All believers (“brothers”) in Thessalonica are urged to respond to three groups of troubled believers with the imperative (mood of command) verbs - “warn,” “encourage,” and “help.” The three troubled groups of believers in the Thessalonian church are listed as:

1. “Idle” – is the word ataktous which is from a root word that Paul will use five times with the Thessalonians (1 Thes. 4:11; 5:14; 2 Thes. 3:6, 7, 11). The word has two meanings: soldiers who do not stay in step and students or workers who are lazy and do not do their work. The word has the basic meaning of “disorderly,” and “out of rank.” Based on Paul’s use of the word and its meaning it would appear Paul is referring to “warning” the Thessalonians who are not working, are not providing for themselves and who are wasting everyone else’s efforts with their meddling and gossiping. All the “brothers” are to “warn” these people who are idle and out of step with the rank and order of the rest of the church.
2. “Timid” – the Greek word “timid” means “to have little spirit/soul” and can also be translated “fainthearted,” “worried,” “fearful,” “discouraged.”  This word, oligopsychoi, is not used again in the New Testament. In the context of Paul’s letter it would appear that those who “have little spirit” or are “fainthearted” are those who are troubled due to the persecution they are facing or are “fearful” and “discouraged” about the end time events and the timing of the “parousia” (the coming of Christ) that is explained to comfort them in 1 Thes. 4:13-5:1-11.  These believers need these words of comfort and assurance spoken to them frequently to help them maintain their hope and understanding.
3. “Weak” – The word “weak” (asthenoi) can be used in reference to physical weakness or sickness, but the text would seem to be speaking to spiritual weakness in the face of persecution (1 Thes. 3:3-5) or of moral inability to resist the pagan culture (1 Thes. 4:3-8) and the sin nature. In this case the believers are to “help” the weak which means “to lay hold or, to hold firmly to.” Hold onto the weak by standing shoulder to shoulder with those who are weak in the face of persecution or in the habit of a pagan life. “Help” here means to “hold on to “ and “support” the weak.

Paul then tells the believers who are doing the “warning,” the “encouraging” and the “helping” of their brothers who are “idle,” “timid,” and “weak” to “be patient with everyone.” It is not easy, nor is it a quick process to make an idle person active and productive, a timid person bold and courageous and a weak person strong and self-reliant. Those who are helping them will need to be patient. One word of warning most likely will not be enough. The warning will have to be repeated by the believers in patience. One time of explanation and comfort may not relieve the timid. The weak is going to need more than just being lifted up to their feet, they will need to be held on to and supported. All of this will require the believers to be patient with everyone.

"Holiness can be defined
as simply doing things
the way they were
supposed to be done."
- Galyn Wiemers