2 Thessalonians 1:11
Verse
Context
Christ’s Coming
10on the day He comes to be glorified in His saints and regarded with wonder by all who have believed, including you who have believed our testimony.11To this end, we always pray for you, that our God will count you worthy of His calling, and that He will powerfully fulfill your every good desire and work of faith, 12so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Sermons
Stephen Kaung
Gisela Yohannan
Hans Peter Royer
Don Courville
Miles J. Stanford
George FoxSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
We pray - that our God would count you worthy - It is our earnest prayer that God would make you worthy, αξιωσῃ, afford those continual supplies of grace by his Holy Spirit, without which you cannot adorn your holy vocation; you are called into the Christian Church, and, to be proper members of this Church, you must be members of the mystical body of Christ; and this implies that you should be holy, as he who has called you is holy. Fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness - 1. The goodness of God - his own innate eternal kindness, has led him to call you into this state of salvation. 2. It is the pleasure of that goodness to save you unto eternal life. 3. It is the good pleasure; nothing can please God more than your receiving and retaining his utmost salvation. 4. It is all the good pleasure of his goodness thus to save you; this he has amply proved by sending his Son to die for you, beyond which gift he has none greater. In this, all the good pleasure of his goodness is astonishingly manifested. 5. And if you be faithful to his grace, he will fulfill - completely accomplish, all the good pleasure of his goodness in you; which goodness is to be apprehended and is to work by faith, the power of which must come from him, though the act or exercise of that power must be of yourselves; but the very power to believe affords excitement to the exercise of faith.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Wherefore--Greek, "With a view to which," namely, His glorification in you as His saints. also--We not only anticipate the coming glorification of our Lord in His saints, but we also pray concerning (so the Greek) YOU. our God--whom we serve. count you worthy--The prominent position of the "You" in the Greek makes it the emphatic word of the sentence. May you be found among the saints whom God shall count worthy of their calling (Eph 4:1)! There is no dignity in us independent of God's calling of us (Ti2 1:9). The calling here is not merely the first actual call, but the whole of God's electing act, originating in His "purpose of grace given us in Christ before the world began," and having its consummation in glory. the good pleasure of, &c.--on the part of God [BENGEL]. faith--on your part. ALFORD refers the former clause, "good pleasure of his goodness," also to man, arguing that the Greek for "goodness" is never applied to God, and translates, "All [that is, every possible] right purpose of goodness." WAHL, "All sweetness of goodness," that is, impart in full to you all the refreshing delights of goodness. I think that, as in the previous and parallel clause, "calling" refers to GOD'S purpose; and as the Greek for "good pleasure" mostly is used of God, we ought to translate, "fulfil (His) every gracious purpose of goodness (on your part)," that is, fully perfect in you all goodness according to His gracious purpose. Thus, "the grace of our God," Th2 1:12, corresponds to God's "good pleasure" here, which confirms the English Version, just as "the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ" is parallel to "work of faith," as Christ especially is the object of faith. "The work of faith"; Greek, (no article; supply from the previous clause all) work of faith"; faith manifested by work, which is its perfected development (Jam 1:4; compare Note, see on Th1 1:3). Working reality of faith. with power--Greek, "in power," that is, "powerfully fulfil in you" (Col 1:11).
John Gill Bible Commentary
Wherefore also we pray always for you,.... Not only observe the above things to your comfort, to support you under sufferings, but we add our prayers, and not only now, but always, that you may be among them in whom Christ will be glorified and admired; in order to which we most sincerely pray, that our God would count you worthy of this calling. The Syriac version reads, "your calling", as in Co1 1:26. The Vulgate Latin reads, "his own calling", meaning their effectual calling. This is indeed of God, and not of man; and is owing, not to any previous worthiness in man, as appears from the instances of Matthew the publican, Zacchaeus, the Apostle Paul, the Corinthians, and others, but entirely to the free grace of God, who counts them worthy, not for any worthiness there is in them; but "vouchsafes", as the word may be rendered, this blessing of grace, their effectual calling, of his own good will and pleasure: but this cannot be meant here, because these persons were partakers of that grace, God had called them to his kingdom and glory; unless the sense of the petition is, that God would cause them to walk worthy of the calling with which they were called, which becoming walk is owing to the grace of God: or else the meaning may be, that God would grant unto them perseverance in the grace, by and to which they were called, that so they might enjoy eternal glory; which though certain, should be prayed for by saints, both for themselves and others: the words may be rendered, "that our God would count you worthy of the call"; of the call of Christ when he shall be revealed from heaven, and come a second time; for then will he first call the saints out of their graves, as he did Lazarus, and they shall hear his all powerful voice, and come forth to the resurrection of life, the first and better resurrection, which those that have part in will be secure from the second death; this the apostle was desirous of attaining to himself, and prays that God would vouchsafe it to others; of this Job speaks in Job 14:15. And next Christ will call the righteous, when raised and set at his right hand, to inherit the kingdom and glory prepared by his Father for them; and happy are those who by the grace of God will be counted worthy of this call or rather by calling here is meant, the ultimate glory itself, which the saints are called unto; this God gives a right unto in the justifying righteousness of his Son, and makes meet for by his own grace; and the thing itself is a free grace gift of his through Jesus Christ. In this sense calling seems to be used in Eph 4:4 and to this agrees the Ethiopic version here, "that God may impart unto you that to which he hath called you"; and that is eternal glory, which though certainly and inseparably connected with the effectual calling, may, and should be prayed for: and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness; not providential, but special goodness; not the good pleasure of his strict justice in the condemning of the wicked, denying his grace to them, and hiding from them the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, which is a part of his good pleasure, even of the good pleasure of his righteousness; but this is the good pleasure of his grace and kindness in Christ Jesus, and intends the whole of his gracious designs towards his people: and to express the free, rich, sovereign grace of God in them, the apostle uses a variety of words, calling them "his pleasure", "his good pleasure"; and, as if this was not enough, "the good pleasure of his goodness"; and desires that all of it might be fulfilled; it consisting of many things, some of which were fulfilled, and others remained to be fulfilled. It consists of the choice of persons in Christ, and the predestination of them to the adoption of children, which is according to the good pleasure of the will of God; the redemption of them by Christ, in which are displayed the exceeding riches of his grace; the free justification of them by the righteousness of Christ; the full pardon of all their sins, and their adoption into the household of God, and their regeneration, of rich grace, and abundant mercy; all these instances of the good pleasure of divine goodness were fulfilled in these persons; what remained were the carrying on and finishing the work of grace upon their souls, and their enjoyment of the heavenly glory: and for the former, in order to the latter, the apostle prays in the next clause, and the work of faith with power; faith is not only an operative grace; see Gill on Th1 1:3 and is attended with good works; but it is a work itself, not of man's, for he cannot produce it in himself, nor exercise it of himself; but it is the work of God, of his operation which he works in his people; it has not only God for its object, and therefore the Arabic version reads, "the work of faith on him"; but it has God for its author: and this now, though it had grown exceedingly in these believers, was not as yet fulfilled or perfect; something was still lacking in it; wherefore the apostle prays that he who was the author would be the finisher of it: and this will be done "with power"; not of man's, for this work is neither begun, nor carried on, nor will it be finished by the might and power of men; but the same hands which laid the foundation of it, raise it up, carry it on, and give the finishing stroke to it; it is done by the power of God, and so the Arabic and Ethiopic versions read, "by his own power": which is greatly displayed in the production of faith at first; for a poor sensible sinner, in a view of all his sins, and the just deserts of them, to venture his soul on Christ alone for salvation; for a man to go out of himself and renounce his own righteousness, and trust to the righteousness of Christ for his justification before God, and acceptance with him, is owing to the exceeding greatness of God's power to them that believe; and the same power is seen in enabling faith to do the things it does; see Heb 11:1 and in encouraging, supporting, and maintaining it under the most difficult circumstances, as in the case of Abraham; and to make it stand fast under the severest persecutions, and at the hour of death, and in the view of an awful eternity, when it receives its full completion.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
In these verses the apostle again tells the Thessalonians of his earnest and constant prayer for them. He could not be present with them, yet he had a constant remembrance of them; they were much upon his thoughts; he wished them well, and could not express his good-will and good wishes to them better than in earnest constant prayer to God for them: Wherefore also we pray, etc. Note, The believing thoughts and expectation of the second coming of Christ should put us upon prayer to God for ourselves and others. We should watch and pray, so our Saviour directs his disciples (Luk 21:36), Watch therefore, and pray always, that you may be counted worthy to stand before the Son of man. Observe, I. What the apostle prayed for, Th2 1:11. It is a great concern to be well instructed what to pray for; and without divine instruction we know not what to pray for, as without divine assistance we shall not pray in such a manner as we ought. Our prayers should be suitable to our expectations. Thus the apostle prays for them, 1. That God would begin his good work of grace in them; so we may understand this expression: That our God would count you (or, as it might be read, make you) worthy of this calling. We are called with a high and holy calling; we are called to God's kingdom and glory; and no less than the inheritance of the saints is the hope of our calling, nothing less than the enjoyment of that glory and felicity which shall be revealed when Christ Jesus shall be revealed from heaven. Now, if this be our calling, our great concern should be to be worthy of it, or meet and prepared for this glory: and because we have no worthiness of our own, but what is owing purely to the grace of God, we should pray that he would make us worthy, and then count us worthy, of this calling, or that he would make us meet to partake of the inheritance of the saints in light, Col 1:12. 2. That God would carry on the good work that is begun, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness. The good pleasure of God denotes his gracious purposes towards his people, which flow from his goodness, and are full of goodness towards them; and it is thence that all good comes to us. If there be any good in us, it is the fruit of God's good-will to us, it is owing to the good pleasure of his goodness, and therefore is called grace. Now, there are various and manifold purposes of grace and good-will in God towards his people; and the apostle prays that all of them may be fulfilled or accomplished towards these Thessalonians. There are several good works of grace begun in the hearts of God's people, which proceed from this good pleasure of God's goodness, and we should desire that they may be completed and perfected. In particular, the apostle prays that God would fulfil in them the work of faith with power. Note, (1.) The fulfilling of the work of faith is in order to the fulfilling of every other good work. And, (2.) It is the power of God that not only begins, but that carries on and perfects the work of faith. II. Why the apostle prayed for these things (Th2 1:12): That the name of the Lord Jesus may be glorified; this is the end we should aim at in every thing we do and desire, that God and Christ in all things may be glorified. Our own happiness and that of others should be subordinate to this ultimate end. Our good works should so shine before men that others may glorify God, that Christ may be glorified in and by us, and then we shall be glorified in and with him. And this is the great end and design of the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ, which is manifested to us and wrought in us. Or thus: it is according to the grace of God and Christ, that is, it is an agreeable thing, considering the grace that is manifested to us and bestowed on us, by God and Christ, that we direct all we do to the glory of our Creator and Redeemer.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
1:11-12 Paul assures the Thessalonian believers of God’s promised justice, both for them and their persecutors (1:5-10). Because future deliverance means carrying out present responsibilities, Paul prays that they will be found worthy at Christ’s return. 1:11 enable you to live a life worthy of his call: Paul had previously reminded the Thessalonians that God called them to conduct themselves “in a way that God would consider worthy” (1 Thes 2:12; see also Eph 4:1; Phil 1:27; Col 1:10). • Paul prayed that God would give the Thessalonian Christians power to live and work in a manner that would please God.
2 Thessalonians 1:11
Christ’s Coming
10on the day He comes to be glorified in His saints and regarded with wonder by all who have believed, including you who have believed our testimony.11To this end, we always pray for you, that our God will count you worthy of His calling, and that He will powerfully fulfill your every good desire and work of faith, 12so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Messages on Corporate Prayer #13-16
By Stephen Kaung1.6K55:20Corporate Prayer2CH 20:20ACT 1:142TH 1:32TH 1:11In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the power of praise and worship in the face of battles and challenges. He draws inspiration from the story of Jehoshaphat and the army of Judah, who faced a great multitude of enemies. Instead of fighting, they appointed singers to go before the army and praise God. As they began to sing, God set liars in wait against the enemy, causing them to destroy each other. The victory was won through faith and praise, and the people of Judah humbly gave thanks and blessed the Lord. The speaker encourages the audience to continue praying and praising God, even after victories, and to trust in His provision and guidance.
Don't Worry, Only Believe
By Gisela Yohannan1.6K40:53FaithOvercoming WorryWorryMAT 6:10MAT 21:22MRK 5:36MRK 9:23LUK 12:25JHN 11:40ROM 10:172TH 1:11HEB 11:6JAS 1:6Gisela Yohannan emphasizes the importance of unwavering faith in her sermon 'Don't Worry, Only Believe,' drawing from Apostle Paul's prayer for the Thessalonians. She explains that true Christian desire aligns with Christ's will, urging believers to pray for goodness and to have faith that God will respond with power. Using the story of Jairus, she illustrates how Jesus encourages us to overcome fear and doubt by simply believing, regardless of circumstances. Gisela reminds us that worry and fear can choke our faith, and that God desires pure faith to activate His power in our lives. Ultimately, she calls on listeners to make a conscious decision to 'only believe' in God's promises.
Maintain the Connection - Part 3
By Hans Peter Royer1.6K46:20GEN 1:1LUK 18:1JHN 1:1ROM 1:10EPH 6:181TH 5:172TH 1:11In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the importance of living out our faith in everyday life. He emphasizes that simply singing or praying about loving God is meaningless if we don't actively demonstrate it in our actions. The speaker encourages the audience to train themselves in developing a relationship with God through prayer and communication. He also discusses the different languages we use in society, such as descriptive language and motivational language, and how they influence our behavior.
On Eagles' Wings Pt 105
By Don Courville32026:23Radio ShowPSA 31:19ROM 2:4ROM 8:37PHP 4:81TH 5:182TH 1:42TH 1:11In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of rejoicing in the Lord always and keeping our focus on Him rather than being critical or focusing on the negative. The speaker shares a personal story about a man named Stan who acknowledged his need for salvation but felt unable to accept it. The speaker highlights the goodness of God and how His goodness should lead us to repentance. The sermon also emphasizes the importance of giving thanks always for all things, as a demonstration of our belief in God's goodness and sovereignty.
The Glory and Benefits of Wholeheartedness (2 Thes. 1:11-12)
By Mike Bickle1947:36RevivalWholeheartedness2TH 1:11Mike Bickle emphasizes the significance of wholeheartedness in responding to God's leadership, particularly in the context of a national crisis. He draws from 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, highlighting Paul's prayer for the church to be stirred by the Holy Spirit to fulfill God's good pleasure through their faithful response. Bickle notes that revival often arises during times of calamity, and he encourages the church to engage in prayer and fasting as a means of aligning their hearts with God's will. He stresses that God desires a relationship characterized by wholehearted love and obedience, which leads to the glorification of Jesus in the lives of believers. Ultimately, Bickle calls for a new beginning for individuals and the church, urging them to bring their fragile offerings to God, who graciously receives them.
Freely Come; Freely Abide
By Miles J. Stanford0JHN 6:29JHN 15:42TH 1:111JN 5:10Miles J. Stanford emphasizes the importance of abiding in the Lord Jesus, highlighting that it is not about our own works but about yielding, trusting, and waiting for Him to work in and through us. He contrasts the common misconception of grace as merely a starting point for Christian living with the truth that abiding in Jesus is a continual act of letting Him work in us through His redeeming love. Stanford stresses the significance of God's testimony about His Son rather than focusing on our own shortcomings, leading to peace and glorifying the Name of the Lord Jesus in our lives.
Epistle 27
By George Fox0MAT 20:1MAT 25:14ROM 8:292CO 3:13GAL 3:28COL 3:102TH 1:11HEB 12:141JN 3:81JN 5:12George Fox preaches about the significance of having the Son of God, emphasizing that having the Son of God brings life while not having Him results in spiritual death. He highlights how the Son of God frees us from sin, destroys the works of the devil, and transforms us to be like Him, walking in righteousness. Fox encourages believers to walk in holiness, use their talents for God's kingdom, and love one another deeply, being united in Christ. He urges everyone to seek knowledge in the spirit rather than the flesh, warning about the distractions that hinder discernment.
Genuine Discipleship
By J.C. Philpot0JOB 17:9PRO 4:18JER 17:9MAT 10:25MAT 18:3JHN 5:30JHN 6:47JHN 8:312TH 1:11JAS 1:181PE 1:23J.C. Philpot preaches about the importance of genuine discipleship, emphasizing the need to continue in God's word as a test of discipleship, the genuineness of discipleship through devotedness, separation, and prostration of self, and the blessings of knowing the truth and experiencing spiritual freedom. He challenges the lack of support for the Aged Pilgrims' Friend Society, highlighting the society's adherence to sovereign grace, lack of flattery to man's godship, and the poverty of those who love the truth as reasons for its lack of support. Philpot urges for generous contributions to support the Aged Pilgrims and emphasizes the importance of showing love through practical acts of kindness.
Mans Devices and the Lord's Counsel
By J.C. Philpot0PSA 107:27PRO 19:21ISA 45:5JER 20:7DAN 4:35EPH 1:112TH 1:11JUD 1:1J.C. Philpot preaches about the divine sovereignty evident throughout the Scriptures, emphasizing that God's counsel will always prevail over the devices of man's heart. He illustrates this truth through biblical examples such as Joseph's brothers, Haman, and the Jews during Christ's time. Philpot also delves into the personal journey of a believer, highlighting the continual conflict between man's devices and God's counsel, leading to a deep reliance on Christ's strength and righteousness. Despite the many devices in a man's heart, the counsel of the Lord stands firm, guiding believers through afflictions, trials, and the necessity of daily dependence on God's grace.
Thessalonians Chapter 4 God's Best
By A.B. Simpson0Living a Christlike LifePursuing God's BestISA 64:8JHN 15:12ROM 8:11CO 9:24GAL 2:20EPH 2:10PHP 3:132TH 1:112TI 4:71JN 3:7A.B. Simpson emphasizes the pursuit of God's best in the Christian life, contrasting the good and better with the highest calling of faith and love. He illustrates that while salvation and sanctification are important, the ultimate goal is to embody the divine nature of Christ, reflecting His glory in our lives. Simpson encourages believers to strive for excellence in their faith, drawing on biblical examples of individuals who achieved great things through God's strength. He warns against complacency in the church and calls for a commitment to live out the highest standards of Christian living, which is possible through the indwelling of Christ. Ultimately, he urges the congregation to seek God's highest choice for their lives, ensuring they do not miss out on the full reward He has prepared.
God's Best
By A.B. Simpson0Strength in WeaknessPursuing God's BestISA 43:7ROM 8:291CO 9:24GAL 2:20PHP 3:13PHP 4:132TH 1:112TI 2:212TI 4:71JN 3:2A.B. Simpson emphasizes the pursuit of God's best in the Christian life, distinguishing between being saved, sanctified, and achieving the highest calling of faith and love. He draws parallels between spiritual growth and academic achievement, urging believers to strive for excellence in their faith journey, much like Paul did in his ministry. Simpson warns against complacency in the church, highlighting that God seeks individuals who embody His divine nature and reflect His glory. He encourages believers to embrace their weaknesses, as God's strength is made perfect in them, and to live lives that glorify Him through their actions and faith. Ultimately, he calls for a commitment to God's highest purpose, urging Christians to seek His best and avoid the disappointments of unfulfilled potential.
The Doubting Soul
By Philip Doddridge0PSA 139:23JER 17:10JHN 14:21JHN 16:8ROM 6:62TH 1:11Philip Doddridge preaches about the importance of self-examination in determining true conversion, cautioning against mistaking transient religious impressions for genuine faith. He emphasizes the need to sincerely assess one's views of sin and Christ, the willingness to surrender the heart to Christ's service, and the necessity of a deep repentance and faith that leads to a transformed life. Doddridge stresses that true conversion involves a complete surrender to Christ, acknowledging one's need for Him and relying on His righteousness for salvation.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
We pray - that our God would count you worthy - It is our earnest prayer that God would make you worthy, αξιωσῃ, afford those continual supplies of grace by his Holy Spirit, without which you cannot adorn your holy vocation; you are called into the Christian Church, and, to be proper members of this Church, you must be members of the mystical body of Christ; and this implies that you should be holy, as he who has called you is holy. Fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness - 1. The goodness of God - his own innate eternal kindness, has led him to call you into this state of salvation. 2. It is the pleasure of that goodness to save you unto eternal life. 3. It is the good pleasure; nothing can please God more than your receiving and retaining his utmost salvation. 4. It is all the good pleasure of his goodness thus to save you; this he has amply proved by sending his Son to die for you, beyond which gift he has none greater. In this, all the good pleasure of his goodness is astonishingly manifested. 5. And if you be faithful to his grace, he will fulfill - completely accomplish, all the good pleasure of his goodness in you; which goodness is to be apprehended and is to work by faith, the power of which must come from him, though the act or exercise of that power must be of yourselves; but the very power to believe affords excitement to the exercise of faith.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Wherefore--Greek, "With a view to which," namely, His glorification in you as His saints. also--We not only anticipate the coming glorification of our Lord in His saints, but we also pray concerning (so the Greek) YOU. our God--whom we serve. count you worthy--The prominent position of the "You" in the Greek makes it the emphatic word of the sentence. May you be found among the saints whom God shall count worthy of their calling (Eph 4:1)! There is no dignity in us independent of God's calling of us (Ti2 1:9). The calling here is not merely the first actual call, but the whole of God's electing act, originating in His "purpose of grace given us in Christ before the world began," and having its consummation in glory. the good pleasure of, &c.--on the part of God [BENGEL]. faith--on your part. ALFORD refers the former clause, "good pleasure of his goodness," also to man, arguing that the Greek for "goodness" is never applied to God, and translates, "All [that is, every possible] right purpose of goodness." WAHL, "All sweetness of goodness," that is, impart in full to you all the refreshing delights of goodness. I think that, as in the previous and parallel clause, "calling" refers to GOD'S purpose; and as the Greek for "good pleasure" mostly is used of God, we ought to translate, "fulfil (His) every gracious purpose of goodness (on your part)," that is, fully perfect in you all goodness according to His gracious purpose. Thus, "the grace of our God," Th2 1:12, corresponds to God's "good pleasure" here, which confirms the English Version, just as "the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ" is parallel to "work of faith," as Christ especially is the object of faith. "The work of faith"; Greek, (no article; supply from the previous clause all) work of faith"; faith manifested by work, which is its perfected development (Jam 1:4; compare Note, see on Th1 1:3). Working reality of faith. with power--Greek, "in power," that is, "powerfully fulfil in you" (Col 1:11).
John Gill Bible Commentary
Wherefore also we pray always for you,.... Not only observe the above things to your comfort, to support you under sufferings, but we add our prayers, and not only now, but always, that you may be among them in whom Christ will be glorified and admired; in order to which we most sincerely pray, that our God would count you worthy of this calling. The Syriac version reads, "your calling", as in Co1 1:26. The Vulgate Latin reads, "his own calling", meaning their effectual calling. This is indeed of God, and not of man; and is owing, not to any previous worthiness in man, as appears from the instances of Matthew the publican, Zacchaeus, the Apostle Paul, the Corinthians, and others, but entirely to the free grace of God, who counts them worthy, not for any worthiness there is in them; but "vouchsafes", as the word may be rendered, this blessing of grace, their effectual calling, of his own good will and pleasure: but this cannot be meant here, because these persons were partakers of that grace, God had called them to his kingdom and glory; unless the sense of the petition is, that God would cause them to walk worthy of the calling with which they were called, which becoming walk is owing to the grace of God: or else the meaning may be, that God would grant unto them perseverance in the grace, by and to which they were called, that so they might enjoy eternal glory; which though certain, should be prayed for by saints, both for themselves and others: the words may be rendered, "that our God would count you worthy of the call"; of the call of Christ when he shall be revealed from heaven, and come a second time; for then will he first call the saints out of their graves, as he did Lazarus, and they shall hear his all powerful voice, and come forth to the resurrection of life, the first and better resurrection, which those that have part in will be secure from the second death; this the apostle was desirous of attaining to himself, and prays that God would vouchsafe it to others; of this Job speaks in Job 14:15. And next Christ will call the righteous, when raised and set at his right hand, to inherit the kingdom and glory prepared by his Father for them; and happy are those who by the grace of God will be counted worthy of this call or rather by calling here is meant, the ultimate glory itself, which the saints are called unto; this God gives a right unto in the justifying righteousness of his Son, and makes meet for by his own grace; and the thing itself is a free grace gift of his through Jesus Christ. In this sense calling seems to be used in Eph 4:4 and to this agrees the Ethiopic version here, "that God may impart unto you that to which he hath called you"; and that is eternal glory, which though certainly and inseparably connected with the effectual calling, may, and should be prayed for: and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness; not providential, but special goodness; not the good pleasure of his strict justice in the condemning of the wicked, denying his grace to them, and hiding from them the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, which is a part of his good pleasure, even of the good pleasure of his righteousness; but this is the good pleasure of his grace and kindness in Christ Jesus, and intends the whole of his gracious designs towards his people: and to express the free, rich, sovereign grace of God in them, the apostle uses a variety of words, calling them "his pleasure", "his good pleasure"; and, as if this was not enough, "the good pleasure of his goodness"; and desires that all of it might be fulfilled; it consisting of many things, some of which were fulfilled, and others remained to be fulfilled. It consists of the choice of persons in Christ, and the predestination of them to the adoption of children, which is according to the good pleasure of the will of God; the redemption of them by Christ, in which are displayed the exceeding riches of his grace; the free justification of them by the righteousness of Christ; the full pardon of all their sins, and their adoption into the household of God, and their regeneration, of rich grace, and abundant mercy; all these instances of the good pleasure of divine goodness were fulfilled in these persons; what remained were the carrying on and finishing the work of grace upon their souls, and their enjoyment of the heavenly glory: and for the former, in order to the latter, the apostle prays in the next clause, and the work of faith with power; faith is not only an operative grace; see Gill on Th1 1:3 and is attended with good works; but it is a work itself, not of man's, for he cannot produce it in himself, nor exercise it of himself; but it is the work of God, of his operation which he works in his people; it has not only God for its object, and therefore the Arabic version reads, "the work of faith on him"; but it has God for its author: and this now, though it had grown exceedingly in these believers, was not as yet fulfilled or perfect; something was still lacking in it; wherefore the apostle prays that he who was the author would be the finisher of it: and this will be done "with power"; not of man's, for this work is neither begun, nor carried on, nor will it be finished by the might and power of men; but the same hands which laid the foundation of it, raise it up, carry it on, and give the finishing stroke to it; it is done by the power of God, and so the Arabic and Ethiopic versions read, "by his own power": which is greatly displayed in the production of faith at first; for a poor sensible sinner, in a view of all his sins, and the just deserts of them, to venture his soul on Christ alone for salvation; for a man to go out of himself and renounce his own righteousness, and trust to the righteousness of Christ for his justification before God, and acceptance with him, is owing to the exceeding greatness of God's power to them that believe; and the same power is seen in enabling faith to do the things it does; see Heb 11:1 and in encouraging, supporting, and maintaining it under the most difficult circumstances, as in the case of Abraham; and to make it stand fast under the severest persecutions, and at the hour of death, and in the view of an awful eternity, when it receives its full completion.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
In these verses the apostle again tells the Thessalonians of his earnest and constant prayer for them. He could not be present with them, yet he had a constant remembrance of them; they were much upon his thoughts; he wished them well, and could not express his good-will and good wishes to them better than in earnest constant prayer to God for them: Wherefore also we pray, etc. Note, The believing thoughts and expectation of the second coming of Christ should put us upon prayer to God for ourselves and others. We should watch and pray, so our Saviour directs his disciples (Luk 21:36), Watch therefore, and pray always, that you may be counted worthy to stand before the Son of man. Observe, I. What the apostle prayed for, Th2 1:11. It is a great concern to be well instructed what to pray for; and without divine instruction we know not what to pray for, as without divine assistance we shall not pray in such a manner as we ought. Our prayers should be suitable to our expectations. Thus the apostle prays for them, 1. That God would begin his good work of grace in them; so we may understand this expression: That our God would count you (or, as it might be read, make you) worthy of this calling. We are called with a high and holy calling; we are called to God's kingdom and glory; and no less than the inheritance of the saints is the hope of our calling, nothing less than the enjoyment of that glory and felicity which shall be revealed when Christ Jesus shall be revealed from heaven. Now, if this be our calling, our great concern should be to be worthy of it, or meet and prepared for this glory: and because we have no worthiness of our own, but what is owing purely to the grace of God, we should pray that he would make us worthy, and then count us worthy, of this calling, or that he would make us meet to partake of the inheritance of the saints in light, Col 1:12. 2. That God would carry on the good work that is begun, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness. The good pleasure of God denotes his gracious purposes towards his people, which flow from his goodness, and are full of goodness towards them; and it is thence that all good comes to us. If there be any good in us, it is the fruit of God's good-will to us, it is owing to the good pleasure of his goodness, and therefore is called grace. Now, there are various and manifold purposes of grace and good-will in God towards his people; and the apostle prays that all of them may be fulfilled or accomplished towards these Thessalonians. There are several good works of grace begun in the hearts of God's people, which proceed from this good pleasure of God's goodness, and we should desire that they may be completed and perfected. In particular, the apostle prays that God would fulfil in them the work of faith with power. Note, (1.) The fulfilling of the work of faith is in order to the fulfilling of every other good work. And, (2.) It is the power of God that not only begins, but that carries on and perfects the work of faith. II. Why the apostle prayed for these things (Th2 1:12): That the name of the Lord Jesus may be glorified; this is the end we should aim at in every thing we do and desire, that God and Christ in all things may be glorified. Our own happiness and that of others should be subordinate to this ultimate end. Our good works should so shine before men that others may glorify God, that Christ may be glorified in and by us, and then we shall be glorified in and with him. And this is the great end and design of the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ, which is manifested to us and wrought in us. Or thus: it is according to the grace of God and Christ, that is, it is an agreeable thing, considering the grace that is manifested to us and bestowed on us, by God and Christ, that we direct all we do to the glory of our Creator and Redeemer.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
1:11-12 Paul assures the Thessalonian believers of God’s promised justice, both for them and their persecutors (1:5-10). Because future deliverance means carrying out present responsibilities, Paul prays that they will be found worthy at Christ’s return. 1:11 enable you to live a life worthy of his call: Paul had previously reminded the Thessalonians that God called them to conduct themselves “in a way that God would consider worthy” (1 Thes 2:12; see also Eph 4:1; Phil 1:27; Col 1:10). • Paul prayed that God would give the Thessalonian Christians power to live and work in a manner that would please God.