John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you , &c.] The ground of confidence concerning them was not in themselves, in their grace, and strength, and wisdom, and conduct, and good behaviour; but in the Lord, in his grace and strength, and in the power of his might, without whom they could do nothing, but through him strengthening them, could do all things. That ye both do, and will do the things which we command you ; referring both to the commandments, which they had already given them by Christ, and they had showed, and continued to show a proper regard unto, (see 1 Thessalonians 4:1,2) and also to what would be observed to them, as in ( 2 Thessalonians 3:6,12).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - Those who are far apart still may meet together at the throne of grace and those not able to do or receive any other kindness, may in this wa do and receive real and very great kindness. Enemies to the preachin of the gospel, and persecutors of its faithful preachers, ar unreasonable and wicked men. Many do not believe the gospel; and n wonder if such are restless and show malice in their endeavours to oppose it. The evil of sin is the greatest evil, but there are othe evils we need to be preserved from, and we have encouragement to depen upon the grace of God. When once the promise is made, the performanc is sure and certain. The apostle had confidence in them, but that wa founded upon his confidence in God; for there is otherwise n confidence in man. He prays for them for spiritual blessings. It is ou sin and our misery, that we place our affections upon wrong objects There is not true love of God, without faith in Jesus Christ. If, by the special grace of God, we have that faith which multitudes have not we should earnestly pray that we may be enabled, without reserve, to obey his commands, and that we may be enabled, without reserve, to the love of God, and the patience of Christ.
Greek Textus Receptus
πεποιθαμεν 3982 5754 V-2RAI-1P δε 1161 CONJ εν 1722 PREP κυριω 2962 N-DSM εφ 1909 PREP υμας 5209 P-2AP οτι 3754 CONJ α 3739 R-APN παραγγελλομεν 3853 5719 V-PAI-1P υμιν 5213 P-2DP και 2532 CONJ ποιειτε 4160 5719 V-PAI-2P και 2532 CONJ ποιησετε 4160 5692 V-FAI-2P
Robertson's NT Word Studies
3:4 {And we have confidence} (pepoiqomen). Second perfect indicative of peiqw, to persuade, intransitive in this tense, we are in a state of trust. {In the Lord touching you} (en kuriwi ef' humas). Note the two prepositions, en in the sphere of the Lord (#1Th 4:1) as the _ground_ of Paul's confident trust, eph' (epi) with the accusative (towards you) where the dative could have been used (cf. #2Co 2:3). {Ye both do and will do} ([kai] poieite kai poiesete). Compliment and also appeal, present and future tenses of poiew. {The things which we command} (ha paraggellomen). Note of apostolic authority here, not advice or urging, but command.
