Thomas Aquinas, on 1Thess 3:9

“For what thanks can we return to God for you, in all the joy wherewith we rejoice for you before our God,”

“Then when Paul says, for what thanksgiving can we render to God for you, the second effect of their existent relationship is treated, namely, the spirit of thanksgiving, as if implying: I am not worthy to supply fitting thanks to God for you: "With what shall I come before the Lord?" (Mic. 6:6). "What shall I render to the Lord for all his bounty to me?" (Ps. 116:12). However, the prayers of thanksgiving are offered for all the joy; a joy which is not entirely visible, but which we feel for your sake in our conscience before our God who beholds this; or perhaps before God in that those close to God please God: "Love does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right" (1 Cor. 13:6).”

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