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,
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;
- KJV 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;
- 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;
- 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 1:9This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment;
- 1 Th 3:12and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we also do toward you,
- 2 Th 1:3We are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers, even as it is appropriate, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each and every one of you towards one another abounds;
- 1 Th 1:7so that you became an example to all who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.
- 2 Cor 8:8–10I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.
- Phil 3:13–15Brothers, I don’t regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do. Forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before,
- 2 Cor 8:1–2Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia;
- 1 Th 4:1Finally then, brothers, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, that you abound more and more.
- 2 Pet 3:18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
- Col 1:4having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which you have toward all the saints,
- Phlm 1:5–7hearing of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;
- Eph 1:15For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you, and the love which you have toward 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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