Thomas Aquinas, on 1Thess 3:7

“Therefore we were comforted, brethren, in you, in all our necessity and tribulation, by your faith,”

“Then when Paul says: we have been comforted about you, he speaks of the threefold effect of their relationship, namely, of spiritual consolation, of the spirit of thanksgiving, in the words: for what thanksgiving can we render to God for you, and of the resultant frequent prayer, in the words: praying night and day. And so Paul tells them: because we have heard such things about you, we are encouraged, although the demands of temporal concerns are pressing, as well as bodily trials. "When the cares of my heart are many, thy consolations cheer my soul" (Ps. 94:19). "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort" (2 Cor. 1:3). And this occurred through your faith, that is, having heard about the reliable character of your faith.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.