Finally, since, according to his own consciousness, the grace of God labors in him and accomplishes all things (1 Cor 15:10), he desires this same grace for the Thessalonians above every other good (verse 28).
Nearly all his epistles have such a conclusion.
"Brethren, pray for us," that God may preserve health, grant strength, and arrange favorable circumstances for the preaching of the Gospel.
In other epistles he expresses this more directly: "Strive together with me in your prayers to God for me" (Rom 15:30).
And again: "Praying... that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ" (Col 4:3).
And again: "That the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, as it is among you" (2 Thess 3:1).
All his concern is for the progress of the Gospel, and he expects from God alone everything needed for this.
But why does the Apostle ask prayers for himself, when the Lord Himself is with him and with all the Apostles, according to His promise?
The Lord worked with them and confirmed their word by signs (Mk 16:20; Mt 28:20).
He was compelled to do this not only by humility, with which he was filled, and not only by a desire to teach others a humble way of thinking about themselves.
Chrysostom and Theodoret say this. But especially, he did it from an awareness of the power of common prayer.
Such is the spirit of life in Christ Jesus: each person separately recognizes himself as nothing.
If he has anything, or hopes to have anything, it is only by communion with the whole body of the Church, whose head is Christ.
Therefore Christians always pray for one another. Though each knows that the heavenly Father is his Father, his tongue cannot say, "My Father."
Rather, according to the commandment, it always cries out, "Our Father."
Mutual prayer is the direct fruit of brotherly love of heart and the witness of the living communion of all with one another.
By this communion, what concerns one concerns all. It constitutes the soul of Christian communities and of the whole Church, both earthly and heavenly.
If the Apostle asks prayers from the brethren, who can manage without them?
Recognizing this, Saint Chrysostom says to the Christians who heard his homily: "If the Apostle said this, that is, 'Pray for us,' from humble-mindedness, we say it not from humble-mindedness.
"Rather, we say, 'Pray also for us,' for the sake of great benefit and because we desire to gain something great through you.
"We do not say this merely in order to say it, but because we sincerely desire your prayers.
"For if I have undertaken the duty of interceding for all of you and must give account for it, then your prayer becomes all the more necessary for me.
"For your sake I have taken upon myself a great responsibility. Therefore you also must give me greater help."
THEOSIS