Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Thessalonians 5:25

"Brethren, pray for us." — 1 Thessalonians 5:25 (ASV)

Following his prayer, Paul offers his readers opportunity to reciprocate along three lines. First, he requests prayer for himself and his fellow missionaries. The scope of “brothers” presents two possibilities. On the one hand, Paul may be referring to the church leaders (cf. “all the brothers” in vv.26–27). But a strict distinction cannot be made between leaders and followers in vv.26–27. Moreover, vv.12–13 (which also have “brothers”) address the congregation at large and even tend to exclude leadership. In each case where “brothers” is found earlier in the letter, the whole church is included. Hence, Paul probably follows his customary policy of requesting prayer from the total body, not just from a limited few (Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12).

Paul depended on his converts’ spiritual support (Romans 15:30; Ephesians 6:19; Colossians 4:3; 2 Thessalonians 3:1; Phm 22). So now he asks for a continuing place in their prayers (v.17), similar to the place they have been given in his (vv.23–24).