1 Thessalonians 4 · Verse 9

1 Thessalonians 4:9

But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
1 Thessalonians 4:9, King James Version

1 Thessalonians 4:9 in other translations

BSBNow about brotherly love, you do not need anyone to write to you, because you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.
WEBBut concerning brotherly love, you have no need that one write to you. For you yourselves are taught by God to love one another,
ASVBut concerning love of the brethren ye have no need that one write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another;
YLTAnd concerning the brotherly love, ye have no need of my writing to you, for ye yourselves are God-taught to love one another,
DARBYNow concerning brotherly love ye have no need that we should write to you, for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
BBEBut about loving the brothers, there is no need for me to say anything to you in this letter: for you have the teaching of God that love for one another is right and necessary;
WebsterBut concerning brotherly love ye need not that I write to you: for ye yourselves are taught by God to love one another.

What does 1 Thessalonians 4:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. brotherly love, &c.--referring here to acts of brotherly kindness in relieving distressed brethren. Some oldest manuscripts support English Version reading, "YE have"; others, and those the weightiest, read, "WE have." We need not write, as ye yourselves are taught, and that by God: namely, in the heart by the Holy Spirit (Joh 6:45; He 8:11; 1Jo 2:20, 27). to love--Greek, "with a view to," or "to the end of your loving one another." Divine teachings have their confluence in love [Bengel].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 9. But as touching brotherly love. The "peculiar charity and affection which one Christian owes to another." Doddridge. Jn 13:34.

Ye need not that I write unto you. That is, "as I have done on the other points." They were so taught of God in regard to this duty, that they did not need any special instruction.

For ye yourselves are taught of God. The word here rendered "taught of God" θεοδιδακτοι occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It is correctly translated, and must refer here to some direct teaching of God on their own hearts, for Paul speaks of their being so taught by him as to need no special precepts in the case. He probably refers to that influence exerted on them when they became Christians, by which they were led to love all who bear the Divine image. He calls this being "taught of God," not because it was of the nature of revelation or inspiration, but because it was, in fact, the teaching of God in this case, though it was secret and silent. God has many ways of teaching men. The lessons which we learn from his Providence are a part of his instructions. The same is true of the decisions of our own consciences, and of the secret and silent influence of his Spirit on our hearts, disposing us to love what is lovely, and to do what ought to be done. In this manner all true Christians are taught to love those who bear the image of their Saviour. They feel that they are brethren; and such is their strong attachment to them, from the very nature of religion, that they do not need any express command of God to teach them to love them. It is one of the first--the elementary effects of religion on the soul, to lead us to love "the brethren;" and to do this is one of the evidences of piety about which there need be no danger of deceptions. Comp. 1Jn 3:14.

(c) "taught of God" Jn 15:12,17

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 Touching brotherly love - They were remarkable for this; and though the apostle appears to have had this as a topic on which he intended to write to them, yet, from the account which he received of their prosperous state by Timothy, he finds that it is unnecessary to spend any time in inculcating a doctrine which they fully understood and practised. See 1Thes 3:6.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
We should notice in others what is good, to their praise, that we may engage them to abound therein more and more. All who are savingly taught of God, are taught to love one another. The teaching of the Spirit exceeds the teachings of men; and men's teaching is vain and useless, unless God teach. Those remarkable for this or any other grace, need to increase therein, as well as to persevere to the end. It is very desirable to have a calm and quiet temper, and to be of a peaceable and quiet behaviour. Satan is busy to trouble us; and we have in our hearts what disposes us to be unquiet; therefore let us study to be quiet. Those who are busy-bodies, meddling in other men's matters, have little quiet in their own minds, and cause great disturbances among their neighbours. They seldom mind the other exhortation, to be diligent in their own calling, to work with their own hands. Christianity does not take us from the work and duty of our particular callings, but teaches us to be diligent therein. People often by slothfulness reduce themselves to great straits, and are liable to many wants; while such as are diligent in their own business, earn their own bread, and have great pleasure in so doing.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Thessalonians 4:9 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΠερὶPeriConcerningG4012
δὲdenowG1161
τῆςtēs<the>G3588
φιλαδελφίαςphiladelphiasbrotherly loveG5360
οὐounoG3756
χρείανchreianneedG5532
ἔχετεecheteyou have [for me]G2192
γράφεινgrapheinto writeG1125
ὑμῖν·huminto you;G4771
αὐτοὶautoiyourselvesG846
γὰρgarforG1063
ὑμεῖςhumeisyou yourselvesG4771
θεοδίδακτοίtheodidaktoitaught by GodG2312
ἐστεesteareG1510
εἰςeisin orderG1519
τὸto<the>G3588
ἀγαπᾶνagapanto loveG25
ἀλλήλους·allēlousone another;G240

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Thessalonians 4:9

  • 1 John 3:11

    For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

  • Romans 12:10

    Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

  • 1 John 3:23

    And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

  • John 13:34-35

    A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

  • Hebrews 13:1

    Let brotherly love continue.

  • 1 John 4:21-5:1

    And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:1

    But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

  • 1 Peter 4:8

    And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

  • 1 John 2:10

    He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

  • Acts 4:32

    And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

  • Ephesians 5:1-2

    Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

  • 1 John 2:20-27

    But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: but he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
touching.
Le 19:8; Ps 133:1; Joh 13:34,35; 15:12-17; Ac 4:32; Ro 12:10
Eph 5:1,2; Heb 13:1; 1Pe 3:8; 2Pe 1:7; 1Jo 2:10; 3:11,14-19,23
1Jo 4:7-16
ye need.
5:1; Jer 31:34; Heb 8:10,11; 1Jo 2:20-27
for ye.
Isa 51:13; Mt 22:39; Joh 6:44,45; 13:34; 14:26; 15:12,17; Eph 5:2
Heb 10:16; 1Pe 4:8; 1Jo 3:11,23; 4:21; 5:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:8

    He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:9

    But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:10

    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;

Read all of 1 Thessalonians 4

1 Thessalonians 4:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas acerca de la caridad fraterna no habéis menester que os escriba: porque vosotros mismos habéis aprendido de Dios que os améis los unos á los otros;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Or, quant à l’amour fraternel, vous n’avez pas besoin que je vous en écrive; car vous-mêmes, vous êtes enseignés de Dieu à vous aimer l’un l’autre;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Was aber die Bruderliebe betrifft, so habt ihr nicht nötig, daß wir euch schreiben, denn ihr selbst seid von Gott gelehrt, einander zu lieben;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		De caritate autem fraternitatis non necesse habemus scribere vobis: ipsi enim vos a Deo didicistis ut diligatis invicem.