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18. Ὥστε παρακαλεῖτε ἀλλήλους ἐν τοῖς λόγοις τούτοις. Therefore cheer one another in these words,—the λόγος κυρίου which 1Th 4:15-17 have communicated, and the other apostolic words accompanying it. Ὥστε with imperative, or cohortative subjunctive, is an idiom St Paul often uses at the point where argument or explanation passes into appeal; cf. 1Co 3:21; 1Co 4:5; 1Co 5:8, &c.: the present imperative enjoins habitual comforting. For παρακαλέω, in its varied uses, see note on 1Th 2:12; here synonymous with παραμυθέομαι, as it stands opposed to λυπεῖσθαι (1Th 4:13). Ἐν τοῖς λόγοις τούτοις, “in (the use of) these words,”—at their public reading in the Church assembly (cf. 1Th 5:27; see note); then, presumably, in the repetition of their teaching by Thessalonians to each other when need occurred. Ἐν is perhaps instrumental (see Ellicott ad loc.)—“with these words”: later Greek tended to prefix ἐν to the bare dative thus. To this message of their Letter the Apostles attach great weight; they expect it to be distinctly remembered and often recalled: cf. 1Th 5:11; 1Th 5:14, and notes.