¹² Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 

형제들아 우리가 너희에게 구하노니 너희 가운데서 수고하고 주 안에서 너희를 다스리며 권하는 자들을 너희가 알고

This passages follows after the appendix section Paul added ‘lastly’ from 4:1 onwards, which consisted of the insight into Christ’s coming, what is to happen to us and those who have died, and the attitude we should stick to in view of those truths. Now it is a round up of all messages, summarising the letter. It starts with an instruction (or rather a begging, plead) about the people among us whose job is to remind us of these important messages. Three verbs are used to describe how to treat them: the first is to acknowledge (respect, ESV; recognise, NASB), literally, to know.[1] It is a commonly used Greek verb appearing more than 3000 times in the NT. But because of its multiple meaning and usage, it makes you stop and think. It ranges from ‘to perceive, to know, to possess information; recognize, realize, to come to know; to understand’ to ‘to be able to use knowledge’. [2] Contemplating these meanings, what is given in this summary section is not just a word telling the Thessalonians to treat his co-workers well. But to encourage them to put on the highest form of ‘respect’ – to understand what is going on inside the workers of the Lord and to copy them, to resemble them.   

¹³ Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 

저의 역사로 말미암아 사랑 안에서 가장 귀히 여기며 너희끼리 화목하라

The second and third begging verbs are: to highly esteem (ESV) them and to be in peace with them. And the important ground here is because of their work. As for the work, we need to think of what has been said so far: how God orphaned himself for our sake(2:17-) and how Christ wore God’s armour to hang on the cross (5:8-). These are the things that are really at work inside, behind, and above the Lord’s workers. Because of seeing and perceiving this work, we pay respect by following and resembling the workers, in effect following and resembling our Lord first and foremost. As a result we esteem them to be better than ourselves (Phil 2:3) and are reconciled to them (2 Cor 5:19) regardless of small faults they might have on the outside.    

Lord thank you for bringing me to wrestle with these words this morning. I submit to you and therefore let me see, esteem, and be reconciled to your workers. And I as a worker of yours myself, let me be fit to display such working of yours to others, close and far, by contemplating deeply and living out what you are teaching me through this letter. I have far to go, but for you are with me, I am not to fear. Let me be strong and courageous. I long to be with you and in you every moment. Save me in the moments of disappointment, frustration and lack of love. Let me remember you and see you, as you remember me and see me all the time, O Faithful and Watchful Lord.

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[1] εἴδω (eidō) ‘to perceive: see’ (G1492H)

[2] Teknia Greek Dictionary © 1995-2013 Teknia owned by Bill Mounce
http://www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary  via STEP Bible