2 Thessalonians 1:12 kjv

That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:12 nkjv

that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:12 niv

We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:12 esv

so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:12 nlt

Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1 verses

2 Thessalonians 1 12 Meaning

This verse expresses the ultimate purpose of the Thessalonians' enduring faith and God's work in their lives: the mutual glorification of Christ and His followers. It articulates a powerful theological truth: as believers live out their calling through the power of God, Christ's character and redemptive work are exalted in them. In turn, believers receive true honor and a share in glory by virtue of their union with Him. This entire process, from start to finish, is founded solely upon the abounding grace of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1 12 Context

This verse is the culminating prayer and central aspiration of Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy for the Thessalonian believers. The preceding verses (2 Thes 1:3-10) commend their faith, love, and perseverance amidst persecution, assuring them of God's righteous judgment against those who trouble them and ultimate vindication for the faithful at Christ's return. The immediate context of 2 Thes 1:11-12 forms a passionate prayer. Paul prays that God would "consider them worthy" of their calling and fulfill every good purpose of His goodness and every work of faith by His power (2 Thes 1:11). Verse 12 then states the precise reason or purpose for this divine activity: that Christ may be glorified in them, and they in Him, all according to grace. Historically, the Thessalonians faced Roman societal pressure to conform to pagan worship, alongside direct persecution from both Jewish and Gentile adversaries. This verse serves as encouragement, rooting their suffering in a greater divine purpose and a future glory, contrasting with any temporary earthly "glory" or honor offered by the world.

2 Thessalonians 1 12 Word analysis

• ἵνα (hina): This is a conjunction introducing a purpose clause. It means "in order that" or "so that." It signifies the ultimate goal or aim of the prayer mentioned in the preceding verse. Every divine action and every Christian virtue leads to this end.
• ἐνδοξασθῇ (endoxasthē): This is the aorist passive subjunctive of endoxazō, meaning "to be glorified," "to be held in honor."
  • "ἐν-" (en): The prefix "en-" here suggests "in" or "among," amplifying the concept of glory manifesting within.
  • "δόξα" (doxa): The root is doxa, meaning "glory," "honor," "splendor," "fame," or "majesty." In biblical terms, it often refers to God's inherent divine presence and manifest attributes. When applied to Christ, it signifies His divine nature.
  • Passive voice: "be glorified" implies that the glorifying agent is God Himself, making it a "divine passive." It's not something believers accomplish independently but something God orchestrates.
• τὸ ὄνομα (to onoma): "the name." In biblical thought, the "name" of a person represents their essence, character, authority, reputation, and presence. To glorify the name of the Lord means to magnify who He is in His entirety. It implies acknowledging His identity and worthiness.
• τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ (tou Kyriou hēmōn Iēsou): "of our Lord Jesus." This full title emphasizes His supreme authority (Kyrios - Lord, implying deity) and His personal relationship with believers (hēmōn - our). It roots the glorification firmly in Christ's identity and His redemptive work.
• ἐν ὑμῖν (en hymin): "in you." The glory of Christ is to be manifested within the believers, flowing from their lives, conduct, faithfulness, and transformation. It suggests an inward spiritual reality that expresses itself outwardly. This is not just a declarative statement, but an active, visible display of Christ's character through the church's integrity, love, and endurance in suffering.
• καὶ ὑμεῖς (kai hymeis): "and you." This introduces the second, reciprocal part of the glorification. The conjunction kai signals a direct correspondence or parallelism.
• ἐν αὐτῷ (en autō): "in Him." Believers are glorified by being united with Christ. Their honor and standing are derived from their union with Him, not from their own merit. Their glory is reflected, imputed, and realized in His glory. It’s a positional truth that transforms their existence.
• κατὰ (kata): "according to," "in accordance with." This preposition specifies the standard or basis. It reveals that the entire process of reciprocal glorification operates in harmony with and on the foundation of God's grace. It excludes any notion of human merit.
• τὴν χάριν (tēn charin): "the grace." Charis is unmerited favor, divine enablement, and active benevolence. It is the sole enabling power and the very nature of God's redemptive dealings. All Christian life, from calling to glorification, springs from and is sustained by this divine grace.
• τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν (tou Theou hēmōn): "of our God." Again, "our" emphasizes a covenantal, personal relationship with God. This indicates that the grace is from the Father.
• καὶ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ (kai Kyriou Iēsou Christou): "and the Lord Jesus Christ." This pairing indicates that the grace comes from both God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, underscoring their unified action in salvation and the divine nature of Christ. It implies that Christ is equally the source of this divine grace alongside the Father.

2 Thessalonians 1 12 Bonus section

The emphasis on "our God" and "our Lord Jesus Christ" throughout Paul's letters (seen in 2 Thes 1:1-2, 1:11-12) deepens the intimacy and communal ownership implied in their relationship with the divine. It transforms abstract theology into a deeply personal reality for the Thessalonian believers. The prayer for Christ's name to be "glorified in you" speaks to the concept of sanctification and progressive transformation, where believers increasingly bear the image of Christ, allowing His character to shine through them. This contrasts with superficial displays of piety, focusing instead on a deep, inner change and outward witness to His power. The idea of "you in Him" points to the essential doctrine of being "in Christ," which is foundational to salvation, justification, and indeed, all spiritual blessing and identity for the believer. This double-sided glory highlights that true honor for humans is never intrinsic but always derivative and reflective of Christ's own glory, accessed through divine grace.

2 Thessalonians 1 12 Commentary

This verse beautifully encapsulates the twin theological pillars of divine purpose and grace. The ultimate goal of God's interaction with humanity is not just our salvation or comfort, but the glorification of His Son, Jesus Christ, which reciprocally results in our glorification in Him. The manifestation of Christ's glory within believers, through their perseverance in faith and love, and their worthiness in living out their calling, provides tangible evidence of His power and presence in the world. Their lives become a living display case for His attributes. In turn, the true honor and ultimate fulfillment for believers derive wholly from their union with Christ. This mutual glorification is not a reward earned by human effort, but an outworking of God’s sovereign and unfathomable grace, freely given by both God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. It underscores that spiritual progress and final glory are entirely God's work, enabling the believer and ensuring His own ultimate praise. This perspective refutes any thought of self-exaltation and constantly directs praise back to God.

• Example 1: When a believer endures severe persecution with steadfast faith, testifying to Christ's power, Christ's name is glorified in them.
• Example 2: When believers serve the needy not out of duty but out of Christ's love, the goodness of Christ is seen through their actions, thus His name is glorified in them.