1 Thessalonians 3:9

9. τῳ κυριῳ, instead of τῷ θεῳ, א* (also εμπροσθεν του κυριου later) D*G (the Gothic Version has domino deo, by conflation): an aberrant Western reading—perhaps determined by εν κυριῳ at the end of 1 Thessalonians 3:8.

B reads περι ημων, for περι υμων.

9. τίνα γὰρ εὐχαριστίαν δυνάμεθα τῷ θεῷ� …; For what due thanksgiving can we render to God for you …? Ἀντί in ἀνταποδοῦναι implies correspondence between the boon and its acknowledgement (cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:6; Luke 14:14; Colossians 3:24, &c.); ἀποδοῦναι, to give back, repay, appears in 1 Thessalonians 3:13; Romans 2:6; Romans 13:7; Luke 20:25, &c. For εὐχαριστία, see note on -τέω, 1 Thessalonians 1:2. Γάρ, of explanation, naturally introduces this question: the fact that the writers cannot thank God enough for “the joy” given to them by Timothy’s report, shows how greatly they were encouraged by it (1 Thessalonians 3:7), and how vital to them is the fidelity of this Church (1 Thessalonians 3:8). This inexpressible thanks is due to God, who upholds the readers under the storm of persecution: see 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; and cf. John 10:29; John 17:11, &c.

ἐπὶ πάσῃ τῇ χαρᾷ ῇ χαίρομεν διʼ ὑμᾶς ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν, for all the joy with which we rejoice because of you before our God. For ἐπί in this connexion, see note on 1 Thessalonians 3:7. Πᾶσα ἡ χαρά is “the sum of joy” collectively: cf. 1 Thessalonians 3:7; 1 Corinthians 13:2; Philippians 1:3. Ἧ,, perhaps by attraction for the cognate accus. ἥν, as in Matthew 2:10; yet χαρᾷ χαίρειν in John 3:29 (cf. 1 Peter 1:8): Hebraistic feeling favoured such emphatic assonant combinations (see e.g. Isaiah 35:2; Isaiah 66:10), but they were idiomatic in Greek poetry. Χαίρειν διά, as in John 3:29; John 11:15; while the ordinary ἐπί (as with παρακαλοῦμαι, εὐχαριστία above) would give the occasion of χαίρειν, and ἐν the ground (Philippians 1:18; Philippians 3:1, &c.), διά introduces the reason of joy, that to which it is referred on reflexion: when the Apostles consider what this news from Thessalonica means and all it implies in their converts (cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:4), their hearts overflow with gladness before God. For the ἔμπροσθεν clause, cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:3; since “our God”—the God of the Christian faith and revelation—sent His servants on the errand of the Gospel (1 Thessalonians 2:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:4, &c.), “to” Him “thanks” are “rendered back,” and “before” Him “the joy” is testified which its assured success awakens. Ten times, with an emphasis of affection, is the pronoun ὑμεῖς repeated in 1 Thessalonians 3:6-10.