night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
that which is lacking in your faith: Paul’s visit to Thessalonica has been cut short by the rising tide of opposition to him. There has not been time to impart all the knowledge he wished to impart to the new disciples. What is "lacking" is that divine truth which there has not been opportunity to teach. This idea is further borne out by Paul’s use of the word "faith," which, as Hogg and Vine point out, "here is to be understood...of the body of Christian doctrine, as in Judges 1:3; cp. Acts 2:42, ’the Apostle’s teaching’" (102). The missing instruction can be identified by a consideration of the teaching provided in this letter. It has to do with such things as hope for the future, mutual responsibilities among the saints, Christian character and conduct.