“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace…“
and given us
God is a giver. Paul has the capacity to recognize God’s gifts to him and others.
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
The LORD will give […]
Archive for November, 1999
“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace…”
and good hope
God is the source of hope. Hope in the New Testament is not a “wish”–”I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow.” There is uncertainty in a wish. The […]
“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace…”
by grace
Grace is what God provides for us without strings attached. It is what God gives without our merit or desert. God gives to us because of the work of […]
“…comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work“
Paul’s desire in this verse is to comfort and establish the Thessalonians.
comfort your hearts
Prophecy always settles the heart. The Thessalonians were worried that they were already in the Tribulation but Paul prays that the writing of 2 Thessalonians will comfort their hearts. The […]
“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you…”
The first five verses are a prayer for stability in the lives of the Thessalonians.
Finally,
Paul now begins his closing remarks for 2 Thessalonians.
brethren, pray for us,
The word “finally” introduces the last […]
“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you…”
and be glorified,
Glorification of the Word of God builds on the previous phrase on the dissemination of the gospel [”run”].
Paul prays secondly that God would glorify His Word in Corinth, the vilest […]
“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you…”
just as it is with you
Paul wanted the gospel to advance in Corinth, as it had in Thessonalica. Paul stayed in Corinth approximately two years preaching the gospel.
The Thessalonians glorified the Word when […]
“…and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith“
First, Paul requests prayer for the advancement of the gospel (verse 1).
Next he requests prayer for deliverance from those who would like to undermine the gospel team.
and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men;
The word […]
“But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one“
Now Paul changes the subject from praying for the gospel team to praying for the Thessalonians.
But the Lord is faithful,
God is true to His promises. He cannot lie or pull any punches. What He promises, He delivers.
who will establish […]
“And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you“
A further basis for confidence is that God will enable them to do what Paul commanded them.
And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you,
The word “confidence” shows Paul had complete trust in and […]