Fathers

1 Thessalonians 3

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Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

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What the Fathers say

1 Thessalonians 3:5

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"For this cause I also, when I could no longer forbear, sent that I might know your faith, lest by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor should be in vain." A Question lies before us to-day, which is much disputed, and which is gathered from many sources. But what is this question? "For this cause," he says, "when I could no longer forbear, I sent Timothy that I might know your faith." What sayest thou? …

Homily on 1 Thessalonians 4 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Here some ask: why did he who was caught up to the third heaven, who heard inexpressible words (2 Cor. 12:6), not know what was happening with the Thessalonians, but sent Timothy "to learn about their faith"? One may say that not everything was known even by the saints who lived before Christ and after Christ. For Elisha too did not know about the Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:8). And Elijah thought that he alone was left, while there were still seven thousand others (1 Kings 19:10). …

Commentary on 1 Thessalonians ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent that I might know your faith, how firm you are in your faith: "Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds" (Prov. 27:23); for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you, that is, the devil: "And the tempter came" (Matt. 4:3). …

Commentary on 1 Thessalonians ↗