1 Thessalonians 1:3

Work of faith; work which has faith for its source, and is therefore itself an exercise of faith. So the following expression, labor of love, is to be understood.

Patience; the steadfast endurance of trials; an endurance sustained by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ; or, more literally, hope of our Lord Jesus Christ; that is, the hope of his second coming in glory to receive his people to himself, which is made so prominent in the two epistles to the Thessalonians: verse 1Th 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 1 Thessalonians 2:1-20. The piety of believers and their activity in doing good awaken fervent gratitude in the ministers of Christ, and lead them to render hearty and devout thanksgiving to God.