1 Thessalonians 1:3-4 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ… These were St. Paul's "favourite triology of Christian principles." And they were fundamental also. An eminent theologian puts it thus: — "As the three principal colours of the rainbow — red, yellow, and blue, representing heat, light, and purifying power — supply in their combination all the other colours, so, by a sort of moral analysis, faith, hope, and love lie at the foundation, or enter into the composition, of all other Christian excellences." They are, in a word, inseparable graces. Faith always works by love, and these two virtues can wait patiently and hopefully for ultimate results. They are the crown of Christian believers, and the forces of the whole Church. And they must succeed. Faith says — "I labour in the full confidence that I shall finally accomplish all I would;" Love says — "I delight in my work, and therefore will not slacken in my efforts until I have secured all I desire;" and Hope says — "I can wait patiently for all I joyfully anticipate." These three divine graces are a created trinity, and have some glimmering resemblance of the Trinity uncreate; for as there the Son is begotten of the Father, and the Holy Ghost proceeds from them both; so here a true faith begets a constant hope, and from them proceeds charity. In the godly these three are united, and cannot be sundered. We believe in God's mercy, we hope for His mercy, and we love Him for His mercy. (T. Adams.) Parallel Verses KJV: Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; |
    |