1 Thessalonians 5:27

1 Thessalonians 5:27

I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.

a. NLT: I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters.

b. NIV: I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.

    

c. YLT: I charge you by the Lord, that the letter be read to all the holy brethren;

d. Amplified Bible Classic: I solemnly charge you [in the name of] the Lord to have this letter read before all the brethren.

e. Worrell Translation: I adjure you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brethren

f. Wuest Translation: I adjure you by the Lord that the [foregoing] letter be read to all the brethren.

1. “I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.”

a. I charge [3726 horkizo hor-kid'-zo from 3727; to put on oath, i.e. make swear; by analogy, to solemnly enjoin:--adjure, charge.] [Zodhiates: to put to an oath, make to swear.]

b. you [Strong: 5209 humas hoo-mas' accusative case of 5210; you (as the objective of a verb or preposition):--ye, you (+ -ward), your (+ own).]

c. [by the] Lord [Strong: 2962 kurios koo'-ree-os from kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title):-- God, Lord, master, Sir.]

d. that this [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

e. epistle [Strong: 1992 epistole ep-is-tol-ay' from 1989; a written message:--"epistle," letter.]

f. be read [Strong: 314 anaginosko an-ag-in-oce'-ko from 303 and 1097; to know again, i.e. (by extension) to read:--read.] [Zodhiates: to perceive accurately, later it came to mean to recognize. In the NT and Sept. it always meant read.]

g. unto all [Strong3956 pas pas including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:--all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.]

h. the holy [Strong: 40 hagios hag'-ee-os from hagos (an awful thing) (compare 53, 2282); sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated):--(most) holy (one, thing), saint.]

i. brethren [Strong: 80 adephos ad-el-fos' from 1 (as a connective particle) and delphus (the womb); a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like 1):--brother.]

1). Paul received the New Covenant gospel from Jesus himself.

a). Galatians 1:11, 12 But I certify you brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

2). The epistles of Paul embody that gospel. Paul knew that the epistles he was writing were the words and commands of God.

a). 1 Corinthians 14:36, 37 What? came the word of God out from you? Or came it unto you only?

14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

3). This is why he commanded, at the direction of the Lord, for the letters to be distributed and read and studied by the whole church.

a). Colossians 4:16 “And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

b). It appears that the epistle to the Colossians would answer some questions from a letter that was written by the Laodiceans.

4). Before Peter’s death there was a group or body of Paul’s letters that was distributed among the churches. These epistles were regarded as being on equal footing or authority as the Old Covenant.

a). 2 Peter 3:15, 16 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

5). Rick Renner 1/19/17 Throughout Paul’s writings in the New Testament, he uses the word “brethren” when he writes to the churches. This word comes from the Greek word adelphos, which is one of the oldest words in the New Testament. In the King James Version, it is usually translated as the word “brethren.” However, it actually has a much deeper meaning than this. In its very oldest sense, the word adelphos (“brother”) was used by physicians in the medical world to describe two people who were born from the same womb. So when the early Greeks addressed each other as “brethren,” they meant to convey the idea: “You and I are brothers! We came out of the same womb of humanity. We have the same feelings; we have similar emotions; and we deal with the same problems in life. In every respect, we are truly brothers!” In part, this was Paul’s thinking when he addressed his readers as “brethren.” By using this terminology, he brought himself right down to the level of his readers to identify with their position in life and with their personal struggles and victories. They were truly brothers — born from the womb of God, related by the blood of Jesus Christ, and members of the same spiritual family. But the word “brethren” also had another very significant meaning during New Testament times, a meaning that it doesn’t have in our world today. It was used during the time of Alexander the Great to describe faithful soldiers. These fighting men were true brothers, comrades, and partners who were united to fight the same fight, handle the same weapons, and win the same wars! From time to time, Alexander the Great would hold huge public ceremonies where he would give awards to soldiers who had gone the extra mile in battle. When the most coveted awards were given, Alexander the Great would beckon the most faithful soldiers on stage to stand next to him. Before an audience of adoring soldiers, Alexander would embrace each faithful soldier and publicly declare, “Alexander the Great is proud to be the brother of this soldier!” That word “brother” was this same Greek word adelphos, but in this instance, it referred to military men who were brothers in battle. This was the highest and greatest compliment that could be given to a solider during the time of Alexander the Great. Thus, to be a “brother” meant that a person was a true comrade. Through the thick and thin of battle, these soldiers stood together, achieving a special level of brotherhood known only by those who stay united together in the heat of the fray. This was also part of what Paul had in mind when he wrote to the Early Church.