The clause speaks of growth in the congregation over the span of years. Their “love” led to increasingly improved works of “service” and their “faith” to increasingly clear “endurance” despite difficulties on their path. Such growth gladdens the heart of any shepherd, let alone the heart of the good shepherd. Notwithstanding this compliment, things are far from satisfactory in Thyatira.
19 “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.