2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 (ESV)

13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.

16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

Commentary

            Vs 13-14 Paul begins in verse 13-14 to give thanks for the Thessalonians. He essentially repeats his earlier thanksgiving. (see 1:3) His idea here is to contrast those who were perishing with the Thessalonian believers who were saved. “Having described the utter ruin of the disobedient through willfulness and deception, Paul encouraged the Thessalonians by placing them in an entirely different category. They had believed the truth, were loved by God, and were called to share in his glory.”¹

                There is a rather abrupt change in tone from verses 1-12. “Paul’s transition from talking about those who delight in wickedness in 2:12 to giving thanks for the Thessalonians in 2:13 – 14 might seem a bit abrupt if we don’t appreciate the way he is contrasting the two groups.”² Paul states that they have been saved (a one time event) and are being sanctified, that is set apart for God, (a continuous process). Verse 14 begins by stating that the Thessalonians were called by God into their salvation and sanctification. God’s choice (eilato, v. 13) of the Thessalonians differs from his call (ekalesen) in v. 14 in that the former is a timeless event within the mind of God. The call, on the other hand, refers to the temporal event at which the apostle proclaimed the gospel, and the Thessalonians had the opportunity to respond to it³

¹Knute Larson, I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon, vol. 9, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 111.

²Byron, John. 1 and 2 Thessalonians (The Story of God Bible Commentary) (p. 274). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

³D. Michael Martin, 1, 2 Thessalonians, vol. 33, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 254.

            Vs 15. This verse is distinct from the thanksgiving of vs. 13-14 which precedes it and the prayer in the verses following. “The passage concludes with a summary exhortation. “So then” indicates that the two imperatives that follow grow out of the preceding verses. In light of the error of the teaching that the day of the Lord had arrived (vv. 2–3), and in spite of present and future satanic attempts at deception (vv. 3, 7, 9), and considering the terrible cost of preferring the lie rather than adhering to the truth (v. 12), the church must “stand firm.”’⁴

                Vs 16-17. The prayer that follows calls on Jesus Christ and God to help the church stand fast and be strong in their faith. “The exhortation to “stand firm and hold to the teachings” received from the apostles (2:15) is followed by a prayer requesting divine encouragement and assistance for the Thessalonians that they might do this very thing.”⁵ The two main verbs in verse 17 are comfort and establish. Showing that Paul wished to rid the church of fear and strengthen it to face future persecutions. Next time we hear Paul’s request for prayer for him and his team as they seek to spread the Gospel.

⁴D. Michael Martin, 1, 2 Thessalonians, vol. 33, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 255.

⁵D. Michael Martin, 1, 2 Thessalonians, vol. 33, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 258.