10 night and day superexcessively beseeching to see your face and to adjust the deficiencies of your faith?

Paul piles up his words to make clear just how intense his longing was: “night and day,” “superexcessively,” and “beseeching.” Timothy had brought him excellent news. The Thessalonians were standing firm in the Lord, and their faith filled Paul with great joy. Yet this did nothing to lessen his desire to meet them in person. He continually beseeched God to let him see their faces again.

Why was Paul so eager to visit them? To “adjust the deficiencies of your faith.” After all the praise for their faith, that may sound surprising. But standing firm in faith does not mean that everything is already in order. Their faith had held firm under intense pressure. Yet they still lacked knowledge and understanding in certain areas, and misconceptions remained among them. Katartizō, rendered here as “adjust,” refers to repairing or putting something in order. The same word is used for fishermen mending their nets (Matt. 4:21).

This shows why Paul did not simply leave them alone once they had become believers. He longed to teach them further and equip them in their faith. Even those who stand firm in the Lord still have much to learn. There is still so much to discover in the riches of God’s word!