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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Are not even ye before our Lord Jesus at His coming? For ye are our glory and our joy." Are the Macedonians, tell me, thy hope, O blessed Paul? Not these alone, he says. Therefore he has added, "Are not ye also?" For "what," he says, "is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying"? Observe then the words, which are those of women, inflamed with tenderness, talking to their little children. "And crown of glorying," he says. …
Gregory of Nazianzus
What then is my defence? If it be false, you must convict me, but if true, you on behalf of whom and in whose presence I speak, must bear witness to it. For you are my defence, my witnesses, and my crown of rejoicing, if I also may venture to boast myself a little in the Apostle's language. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
Are not these the words of mothers burning with the tenderest love, speaking with little children? The word "crown" was not enough for him to show his fervor, but he added also "of boasting." For in you, he says, I hope that on account of you I shall be deemed worthy of great boldness before Christ, and of joy for the very reason that you both now are and then will be for me a "crown of boasting," that is, a crown of brilliant glory. What then? Are the Thessalonians alone your hope, holy Paul? No, not they alone. …
Western Saints
Leo the Great
I entreat you, therefore, by the mercies of the Lord, aid with your prayers him whom you have sought out by your solicitations, that both the Spirit of grace may abide in me and that your judgment may not change. May He who inspired you with such unanimity of purpose, vouchsafe to us all in common the blessing of peace: so that all the days of my life being ready for the service of Almighty God, and for my duties towards you, I may with confidence entreat the Lord: "Holy Father, keep in Thy name those whom Thou hast given me:" and …
Thomas Aquinas
Then when Paul says: for what is our hope, he gives the reason for his proposal. First, in regard to the future; secondly, in regard to the present (2:20). Paul says: I desire to see you and I give thanks for your blessings which are our hope; for it is on account of these blessings that we hope for rewards from God, when He shall come to render to every one according to his deeds. For the greatest reward of the preacher comes from those whom he has converted. …
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