1Th 3:6-8 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 6. But now when Timotheus came from you unto us . To Corinth, after he had been sent to Thessalonica, . Comp. . And brought us good tidings . A cheerful or favourable account. Gr., "evangelizing ;" that is, bringing good news. Of your faith . Of your faithfulness or fidelity. Amidst all their trials they evinced fidelity to the Christian cause. And charity . Love. . And that ye have good remembrance of us always . That is, probably, they showed their remembrance of Paul by obeying his precepts, and by cherishing all affectionate regard for him, notwithstanding all the efforts which had been made to alienate their affections from him. Greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you . There was no disposition to blame him for having left them, or because he did not return to them. They would have welcomed him again as their teacher and friend. The meaning of this is, that there was between him and them a strong mutual attachment. (+) "charity" "love" (d) "desiring greatly"

1 Thessalonians 3:6-8

Verse 6. But now when Timotheus came from you unto us. To Corinth, after he had been sent to Thessalonica, Acts 18:5. Comp. 1Thes 3:2.

And brought us good tidings. A cheerful or favourable account. Gr., "evangelizing ;" that is, bringing good news.

Of your faith. Of your faithfulness or fidelity. Amidst all their trials they evinced fidelity to the Christian cause.

And charity. Love. 1Cor 13:1.

And that ye have good remembrance of us always. That is, probably, they showed their remembrance of Paul by obeying his precepts, and by cherishing all affectionate regard for him, notwithstanding all the efforts which had been made to alienate their affections from him.

Greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you. There was no disposition to blame him for having left them, or because he did not return to them. They would have welcomed him again as their teacher and friend. The meaning of this is, that there was between him and them a strong mutual attachment.

(+) "charity" "love" (d) "desiring greatly" Php 1:8 Verse 7. We were comforted over you. 2Cor 1:3 and following; 2Cor 7:6, 2Cor 7:7. The sense here is, that their steadfastness was a great source of comfort to him in his trials. It was an instance where the holy lives and the fidelity of a people did much, as will always be the case, to lighten the burdens and cheer the heart of a minister of the gospel. In the inevitable trials of the ministerial office there is no source of comfort more rich and pure than this.

(e) "comforted" 2Cor 7:6,7 (++) "over you" "concerning" Verse 8. For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. This is equivalent to saying, "My life and comfort depend on your stability in the faith, and your correct Christian walk." Comp. Martial vi. 70. Non est vivere, sed valere, vita--" Life consists not merely in living, but in the enjoyment of health." See, also, Seneca, Epis. 99, and Manilius, iv. 5, as quoted by Wetstein. The meaning here is, that Paul now enjoyed life; he had that which constituted real life, in the fact that they acted as became Christians, and so as to show that his labour among them had not been in vain. The same thing here affirmed is true of all faithful ministers of the gospel. They feel that they have something that may be called life, and that is worth living for, when those to whom they preach maintain a close walk with God.

(f) "fast" Eph 6:13,14, Php 4:1