Deeper Reflection1 THESSALONIANS IS “AT HEART A RECORD OF THE APOSTLES’ gratitude to God. Their thanksgiving must not be glossed over as a formality, as if they were bowing their heads to give thanks before getting to the ‘meat’ of the letter (in 1 Thess 4:1). The giving of thanks and the reports of their prayer are in fact a large part of the letter’s substance [1 Thess 1-3]”
45. Paul expresses his thanksgiving to God at three points in the letter: for the Thessalonians’ “standing fast in the Lord” (vv.8-9) as manifested in their “work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope” (1 Thess 1:2-3), and evidence of the Word of God working in their lives (1 Thess 2:13).Paul’s thanksgiving to God is marked by
immensity: “What thanksgiving can we return to God for you?” (v.9). What Paul is saying is, “What kind of thanksgiving could possibly be sufficient?”
46 and “How can we thank God enough for you?” (v.9, NIV). It means that our hearts are so filled and overflowing with deep gratitude to God. Out of this immense thanksgiving is Paul’s prayer with
intensity: “most earnestly” – “quite beyond all measure”
47, and “night and day” he prayed for face-to-face meetings with the Thessalonians so as “to fix any deficiencies”
48 in their faith (v.10). Apparently, Paul worked and prayed overlappingly “night and day” (1 Thess 2:9).
49 As his work was with “labour and toil”, so was his prayer. For Paul, this face-to-face meeting with the Thessalonians was critical enough to demand such intensive prayer.Are our thanksgiving and prayer marked by immensity and intensity?
45 Gary S. Shogren, 22-23
46 Gary S. Shogren, 141
47 Gary S. Shogren, 141
48 Gary S. Shogren, 142
49 John R. W. Stott, Thessalonians, 66
