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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
"For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit." The direct thing to have said here was, "even though I be absent in the flesh, yet, nevertheless, I know the deceivers"; but instead he has ended with praise, "Joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ." "Your order," he means, your good order. "And the steadfastness of your faith in Christ." This is still more in the way of encomium. And he said not "faith," but steadfastness, as to soldiers standing in good order and firmly. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
Though by the connection of the speech he ought to have said: although I am absent in the flesh, yet spiritually I see the deceivers. But he turned this word into a commendation. Listen. For not only, he says, have you not fallen, but among you no one has disturbed the order and firm faith that is yours. Just as in a battle formation good order makes the phalanx strong, so too the Church is firm when there is good order in it, love unites all, and there are no divisions. …
Western Saints
Thomas Aquinas
Above, he warned them against falling away from the faith as a result of some deceptive language; here he gives the reason for this advice, which is based on the good things they have and should not destroy, but allow to grow. First, he calls to mind the goods which they have; and secondly, he shows how these should grow within them (v. 6). In regard to the first, he does two things. First, he shows how he happens to know about the good things they have; secondly, he mentions what these goods are (v. 5b). …
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