God's Calling, Sanctification, and Encouragement to Stand Firm
2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
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2Thess.2.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ημεις: PRON,nom,pl,1
- δε: CONJ
- οφειλομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- ευχαριστειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- θεω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- παντοτε: ADV
- περι: PREP
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- αδελφοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- ηγαπημενοι: PART,perf,pass,nom,pl,m
- υπο: PREP
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- οτι: CONJ
- ειλατο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- απαρχην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εις: PREP
- σωτηριαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- αγιασμω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- πνευματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- πιστει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- αληθειας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (verbal): Paul gives thanks to God for the Thessalonians and emphasizes their reception of God's word — closely parallels 2 Thess 2:13's thanksgiving and emphasis on God’s action toward the believers.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:4–5 (thematic): Speaks of God’s election of the Thessalonians and the transformative power of the gospel (received with power and the Holy Spirit), echoing 2 Thess 2:13’s language of being chosen and sanctified by the Spirit.
- 1 Peter 1:2 (verbal): Addresses the elect 'sanctified by the Spirit' (ἁγιασμῷ πνεύματος) and called to obedience/faith — closely parallels the phrase 'in sanctification of the Spirit' and the link between election and holy living in 2 Thess 2:13.
- Ephesians 1:4–5 (thematic): Describes believers as chosen in Christ and adopted — parallels 2 Thess 2:13’s grounding of salvation in God’s choice/election.
- Romans 8:29–30 (thematic): Sets election, calling, sanctification, and ultimate salvation in a divine chain of purpose — the theological background to 2 Thess 2:13’s claim that God chose believers 'to salvation' and effected sanctification by the Spirit.
Alternative generated candidates
- But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
- But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
2Thess.2.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εις: PREP
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- εκαλεσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- δια: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ευαγγελιου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- εις: PREP
- περιποιησιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- δοξης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Χριστου: PROPN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- 1 Thessalonians 2:12 (verbal): Paul uses the language of divine calling into 'kingdom and glory' (καλεῖ ὑμᾶς… εἰς βασιλείαν καὶ δόξαν), paralleling 'called you through our gospel… to the glory'—same calling → glory motif.
- Titus 2:14 (verbal): Titus speaks of Christ who 'gave himself… to purify for himself a people for his own possession' (λαὸν περιποίησιν), echoing 2 Thess. 2:14's term περιποίησιν and the idea of being acquired/kept for Christ's glory.
- Romans 8:30 (structural): Paul's salvific sequence ('those whom he foreknew he also predestined… those whom he justified he also glorified') links divine calling with final glorification, reflecting 2 Thess. 2:14's 'called… to the glory' structure.
- Colossians 3:4 (thematic): Colossians promises that when Christ appears 'you also will appear with him in glory,' resonating with 2 Thess. 2:14's focus on believers' relation to 'the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.'
Alternative generated candidates
- To this he called you through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- To this he called you through our gospel, that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Thess.2.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αρα: PART
- ουν: CONJ
- αδελφοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- στηκετε: VERB,pres,mid,ind,2,pl
- και: CONJ
- κρατειτε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- παραδοσεις: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- ας: PRON,acc,pl,f,rel
- εδιδαχθητε: VERB,aor,pass,ind,2,pl
- ειτε: CONJ
- δια: PREP
- λογου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ειτε: CONJ
- δι᾽επιστολης: PREP+NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 11:2 (verbal): Uses the same Greek concept of 'traditions' (paradoseis) and the appeal to 'hold' what was 'handed on' by the apostle—close verbal parallel urging fidelity to apostolic tradition.
- 1 Corinthians 15:3 (structural): Employs the 'I received and I delivered/handed on' formula for apostolic teaching, paralleling 2 Thess 2:15's concern with transmission of authoritative instruction.
- 2 Timothy 1:13-14 (thematic): Calls for holding to the 'pattern of sound words' and 'guarding the good deposit'—a thematic parallel emphasizing preservation and defense of apostolic instruction.
- 2 Timothy 2:2 (structural): Commands that what was heard from Paul be entrusted to reliable persons who will teach others, reflecting the oral/letter transmission and continuity of teaching mentioned in 2 Thess 2:15.
- Jude 3 (thematic): Urges believers to contend for the faith 'once for all delivered' to the saints—a thematic parallel stressing the preservation and defense of the apostolic deposit/tradition.
Alternative generated candidates
- So then, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or by our letter.
- So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by our letter.
2Thess.2.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Αυτος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- Χριστος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- αγαπησας: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- και: CONJ
- δους: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- παρακλησιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αιωνιαν: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- ελπιδα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αγαθην: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- χαριτι: NOUN,dat,sg,f
Parallels
- 1 Thessalonians 4:18 (verbal): Same Pauline exhortation to 'encourage/comfort one another' (paraklēsin); both passages use the language of consolation/encouragement arising from the hope in Christ.
- Romans 5:2 (verbal): Speaks of 'hope of the glory of God' obtained 'through whom' and 'into this grace'—parallel phrasing linking hope and access/standing in God's grace.
- Titus 3:7 (thematic): Links justification by God's grace with being made heirs 'according to the hope of eternal life,' echoing the idea of eternal hope given by God through grace.
- Hebrews 6:18-19 (thematic): Describes hope as a sure, eternal anchor and God as the guarantor—parallels the theme of 'eternal consolation and good hope' grounded in God's promise and care.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,
- Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by grace gave us eternal comfort and a good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word.
2Thess.2.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- παρακαλεσαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- καρδιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- στηριξαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- εν: PREP
- παντι: PRON,dat,sg,m
- εργω: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- λογω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- αγαθω: ADJ,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- 2 Thessalonians 3:3 (verbal): Uses the same root στηρίζω (στηρίξει/στηρίξαι): the Lord will 'establish'/'strengthen' you — echoing the petition to strengthen and establish the believers.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:13 (verbal): Paul prays that God would 'establish' (στηρίξαι/στηρίξῃ) the Thessalonians' hearts unblameable in holiness — closely parallel in wording and intent to strengthening hearts and establishing them.
- Colossians 2:6-7 (thematic): Call to continue in Christ, being 'rooted and built up' and 'established in the faith' parallels the theme of being grounded/established in every good work and word.
- Jude 1:20-21 (thematic): Exhortation to 'build yourselves up' in the faith and to 'keep yourselves' in God's love parallels the appeal to encourage hearts and to be established in good word and deed.
Alternative generated candidates
- encourage and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.
- Now may the Lord himself direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfast endurance of Christ.
But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through the sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth.
To this he called you by our gospel, that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold fast the traditions you were taught, whether by our spoken word or by our letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and a sure hope by grace,
comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.