1 Thessalonians 3:10

night and day praying exceedingly In this last adverb, peculiar to St Paul, he strains language to express the ardour of his feeling: beyond measure exceedingly; it recurs in ch. 1 Thessalonians 5:13 and Ephesians 3:20. Night and dayputs more vividly the "without ceasing" of ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:3; comp. ch. 1 Thessalonians 2:9.

"Praying" is here, more strictly, begging, or beseeching, and points to the wantof the suppliant (comp. 2 Corinthians 5:20, "We begyou, on Christ's behalf, Be reconciled to God"); whereas the ordinary word for prayer (see e.g. ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 3:1) indicates devotion towards the object of worship. Prayer goes with thanksgiving, as in ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3, and constantly in St Paul; comp. ch. 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18.

that we might see your face mightmakes the realisation seem distant and doubtful; read may (R. V.). See notes on ch. 1 Thessalonians 2:17.

and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith Or, may make good the deficiencies of your faith; not so much what was lacking in as lacking totheir faith. Thessalonian faith was in itself steadfast and vigorous (ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1Th 3:6-8; 2 Thessalonians 1:3, "Your faith groweth exceedingly"); but it needed the supplement of added Christian light and moral wisdom. Hence the teaching and admonition the Apostle supplies in chaps. 4, 5 and in the Second Epistle (see Introd. pp. 23 25). Timothy's return from Thessalonica and the news he brought, while removing St Paul's great anxiety, made him still more sensible of the need this young and most promising Church had for the continued instruction which he alone could supply. This increased his eagerness to revisit the Thessalonians. For a similar wish less warmly expressed, inasmuch as it concerned strangers see Romans 1:9-15; Romans 15:23.

The word rendered "perfect" means to fit up, furnish, fully equip; it is used of "mendingnets" (Matthew 4:21), of "vessels fittedfor destruction" (Romans 9:22), and of "perfectingsaints for work of ministration" (Ephesians 4:12).