1 Thessalonians 3:8

for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

As Dummelow commented on this verse, "Better, `if only ye stand fast.' The Greek expresses some doubt and anxiety."[15] "This is the utterance of profound and overpowering emotion."[16] Paul loved the young converts to Christ with a pure and holy passion; and this is even more impressive when understood in context of Paul's schooling and racial background, those being so fervently loved being citizens of a once hated and despised race, degraded by centuries of idol-worship, and contaminated by pagan value-judgments.

[15] J. R. Dummelow, op. cit., p. 988.

[16] William Hendriksen, op. cit., p. 88.