1 Thessalonians 5:14

14. Exhort you Conybeare heads this with a title indicating that it is addressed “to the presbyters.” And undoubtedly the functionaries implied in 1 Thessalonians 5:12 would be the proper persons to take these words especially to themselves. Yet we lack any word to authorize any limitation of the words to them. They are addressed to all persons in the Church able to receive and perform the duties aright.

Unruly Dr. Clarke, with some plausibility, treats the terms of this verse as being military. This word primarily designates a soldier who does not stand in rank or order; hence, disorderly.

Feeble-minded Literally, small-souled. The pusillanimous, the narrow-minded, people of little culture and small intellect, need the culture, the tender consideration, of our sweet gospel.

Support the weak The world in its pride is ready to crush them. It calls the feeble-minded man a fool, the timid a coward, and the weak a nuisance, and hustles them out. In “the struggle for existence” they have a poor chance. The law of “the survival of the fittest” has no mercy for them. “Natural Selection” rejects them and sends them off to perish. But our Christianity is a higher law than the law of death to the weakest. It sees an immortality, a redemption by Christ, a value above all physical worlds, In the humblest form of humanity. It stands before the weak and says, Do not crush, but support.

Toward all Not merely of the Church, but as in next verse, all others.