Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Thessalonians 3:7

"for this cause, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith:" — 1 Thessalonians 3:7 (ASV)

The report helped Paul in his adversity (cf. Acts 18:6, 9–10, 12–13). He was facing physical privations (“distress”; GK 340) and suffering inflicted by his antagonists (“persecution”; GK 2568). Like all Christians (3:3–4), he was called to suffer persecution (cf. 2 Timothy 3:12). It was their “faith” that encouraged him and the fact that they were “standing firm in the Lord.” Since they were depending on God for help against impossible obstacles, Paul himself felt an additional incentive to do this in his own life (cf. Romans 1:12; 2 Corinthians 7:4, 13; Phm 7). Thus he felt rejuvenated—“for now we really live.” He had been given a new lease on life.