9 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?” (1 Thessalonians 3:9–10 (ESV)
Joined with the attitude of thanksgiving and joy for the Thessalonian believers, was the earnest and consistent prayer conducted by the Apostle Paul, Silas and Timothy on their behalf. All three were involved in this discipline, evidenced by the personal pronouns “we,” and “our.” The phrase “as we pray” (δεόμενοι; deomenoi) is a present, middle plural participle. The three church planters prayed continually, personally and collectively for these believers.
In this context, to pray was to beg, and to ask with an urgency for a presumed need. In other words, the prayers by Paul, Silas and Timothy were not for what the Thessalonians wanted, but rather for what they needed.
These prayers were most earnestly brought to God night and day. The adverbial phrase “most earnestly (ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ; hyperekperissou) means beyond all measure, to an extreme degree, involving a considerable excess in what would be expected. It describes the attitude of prayer. The image of praying night and day emphasizes the duration of these earnest prayers; they prayed throughout a 24-hour period. Hyperbole? Perhaps, but then again perhaps not. Can you recall situations or individuals for whom you prayed, or pray, for each and every day and well into the evening hours? I’m sure you can.
What was the reason, or reasons, for these earnest and ongoing prayers by Paul, Silas and Timothy for the Thessalonians? They had to be important.
To begin with, it was for the opportunity to see them again, face to face. The phrase “face to face (πρόσωπον; prosopon) is another way of saying to see someone in person or to be in their physical presence. Telephone calls, emails, texts, Twitter, Facetime and Zoom calls are all nice. How much nicer to see someone physically in front of you in order to touch, to talk and to be together.
The second reason for these ongoing prayers was to supply what was lacking in their faith. To supply (καταρτίσαι; katarisai) means to restore or provide what is lacking. Paul does not mention anything specifically, but whatever he sensed they needed, it was obviously important. The phrase “what is lacking” (ὑστερήματα; hysteremata) refers to what is needed and has not been acquired or received in their personal trust, dependence, commitment and worship of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Even though Paul is still struggling with the problem how to make an adequate return for blessings already received, this does not deter him from asking for still more! In fact, the very manner in which previous petitions have been answered makes him all the more earnest (note over-abundantly or with intense earnestness) in praying for something in addition to what has already been received. Hence, thanksgiving (“rejoicing before our God”) is accompanied by prayer. Note how Paul, though working at a trade by night and by day (see on 2:9), still finds time to pray, and this also by night and by day,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.
“The content of the prayer or petition is stated in two infinitive-clauses, but the two really express one idea, namely, that God’s providence may permit the missionaries to return so that they may once more see the face(s) of (that is, be present among, and rejoice in the fellowship of) the Thessalonian believers in order to supply the deficiencies (see also 1 Cor. 16:17; Phil. 2:30; Col. 1:24; then 2 Cor. 8:13, 14; 9:12; 11:9) of their faith. The verb to supply has the primary meaning to knit together, to unite (1 Cor. 1:10). The idea of knitting together (think of the work of an artisan, which is related to the Greek verb), by an easy transition, has become to make whole, to round out (cf. Gal. 6:1 to re-instate or restore) or, as here, to supply what is still lacking.”
What deficiencies were these believers experiencing in their faith? Since Scripture interprets Scripture, this letter itself may provide the answer. First, the Thessalonians were confused about the doctrine of Christ’s return. Therefore, Paul is already preparing them for what he is going to say in 4:13–5:3. Second, although the Lord had blessed these recent converts with many a spiritual grace, there is always room for improvement. The virtues already present must begin to abound more and more (4:1, 10). Third, some members of the congregation were disorderly, some were fainthearted, and others were weak (5:14).
“The Thessalonians enjoyed a positive state spiritually, but that does not mean they knew everything there was to know about Christ or that they had reached the end of their spiritual growth. They had come far, but they still had far to go, for believers never reach a point where they cannot advance further in the faith,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
John Calvin comments: “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, that we may not be reluctant to aim at something farther.”
Philippians 3:10–14 (ESV) says, “10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Let us resolve to press on and to pray for others to do the same. May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
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