Teks -- 1 Thessalonians 3:10 (NET)

3:10 We pray earnestly night and day to see you in person and make up what may be lacking in your faith.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: 1Th 3:10 - Exceedingly

Exceedingly ( huperekperissou ).

Double compound adverb, only in 1Th 3:10; 1Th 5:13 (some MSS. ̇ōs ). Like piling Ossa on Pelion, perissōs , abundantly, ek perissou , out of bounds, huperekperissou , more than out of bounds (overflowing all bounds).

Robertson: 1Th 3:10 - And perfect

And perfect ( kai katartisai ).

First aorist active articular infinitive of purpose (eis to ideiṅ̇kai ) of katartizō , to mend nets (Mat 4:21) or men (Gal 6:1) repair. Chiefly late.

Robertson: 1Th 3:10 - That which is lacking in

That which is lacking in ( ta husterēmata ).

The shortcomings, the lacks or left-overs (Col 1:24). From hustereō (husteron ), to be late.

Vincent: 1Th 3:10 - Exceedingly

Exceedingly ( ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ )

Comp. Eph 3:20. Paul is fond of compounds with ὑπὲρ above . Of the 28 N.T. words compounded with ὑπὲρ, 22 are found in Paul, and 20 of them only there.

Vincent: 1Th 3:10 - Perfect

Perfect ( καταρτίσαι )

Primarily, to adjust , fit together ; so mend , Mat 4:21. Of the creation of the world, Heb 11:3. See on Mat 21:16; see on Luk 6:40; see on 1Pe 5:10; see on Rom 9:22.

Wesley: 1Th 3:10 - And perfect that which is wanting in your faith

So St. Paul did not know that "they who are once upon the rock no longer need to be taught by man."

JFB: 1Th 3:10 - Night and day

(See on 1Th 2:9). Night is the season for the saint's holiest meditations and prayers (2Ti 1:3).

JFB: 1Th 3:10 - praying

Connected with, "we joy"; we joy while we pray; or else as ALFORD, What thanks can we render to God while we pray? The Greek implies a beseeching request.

JFB: 1Th 3:10 - exceedingly

Literally, "more than exceeding abundantly" (compare Eph 3:20).

JFB: 1Th 3:10 - that which is lacking

Even the Thessalonians had points in which they needed improvement [BENGEL], (Luk 17:5). Their doctrinal views as to the nearness of Christ's coming, and as to the state of those who had fallen asleep, and their practice in some points, needed correction (1Th 4:1-9). Paul's method was to begin by commending what was praiseworthy, and then to correct what was amiss; a good pattern to all admonishers of others.

Clarke: 1Th 3:10 - Night and day praying exceedingly

Night and day praying exceedingly - Supplicating God at all times; mingling this with all my prayers; ὑπερεκπερισσου δεομενοι, abounding and superabounding in my entreaties to God to permit me to revisit you. How strong was his affection for this Church

Clarke: 1Th 3:10 - Might perfect that which is lacking

Might perfect that which is lacking - That I might have the opportunity of giving you the fullest instructions in the doctrine of Christ, that ye might have every thing in the most ample detail; so that the great outlines of truth which you already know may be filled up, that ye may be perfectly fitted to every good word and work.

Calvin: 1Th 3:10 - Praying beyond measure

10.Praying beyond measure. He returns to an expression of his desire. For it is never allowable for us to congratulate men, while they live in this world, in such unqualified terms as not always to desire something better for them. For they are as yet in the way: they may fall back, or go astray, or even go back. Hence Paul is desirous to have opportunity given him of supplying what is wanting in the faith of the Thessalonians, or, which is the same thing, completing in all its parts their faith, which was as yet imperfect. Yet this is the faith which he had previously extolled marvelously. But from this we infer, that those who far surpass others are still far distant from the goal. Hence, whatever progress we may have made, let us always keep in view our deficiencies, (ὑστερήματα,) ⁵⁵⁹ that we may not be reluctant to aim at something farther.

From this also it appears how necessary it is for us to give careful attention to doctrine, for teachers ⁵⁶⁰ were not appointed merely with the view of leading men, in the course of a single day or month, to the faith of Christ, but for the purpose of perfecting the faith which has been begun. But as to Paul’s claiming for himself what he elsewhere declares belongs peculiarly to the Holy Spirit, (1Co 14:14) this must be restricted to the ministry. Now, as the ministry of a man is inferior to the efficacy of the Spirit, and to use the common expression, is subordinate to it, nothing is detracted from it. When he says that he prayed night and day beyond all ordinary measure, ⁵⁶¹ we may gather from these words how assiduous he was in praying to God, and with what ardor and earnestness he discharged that duty.

TSK: 1Th 3:10 - Night // praying // might perfect

Night : Luk 2:37; Act 26:7; 2Ti 1:3; Rev 4:8, Rev 7:15

praying : 1Th 3:11, 1Th 2:17, 1Th 2:18; Rom 1:10, Rom 15:30-32; Phm 1:22

might perfect : Rom 1:11, Rom 1:12; 2Co 1:15, 2Co 1:24, 2Co 13:9, 2Co 13:11; Phi 1:25; Col 1:28, Col 4:12; 2Th 1:11

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: 1Th 3:10

We have here the last effect of Timothy’ s message upon the apostle, it put him upon prayer for these Thessalonians; expressed by the assiduity of it, night and day, & c., that is, in a constant course; as we noted before, 1Th 2:9 . And by the fervency of it, exceedingly or excessively. The Greek word cannot well be Englished, yet is often used by the apostle when he would express any thing with an emphasis, as Eph 3:20 , and in this Epistle, 1Th 5:13 . And by the matter of it; that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith Though his Epistles might avail towards it, yet his personal presence would do more. There is a peculiar blessing attends oral preaching, more than reading. The like prayer he made with respect to the Romans, and upon the same account also, Rom 1:10,11 . Though the apostle had before commended their faith, yet there was something lacking in it. No faith is made perfect at first; yea, the best faith may have some defects. And the word is used elsewhere to signify something that is wanting, or left behind, 1Co 16:17 Col 1:24 . And their faith might be defective:

1. As to the matter of it, some mysteries of faith they might not yet understand; as the disciples did not, till after Christ’ s ascension; and some of the Corinthians a while doubted the doctrine of the resurrection, 1Co 15:12 , &c.

2. As to the clearness of it, with respect to the truths they did already know and believe.

3. As to the lively operations and fruits of it.

The former defects are removed by doctrine, the last by exhortation and comfort, and the apostle desired to see their face on the account of both: and to perfect a thing is to make it complete, both as to parts and degrees. The word here used we find often in the New Testament, 2Co 13:11 Gal 6:1 , &c.; and variously rendered in the several translations, but yet much to the same sense: the apostle being so suddenly driven from them, he left them as a house half built; but his affection to them was so great, that he longed to return to them for the perfecting of their faith, though he had met but a while before with such great perils at Thessalonica.

Haydock: 1Th 3:10 - That we may see you face // And may accomplish those things that are wanting to your faith?

That we may see you face. Though epistles in absence give great comfort, and help to confirm the faith once delivered, it is by preaching that the faith of Jesus Christ and true religion are both begun and accomplished. ---

And may accomplish those things that are wanting to your faith? That is, give you fuller instructions. (Witham)

Gill: 1Th 3:10 - Night and day praying exceedingly // that we might see your face // and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith

Night and day praying exceedingly,.... This good news, not only comforted their hearts, and revived their spirits, and filled them with joy and thankfulness, but also sent them to the throne of grace to pray without ceasing, continually, night and day, and as often as they went thither, and that with great fervency and earnestness, in a multitude of petitions; or, as the Arabic version renders it, "with prayers exceeding a multitude"; with innumerable requests:

that we might see your face: once more, and converse face to face:

and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? in the grace of faith; for though they remembered their work of faith with pleasure, and had had good tidings of it very lately, and were thankful that it grew exceedingly as it did, yet they knew it was not perfect, there was unbelief attending them: and though it is God's work to increase faith, as well as to produce it, yet, as the ministry of the word is the means of the first planting of it, so it also is of the increase of it. This may likewise be understood of the doctrine of faith, which though they had received in the love of it, and had made considerable progress in their knowledge of it; yet they knew but in part, and needed to be taught the way of God, and truths of the Gospel more perfectly; and the ministry of the word is for the perfecting of the saints in the knowledge of the Son of God, and of other truths; wherefore the apostle desired greatly to see them, that he might be an instrument of instructing them, more perfectly in the knowledge of divine things; and in this, and in the following epistle, he does particularly instruct them about the rise and fall of antichrist, the coming of Christ and the resurrection of the dead, articles of faith in which they seemed to have been deficient: but now, though these saints had deficiencies in their faith, yet they were not what the Jews call ^o מחוסרי אמנה, "such as are deficient in faith", or want faith entirely, a phrase somewhat like this which is here used.