Fathers

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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 ↗