‘But we beg you, brothers and sisters, to know those who labour among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.'
From the very beginning the early church appointed leaders over the flock. The earliest church was overseen by the Apostles themselves (Acts 2:42; Acts 4:35) but they soon saw it necessary for the church to appoint subsidiary officials (Acts 6:2-4), who were separated off and shown to be their representatives by the laying on of hands (Acts 6:6), and who then felt that they had authority to preach (Acts 6:7; Acts 6:10; Acts 8:4-6). They also had the synagogues to act as an example, whereby a council of elders was appointed and it seems extremely probable that as the church spread throughout Judea and Samaria, elders would be chosen on that pattern to oversee affairs.
There is no suggestion of an ordained ministry (apart from the Apostles) and the lack of mention of such is significant, but overseeing elders soon specifically occur (Acts 11:30; Acts 14:23; Acts 15:2; Acts 15:4; Acts 15:22; Acts 20:17 compare Titus 1:5), although subject finally to the church as a whole (Acts 15:22). There were also ‘prophets and teachers' (Acts 13:1; Acts 15:32), and they not only preached and taught but were seen as having authority of a kind to send out Paul and Barnabas in the name of the church (Acts 13:3). They may well therefore have been the equivalent of teaching elders. The fact that they laid hands on them may suggest that the same had once happened to themselves, probably by the Apostles. Paul and Barnabas were ‘chief men among the brothers' (Acts 15:22). But generally activity was by ‘the brothers' (e.g. Acts 9:13; Acts 15:23; Acts 15:40; Acts 16:2; Acts 17:10; Acts 17:14), which in view of Acts 15:22-23 probably means the whole church, although as having representatives.
Thus we may surmise that the church at Thessalonika had elders, and/or prophets and teachers. It is these that Paul has in mind in these verses.
‘Know those who labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you.' ‘Know'. This means acknowledge them, and recognise and appreciate them. Their work is described as ‘labour', laborious toil. It clearly involved them in a great deal of activity. Paul certainly knew how hard a good servant of Christ had to labour (see 1 Corinthians 15:10; Galatians 4:11; Philippians 2:16; Colossians 1:29; 1 Timothy 4:10). Especially when God is mightily at work within (Colossians 1:29). Serving God truly is tiring both physically and spiritually. ‘Those who are -- presiders over you in the Lord' may suggest elders. The word means those who ‘rule, direct, manage, are concerned about, care for' but it is not to be by lording it over the flock (see 1 Peter 5:3). They are also called ‘overseers' (bishops - Titus 1:5 with Titus 1:7; Acts 20:17 with Acts 20:28), those who watch over. ‘Admonish you' may suggest prophets and teachers.
‘And to esteem them highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.' This may suggest that there had been some dissension, with possibly tactlessness and authoritarianism on one side and unresponsiveness on the other. So Paul asks both to consider their ways, the brothers to accept lovingly their overseers because of the work they did, and all to ensure peace between themselves. ‘Esteem highly'. This is very strong in the Greek. They are to look on them as what they are, God's representatives, and to accord them Christian love, the love that is due to all the brothers and sisters. ‘Be at peace' addresses both sides. All are to acknowledge any fault and restore peace among themselves, possibly following Jesus' instructions in Matthew 18:15-17. Compare here Mark 9:50; Romans 14:19; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Colossians 3:15; 2 Timothy 2:22).