Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Thessalonians 1:3

"We are bound to give thanks to God always to you, brethren, even as it is meet, for that your faith growth exceedingly, and the love of each one of you all toward one another aboundeth;" — 2 Thessalonians 1:3 (ASV)

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren — The thanksgiving is regarded as a positive debt incurred, which it would be dishonest not to pay.

Because — This word assigns the reason for saying it was "fitting," and does not simply follow the phrase "thank God." If it did, the words "as it is fitting" would be rather weak, containing nothing more than what is already implied by "we are bound." The best paraphrase would be: "We feel the obligation to give thanks for you; and, in fact, it is only fitting that we should, because..."

Grows exceedingly — This is an enthusiastic word in the original, meaning "is outgrowing all bounds." It is a metaphor from plant or animal growth. This was one of the very points about which St. Paul was anxious the last time he had written, for at that time there were deficiencies in their faith (1 Thessalonians 3:10).

Charity — Here, too, St. Paul remembers what he had said to them in the previous epistle, where he devoted a whole section to the love of the brethren "toward each other." The phrase "of every one of you all" is a very noticeable expression, showing the individual solicitude of the Apostles for their converts. Just as the apostolic instructions were given to each Christian privately (1 Thessalonians 2:11), so news had been brought about how each individual Christian was progressing. The differences that had called for such passages as 1 Thessalonians 3:12, 1 Thessalonians 4:6–10, and 1 Thessalonians 5:12–14 had apparently all ceased, and mutual love was multiplying.