2 Thessalonians 1:11 kjv

Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

2 Thessalonians 1:11 nkjv

Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,

2 Thessalonians 1:11 niv

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.

2 Thessalonians 1:11 esv

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power,

2 Thessalonians 1:11 nlt

So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.

2 Thessalonians 1 verses

2 Thessalonians 1 11 Meaning

2 Thessalonians 1:11 articulates Paul's fervent prayer for the believers in Thessalonica, focusing on their spiritual maturity and ultimate glorification. Paul petitions God to enable them to live lives that truly reflect and align with the divine calling they have received, a calling to Christ's kingdom and glory. The prayer specifically requests that God's immense power would not only bring to completion their every desire and resolve for goodness, which are often Spirit-prompted, but also effectively establish every work that stems from their faith. This verse thus highlights divine enablement as foundational for human aspiration towards goodness and faithful action.

2 Thessalonians 1 11 Context

The verse "To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power," stands at the climax of Paul's introductory remarks in 2 Thessalonians. Chapter 1 primarily addresses the suffering of the Thessalonian believers under persecution and offers them comfort and hope. Paul begins by commending their abounding faith, growing love, and steadfast endurance (v. 3-4).

He then shifts to the ultimate triumph of divine justice at Christ's second coming (v. 5-10). This return will bring righteous retribution to their oppressors and, crucially, provide rest and vindication for the suffering saints. The judgment is purposeful: "when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed" (v. 10). Verse 11, beginning with "To this end" (Greek: eis auto), directly links Paul's prayer to this glorious eschatological outcome. The purpose of their present spiritual growth, enabled by God's power, is so that they might be prepared and found worthy to participate fully in that future glorification of Christ, fulfilling God's overall plan for them. The historical context reflects a young church experiencing significant opposition, making Paul's prayer for their endurance, spiritual growth, and faithfulness under duress particularly relevant.

2 Thessalonians 1 11 Word analysis

• To this end (εἰς τοῦτο - eis touto): This phrase acts as a significant theological link. "To this end" points back directly to the preceding verses (2 Thess 1:5-10), specifically the future glory of Christ "in his saints" and their vindication. Paul's prayer is thus aimed at ensuring the Thessalonians' readiness and fitness for their participation in God's ultimate eschatological plan. It grounds their present growth in future glory.
• we always pray (πάντοτε προσευχόμεθα - pantote proseuchometha): Highlights Paul's consistent and persistent intercession for them, demonstrating his deep pastoral care and reliance on divine agency for their spiritual progress. This continuous prayer underscores the believers' dependence on God's active work in their lives.
• for you (περὶ ὑμῶν - peri hymōn): Directs the prayer's focus specifically to the Thessalonian community, addressing their particular needs in light of their circumstances and the theological exposition given.
• that our God (ἵνα ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν - hina ho Theos hēmōn): Specifies the source of power and grace as "our God," emphasizing His covenantal relationship and ability to act powerfully on behalf of His people. The inclusion of "our" suggests shared identity and access to God.
• may make you worthy (ἀξιώσῃ ὑμᾶς - axiōsē hymas): From axioō, meaning "to deem worthy," "to count worthy," or "to enable to be worthy." This is not a worthiness based on human merit or works earning salvation, but rather God's transformative work, by His grace, empowering believers to live a life commensurate with His calling. It is an enablement to correspond to the value of the calling, aligning life with status.
• of his calling (τῆς κλήσεως - tēs klēseōs): Klēsis refers to God's divine, effectual summons or invitation, drawing individuals into salvation, His kingdom, and glory. This is an invitation from God which implies a responsibility to live accordingly, empowered by Him. The calling is specific—to Christ's kingdom and glory (1 Thess 2:12).
• and may fulfill (καὶ πληρώσῃ - kai plērōsē): From plēroō, meaning "to fill," "to complete," "to bring to fruition." This implies God bringing to a successful and complete outcome something that may be embryonic or incomplete within the believers. It is His work to fully realize potential and complete righteous impulses.
• every resolve for good (πᾶσαν εὐδοκίαν ἀγαθωσύνης - pasan eudokian agathosynēs):
  • resolve for good: eudokian agathosynēs. Eudokia signifies a good pleasure, a favorable inclination, or a strong resolve/will. Coupled with agathosynē (goodness, moral excellence, inherent goodness), it points to an inward desire, intention, or resolve that is righteous and virtuous. This suggests Spirit-prompted impulses and intentions toward moral excellence that God will complete. It's not just any human desire, but those aligned with God's goodness.
• and every work of faith (καὶ ἔργον πίστεως - kai ergon pisteōs): Refers to deeds, actions, or conduct that originate from and are motivated by faith. This contrasts with works performed outside of faith or for self-justification. It emphasizes the active, demonstrable aspect of genuine belief, as illustrated throughout Scripture.
• by his power (ἐν δυνάμει - en dynamei): Dynamis signifies inherent strength, power, or ability. This phrase concludes the prayer, emphasizing that all the preceding elements – their worthiness, the fulfillment of good desires, and the activation of faithful works – are solely accomplished through the active, enabling power of God, not by human effort alone. It's divine dynamis at work.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "To this end...pray for you": This links the eschatological hope (Christ glorified in them) directly to their present spiritual state, emphasizing prayer as the vital means through which God’s plan is actualized in believers' lives. Paul is not just wishing but actively interceding.
• "that our God may make you worthy of his calling": This foundational request establishes the aim of God’s transformative work. Worthiness here is not achieved by human striving but is a divine enabling to align their conduct and character with the high and holy nature of their divine invitation to His kingdom and glory.
• "and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power": This section details the two main facets of God's enablement. "Every resolve for good" speaks to the internal, spiritual inclination and motivation towards righteousness, often Spirit-prompted. "Every work of faith" refers to the outward, tangible expression of this internal posture, actions birthed out of genuine faith. Both aspects, the internal desire and external action, are wholly reliant on God's operative power. It confirms that sanctification and service are divine processes powered by Him.

2 Thessalonians 1 11 Bonus section

The emphasis on "his power" (en dynamei) at the very end of the verse serves as a powerful theological anchor. In the context of the Thessalonians' persecution, this divine power is not just for future judgment but is actively at work in the present to strengthen them and enable their spiritual growth. It reassures them that despite external pressures or internal weakness, God Himself is capable of actualizing all that Paul prays for them. The divine initiative and enablement are paramount. The verse implicitly addresses the potential for discouragement under persecution by pointing to God's all-sufficient strength, which operates in them and through them to complete His purposes for their lives. This continuous prayer also illustrates a pattern for Christian intercession: it should be rooted in theological understanding, directed towards God's will and glory, and aimed at the spiritual formation and future glorification of fellow believers.

2 Thessalonians 1 11 Commentary

2 Thessalonians 1:11 is a rich prayer that distills Paul's pastoral concern into a powerful theological statement. Following his depiction of Christ's future glorification in the saints (2 Thess 1:10), Paul's "To this end" signals that the present spiritual growth of believers is inextricably linked to their ultimate eschatological destiny. It's a prayer that their conduct in the present might align with the glory awaiting them in the future.

The petition centers on God making them "worthy of his calling." This is a crucial concept. "Worthiness" here does not imply earning salvation or God's favor through works. Rather, it signifies an empowering of God's grace that enables believers to live in a manner befitting the divine invitation they have received into His kingdom and glory. It's a transformative process where God, by His Spirit, aligns the believer's character and actions with the high standard of their calling, so their life reflects the divine grace given.

The prayer further requests that God "fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power." This emphasizes the comprehensive nature of God's work. "Every resolve for good" (eudokia agathosynēs) speaks to the inward, Spirit-instilled inclination towards righteousness and moral excellence. It's a longing for holiness and virtue that originates from God. "Every work of faith" refers to the outward, practical expressions of genuine faith in action. Paul understands that both the internal desire for goodness and the external demonstration of faith are ultimately initiated and brought to fruition "by his power" (en dynamei). Human aspiration and effort are present, but their effectiveness and completion are entirely dependent on God's supernatural enablement. This verse affirms God as the primary agent in sanctification, empowering both the will to good and the performance of good works, allowing believers to mature and ultimately partake in Christ's glory without shame. It underscores that spiritual progress is a divine-human partnership where God's dynamis undergirds every genuine movement towards goodness and faith in the believer.

For practical usage, this verse encourages believers to:

1. Pray persistently for their own spiritual growth and the growth of fellow believers, recognizing that true transformation comes from God.
2. Actively desire goodness, trusting that God will bring those righteous resolves to fruition.
3. Engage in works of faith, understanding that such works are empowered and completed by God, leading to their full development in Christ.