1 Thessalonians 3:10

Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? NIGHT AND DAY (note, 1 Thessalonians 2:9). Night is the season for the saints' holiest meditations and prayers (2 Timothy 1:3). PRAYING. What thanks can we render to God, praying as we do, etc.? [ Deomenoi (G1189), a beseeching request.] EXCEEDINGLY, [ huperekperissou (G5240a)] - 'more than exceeding abundantly' (cf. Ephesians 3:20). THAT WHICH IS LACKING. Ev...

10_Praying beyond measure_. He returns to an expression of his _desire_. For it is never allowable for us to congratulate men, while they live in this world, in such unqualified terms as not always to desire something better for them. For they are as yet in the way: they may fall back, or go astray, or even go back. Hence Paul is desirous to have opportunity given him of _supplying what is wanting in the faith _of the Thessalonians, or, which is the same thing, completing in all its parts their faith, which was as yet imperfect. Yet this is the faith which he had previously extolled marvelously. But from this we infer, that those who far surpass others are still far distant from the goal. Hence, whatever progress we may have made, let us always keep in view our _deficiencies_, ( ὑστερήματα,) (559) that we may not be reluctant to aim at something farther....

6-10 Thankfulness to God is very imperfect in the present state; but one great end of the ministry of the word is to help faith forward. That which was the instrument to obtain faith, is also the means of increasing and confirming it, namely, the ordinances of God; and as faith cometh by hearing, so it is confirmed by hearing also....

Verse 10. _NIGHT AND DAY PRAYING EXCEEDINGLY_] Supplicating God at _all times_; mingling this with all my prayers; υπερεκπερισσου δεομενοι, abounding and superabounding in my entreaties to God to permit me to revisit you. How strong was his affection for this Church! _MIGHT PERFECT THAT WHICH IS LACKING_] That I might have the opportunity of giving you the fullest instructions in the doctrine of Christ, that ye might have every thing in the most ample _detail_; so that the great _outlines_ of truth which you already know may be _filled up_, that ye may be perfectly fitted to every good word and work....

NIGHT AND DAY - Constantly. PRAYING EXCEEDINGLY - Greek, abundantly; that is, there was much more than ordinary prayer. He made this a special subject of prayer; he urged it with earnestness, and without intermission; compare 1 Thessalonians 2:17. AND MIGHT PERFECT THAT WHICH IS LACKING IN YOUR FAITH - Might render it complete, or fill up anything which is missing. The word used here (καταρτίσαι katartisai), means, properly, to make fully ready, to put full in order, to make complete; see the Romans 9:22 note; 2 Corinthians 13:9

EXPOSITION CONTENTS.—The apostle, no longer able to repress his longing and anxiety for the Thessalonians, resolved to be left alone at Athens, and sent Timothy for the purpose of exhorting them to endurance amid their persecutions, and to bring him information concerning their condition. Timothy had just rejoined him at Corinth, and the apostle expresses the extreme satisfaction which he felt at the welcome tidings which his messenger had brought of their faith and love; it put new life into him, and comforted him in all his affliction and distress. He prays God that he may be permitted to revisit the Thessalonians, and to supply what was still defective in their faith; and he makes it the object of his earnest supplication that the Lord Jesus would make them so to increase in love and establish them in holiness that they may be blameless at his appearance with all his holy ones....

NIGHT AND DAY PRAYING EXCEEDINGLY,.... This good news, not only comforted their hearts, and revived their spirits, and filled them with joy and thankfulness, but also sent them to the throne of grace to pray without ceasing, continually, night and day, and as often as they went thither, and that with great fervency and earnestness, in a multitude of petitions; or, as the Arabic version renders it, "with prayers exceeding a multitude"; with innumerable requests: THAT WE MIGHT SEE YOUR FACE: once more, and converse face to face: AND MIGHT PERFECT THAT WHICH IS LACKING IN YOUR FAITH? in the grace of faith; for though they remembered their work of faith with pleasure, and had had good tidings of it very lately, and were thankful that it grew exceedingly as it did, yet they knew it was not perfect, there was unbelief attending them: and though it is God's work to increase faith, as well as...

PERFECT (_ See Scofield) - (Matthew 5:48). _...

III. AFFLICTIONS AND COMFORT CHAPTER 3 _ 1. Timotheus, Paul's messenger 1 Thessalonians 3:1)_ 2. His return with good tidings and the apostle's comfort and joy 1 Thessalonians 3:6) 3. This earnest desire 1 Thessalonians 3:11) 1 Thessalonians 3:1 His longing for the beloved Thessalonians and his solicitude for them became so great that he could no longer forbear and he decided to be left alone in Athens and send Timotheus to Thessalonica. He knew they had great afflictions and that there was danger that they might not endure and then his l

THE MISSION OF TIMOTHY TO THESSALONICA. Paul's distress and anxiety with regard to the fate of the Church led him to send Timothy upon a mission of inquiry. He describes the effect produced upon him by Timothy's reassuring report. 1 THESSALONIANS 3:2. SENT TIMOTHY: in * Acts 17:14 f; Acts 18:5, Silas and Timothy left Paul at Berœ a on the sea-coast and did not rejoin him till after his arrival at Corinth. It is possible, however, that Timothy followed him to Athens and was subsequently despatched to Thessalonica. TO ESTABLISH: the object of Timothy's mission was: (_a)_ to consolidate the Church, (_b)_ to comfort the Christians in the face of persecution....