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1 Thessalonians 5:14
ESV And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
NIV And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
NASB We urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
CSB And we exhort you, brothers and sisters: warn those who are idle, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
NLT Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
KJV Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
NKJV Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.

What does 1 Thessalonians 5:14 mean?

Church members should not leave the work of ministering entirely to their spiritual leaders. In this verse Paul directs his readers to accept several responsibilities. He charges them with the responsibility to warn loafers about their slothful attitude. He tells his readers to cheer up the fainthearted. Instead of being discouraged, the fainthearted need to be encouraged to progress in the Christian life with confidence.

Paul also calls on the Thessalonian Christians to assist weaker believers to trust the Lord in every situation. It is easy to give up on the idle, the fainthearted, and the weak, so Paul exhorts his readers to exercise patience with them all. Granted, God has bestowed upon some believers the gifts of service, exhortation, and showing mercy, but every believer should minister with love and patience on behalf of the idle, the fainthearted, and the weak among them. Galatians 6:1 instructs those who are spiritual to restore a fellow believer who is "caught in any transgression" but do so gently and humbly. Galatians 6:2 instructs believers to bear one another's burdens. These instructions are in harmony with Paul's comments in this verse.
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