1 Thessalonians 2:17

But we, brethren, being taken from you bereaved of you (R. V.), or torn away from you; lit., orphaneda word employed in Greek with some latitude the very strongest expression the Apostle could find, occurring only here in the N.T.

for a short time Lit., season of an hour, as we say, "an hour's time." St Paul expected, when he left Thessalonica, to be able to return very shortly. Meanwhile the apostles felt themselves to be parted from their friends "in presence (or person) not in heart." The comfort of their parting was the hope of speedy reunion:

"Parting is such sweet sorrow,

That I shall say Good-night, till it be morrow."

We find from Acts 17:10 that it was "the" Thessalonian "brethren" who "sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berœa," in order to secure their safety. Unwilling to go, the apostles were eager to return:

we … endeavoured the more abundantly exceedingly(R. V.): we were the more earnest in our endeavours (because our hearts were so truly one) to see your face, with great desire.

"Face" is identical in Greek with the "presence" of the former clause: they were parted in sight, not in affection; but true affection longs for sight. This "great desire" excited and sustained the apostles" endeavours. "We longed for the sight of your dear faces, and did our utmost to get back to you:" so in ch. 1 Thessalonians 3:10, "Night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face." Such, too, was the love of St John to his friends: "But I hope speedily to see thee; and we will talk mouth to mouth" (2 John 1:12; 3 John 1:14). "The spiritual interest of the Apostle about his converts is never for a moment separate from his tender human love for them" (Jowett).