John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 6. But now when Timotheus came from you unto us , etc.] At Corinth, as appears from ( Acts 18:5) which shows that this epistle was not written from Athens, as the subscription to it asserts, but from Corinth; for as soon as ever Timothy came from Thessalonica, to the apostle at Corinth, and made the report to him, he immediately sent them this epistle which is here suggested: but, now, etc. just now; lately, as the Syriac version renders it, a very little while ago, Timothy was just come: and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity ; of their faith, the grace of faith, that it was of the right kind; as far as could be judged, it was the faith of God's elect, like precious faith with theirs; an unfeigned one, strong and lively, operative and growing: or of the doctrine of faith, as received and embraced by them; as that they were greatly led, and had much light into it, and had, for the time, made considerable proficiency in it; that they held it fast, and stood fast in it, and contended for it, notwithstanding all the afflictions, reproaches, and persecutions which they either saw in the apostles, or endured themselves for the sake of it; and likewise of the profession of both the grace and doctrine of faith, which they held fast, and without wavering, and that in a pure conscience, which was good news indeed. Timothy also brought an account of their charity, or love, which faith works by; these two graces are always found together; they are wrought in the soul by one, and the same hand, and at the same time; where the one is, the other is; and as the one flourishes and increases, so does the other. And by this grace is meant love to God, to Christ, to his truths, ordinances, ways, and worship, and to one another, and even to all men; and which was without dissimulation, in sincerity, in deed, and in truth, and was constant and fervent: and this was not the whole of the report, for it follows, and that ye have a remembrance of us always they bore in memory the persons of the apostles; and when they made mention of their names, it was with the greatest respect and reverence; nor were they forgetful hearers of the word, but remembered with great affection and pleasure the truths, the doctrines, and exhortations they delivered to them, so as to put them in practice, and longed for another visit from them, to have their memories refreshed by them: desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you , they had an equal desire to see their spiritual fathers, as they had to see their spiritual children. Now such a report as this concerning their steady faith in Christ, their fervent love to one another, and their affectionate regard to the ministers of the word, was a sort of a Gospel, as the word used signifies; or it was good news and glad tidings to the apostle, and those that were with him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 6-10 - Thankfulness to God is very imperfect in the present state; but on great end of the ministry of the word is to help faith forward. Tha which was the instrument to obtain faith, is also the means of increasing and confirming it, namely, the ordinances of God; and a faith cometh by hearing, so it is confirmed by hearing also.
Greek Textus Receptus
αρτι 737 ADV δε 1161 CONJ ελθοντος 2064 5631 V-2AAP-GSM τιμοθεου 5095 N-GSM προς 4314 PREP ημας 2248 P-1AP αφ 575 PREP υμων 5216 P-2GP και 2532 CONJ ευαγγελισαμενου 2097 5671 V-AMP-GSM ημιν 2254 P-1DP την 3588 T-ASF πιστιν 4102 N-ASF και 2532 CONJ την 3588 T-ASF αγαπην 26 N-ASF υμων 5216 P-2GP και 2532 CONJ οτι 3754 CONJ εχετε 2192 5719 V-PAI-2P μνειαν 3417 N-ASF ημων 2257 P-1GP αγαθην 18 A-ASF παντοτε 3842 ADV επιποθουντες 1971 5723 V-PAP-NPM ημας 2248 P-1AP ιδειν 1492 5629 V-2AAN καθαπερ 2509 ADV και 2532 CONJ ημεις 2249 P-1NP υμας 5209 P-2AP
Vincent's NT Word Studies
6. Now (arti). See on John xiii. 33. Const. with we were comforted (ver. 7), not with came.Good remembrance (mneian agaqhn). Better kindly remembrance. Comp. Rom. v. 7 (see note); vii. 12; Tit. ii. 6; 1 Pet. ii. 18. See on ch. i. 3.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
3:6 {Even now} (arti). Just now, Timothy having come (elqontos Timoqeou, genitive absolute). Why Silas is not named is not clear, unless he had come from Beroea or elsewhere in Macedonia. {Glad tidings of} (euaggelisamenou). First aorist middle participle of the verb for evangelizing (gospelizing). {Good remembrance} (mneian). Same word used by Paul #1:2. {Longing to see us} (epipoqountes hemas idein). Old and strong verb, epi-, directive, to long after. Mutual longing that pleased Paul ("we also you").
