Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Thessalonians 3:9

"For what thanksgiving can we render again unto God for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;" — 1 Thessalonians 3:9 (ASV)

For what thanks can we render.—An apology for the enthusiastic expressions used in the three preceding verses. “I may call it a gospel, a balm for all anxieties, a new life, for what mode of thanksgiving could be deemed extravagant in such a case of joy?”

Before our God.—As in 1 Thessalonians 1:3, the occasion on which the joy and thankfulness bursts out is “in prayer”—perhaps in connection with thanksgiving, especially at the great Eucharistic Thanksgiving (1 Corinthians 14:16), when he “stood before the Lord in a special manner” (Acts 13:2; Leviticus 1:11; Leviticus 3:1, and others).