NASB for indeed you practice it toward all the brothers and sisters who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to excel even more,
- NLT Indeed, you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia. Even so, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you to love them even more.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
They already love all the believers across Macedonia, yet Paul urges them to do so even more. Even strong love can keep growing.
Overview
Paul affirms that their love already reaches beyond their own congregation to believers throughout the region. Still, he exhorts them to "abound more and more," the same call to growth seen in v. 1. Love, like all the graces, is never finished but always to be increased.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Phil 1:9And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
- 1 Th 3:12And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
- 2 Th 1:3We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
- 1 Th 1:7So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
- 2 Cor 8:8–10I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
- Phil 3:13–15Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
- 2 Cor 8:1–2Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
- 1 Th 4:1Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
- 2 Pet 3:18But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
- Col 1:4Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
- Phlm 1:5–7Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
- Eph 1:15Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
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Christ at the center
The believer waits for God's Son from heaven, Jesus who delivers from the wrath to come and who will return to gather his people to himself.
How 1 Thessalonians 4:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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