Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Thessalonians 3:9

9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God .

This is another effect of the message Timothy brought, it caused in the Apostle great Thanksgivings to God. First he rejoyced in their Faith, and then gives thanks to God for that joy. The matter of his rejoycing was their Faith, but the author and upholder of this Faith was God; and in giving thanks to God for his joy he gives thanks also to God for their faith from whence it sprang. The joy that Ministers have in their peoples Faith should break forth into Thanksgivings. And the Apostles thanks to God was beyond what he could return or express, as appears by the form of his speech, For what thanks can we render, &c. as Psal. 116.12. What shall I return unto the Lord, said David, &c.

And his rejoycing before God implyes [illegible: 1 letter]o[illegible: 1 letter]ly the nature of it, it was divine and spiritual, and his respect to God therein, as David danced before the Lord with all his might, 2 Sam. 6.14. i. e. With a respect to Gods goodness then declared. Or the Apostle may mean his joy was inward before God, rather then before men.