Fathers

1 Thessalonians 3

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Therefore when we couldn’t stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone, and sent Timothy, our brother and God’s servant in the Good News of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith, that no one would be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task. For most certainly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction, even as it happened, and you know. For this cause I also, when I couldn’t stand it any longer, sent that I might know your faith, for fear that by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor would have been in vain. But when Timothy came just now to us from you, and brought us glad news of your faith and love, and that you have good memories of us always, longing to see us, even as we also long to see you, for this cause, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith. For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. For what thanksgiving can we render again to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God, night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith? Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. May the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another, and toward all men, even as we also do toward you, to the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

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What the Fathers say

1 Thessalonians 3:12

Eastern Fathers

Theophylact of Ohrid

Do you see the irresistible impulse of love in the fact that he prays for them, that the Lord would fill and overfill them with love? And not only toward one another, but toward all. For the love of God is revealed precisely in the fact that it strives to embrace everyone. But if you love one person and not another, then this is human love.

Commentary on 1 Thessalonians ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

The other is for their welfare, so Paul asks: and may the Lord make you increase, that is, in faith: "May the Lord add to his people a hundred times as many as they are" (1 Chr. 21:3). And Paul prays also that their merits may increase; so he says, and abound in love, which can always increase in this life: "Above all these put on love, which binds everything together" (Col. 3:14). And, first, charity to one another, secondly, charity to all men. …

Commentary on 1 Thessalonians ↗