1 Thessalonians 4:1 – Superabounding Yet More

1 For the rest, then, brethren, we are asking you and entreating in the Lord Jesus, that, according as you accepted from us how you must be walking and pleasing God (according as you are walking also), that you may be superabounding yet more,

To walk toward a destination, you need to know which direction you are going. The same applies to the believer’s walk of which Paul speaks. Faith is directed toward God’s word, and therefore one’s walk must also be determined by it. Not a code of conduct, but the wisdom of God’s word shows the way. Pleasing God is thus not an imposed burden, but a privilege!

Paul reminds them of what they had received from him. He had not only proclaimed the evangel to them but had also taught them how to walk in accordance with it. And he adds: “according as you are walking also”. So it had not remained mere teaching. The word they received was actually operating in them (2:13). Their walk testified to that.

Yet Paul encourages them to be “superabounding yet more” in this. He uses the same word as in 3:12, where he asks the Lord to make them superabound in love. What he expects from the Lord there, he urges them toward here. Not because their walk falls short, but because there is always more to discover in God’s word. And with that, ever more opportunity to please God!

Share: