2 Thessalonians 1:4

so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God The triumph of the Gospel at Thessalonica had given peculiar gratification of the Apostle (1 Thessalonians 1:8; 1Th 3:7-9; 1 Thessalonians 2:20, "You are our glory and joy"). For the advantageous position of this Church and its great activity caused its testimony for Christ to spread throughout the neighbouring provinces. He is thinking now, however, of more distant Churches those of Judæa, for example (which he calls "churches of God" in 1 Thessalonians 2:14), and of Syria, with whom Silas and himself would be in correspondence. To them he had sent this cheering news, expressing his joy over the faith and devotion of the new converts in language of exultation. Similarly in 2 Corinthians 9:2 he speaks of "boasting to the Macedonians" of the liberality of Corinth. He delighted to praise one Church before another.

But why does he write "we ourselves," laying stress on the fact that he and his companionswere thus boasting? Because, surely, they were slow to boast of anything that redounded to their own credit (see Galatians 6:14; 2 Corinthians 12:1-6, "It is not expedient for me, doubtless, to glory"), as the Thessalonians well knew (1 Thessalonians 2:6-7); and yet they could not refrain from "boasting" over them. This unwonted and irrepressible glorying before menshows how deep and fervent was St Paul's thanksgiving to God.

for your patience and faith On "patience" see note to 1 Thessalonians 1:3. There we find endurance of hope, here endurance and faithare linked together. For it was the persistence of the Thessalonians" faith, the way in which it endured the severest strain, that was so wonderful and made the Apostle point them out with pride to the older Churches.

in all your persecutions and the afflictions which you are enduring: so the last clause of the verse literally reads. "Persecutions" formed the chief element in their sufferings (1 Thessalonians 2:14; Acts 17:5-9); but they had to endure afflictions of many kinds. Comp. Hebrews 10:32-33, "Ye endured a great conflict of sufferings, being made a gazing-stock by reproaches and afflictions, … and partakers with those so used."

Afflictions: same word as in 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 1Th 3:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 3:7 (see notes on the last two vv.).