whom alone he had for his consolation, his companion and fellow-laborer, and him too in the very midst of dangers. “And our labor,” he says, “should be in vain.” Wherefore! for even if they were turned aside, it was not through thy fault, not through thy negligence. But nevertheless, though this were the case, I think, from my great love of the brethren, that my labor had been rendered vain. “Lest by any means the tempter had tempted you.” But he tempts, not knowing whether he shall overthrow. Does he then, even though he knows not, yet assail us, and do we, who know that we shall completely overcome him, not watch? But that he does attack us, though he knows not, he showed in the case of Job. For that evil demon said to God, “Hast Thou not made a hedge about his things within, and his things without? Take away his goods, and surely he will bless981 Thee to Thy face.” (Job i. 10, 11, Sept.) He makes trial; if he sees anything weak, he makes an attack, if strong, he desists. “And our labor,” he says, “be in vain.” Let us all hear, how Paul labored. He does not say work, but “labor”; he does not say, and you be lost, but “our labor.”982 So that even if anything had happened, it would be happening with some reason. But that it did not happen was a great wonder. These things indeed we expected, he says, but the contrary happened. For not only did we receive from you no addition to our affliction but even consolation. “But when Timothy came even now unto us, and brought us glad tidings of your faith and love.” “Brought us glad tidings,” he says. Do you see the excessive joy of Paul? he does not say, brought us word, but “brought us glad tidings.” So great a good did he think their steadfastness and love. For it was necessary, the one remaining firm, that the other also must be steadfast. And he rejoiced in their love, because it was a sign of their faith. “And that ye have,” he says, “good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, even as we also to see you.” That is, with praises. Not when we were present, nor when we were working miracles, but even now, when we are far off, and are scourged, and are suffering numberless evils, “ye have good remembrance of us.” Hear how disciples are admired, who have good remem- brance of their teachers, how they are called blessed. Let us imitate these. For we benefit ourselves, not those who are loved by us. “Longing to see us,” he says, “as we also to see 981 [The Hebrew word denotes both bless and curse (perhaps both derived from the idea of supplicating God). The Septuagint translates “bless” in i. 11 and ii. 5, and evades by paraphrases in i. 5, “devised evil against God,” and ii. 9, “say some word unto the Lord.”—J.A.B.] 982 [Three Greek words are employed. The Apostle’s term would be better translated “toil”; and so Chrys. remarks, “He does not say work, but toil.” The same distinction is to be observed in Rev. xiv. 13, “in that they shall rest from their toils, for their works follow with them.” The verb here employed by Chrys., “how Paul labored,” signifies weary or suffering labor.—J.A.B.] 599 1 Thessalonians 3:5-8