2 Thessalonians 2:13 kjv

But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

2 Thessalonians 2:13 nkjv

But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,

2 Thessalonians 2:13 niv

But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 esv

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 nlt

As for us, we can't help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation ? a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth.

2 Thessalonians 2 verses

2 Thessalonians 2 13 Meaning

Second Thessalonians 2:13 presents a profound statement of divine grace and human response, forming a stark contrast to the judgment described for those who reject the truth. Paul affirms the unwavering gratitude he and his companions have for the Thessalonian believers. This thanksgiving is rooted in the divine act of God's choice, who, in His eternal purpose, elected them for salvation. This salvation is not arbitrary but is realized through the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in sanctification, and through their active belief in the truth of the gospel. It emphasizes God's sovereign initiative as the source of their salvation, evidenced by the ongoing process of holiness and genuine faith.

2 Thessalonians 2 13 Context

Second Thessalonians 2:13 is a pivotal verse within a section that addresses confusion regarding the "day of the Lord." Paul has just detailed the deception and impending judgment upon those who "did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved" (2 Th 2:10-12) and will therefore believe the lie. In contrast, verse 13 sharply differentiates the Thessalonian believers. It affirms their secure standing in God's grace by reminding them of His prior choice. This assurance functions as encouragement, dispelling anxieties arising from false teachings about the immediate return of Christ and the signs preceding it. Historically, the early Church faced pressure from both external persecution and internal false doctrines. Paul counters these with foundational truths about God's election and the reality of genuine faith and sanctification.

2 Thessalonians 2 13 Word analysis

• But: Greek: hemeis de (ἡμεῖς δέ). This strongly contrasting particle ("but as for us") immediately shifts focus from those condemned (vv. 9-12) to the believers, highlighting their different spiritual destiny.
• we ought always to thank: Greek: opheilomen eu­cha­ri­stein pantote (ὀφείλομεν εὐχαριστεῖν πάντοτε). Oph­ei­lō signifies a moral obligation or duty. Paul asserts that gratitude for the Thessalonians is not occasional but a constant, required response.
• God: Greek: tō Theō (τῷ Θεῷ). Emphasizes the ultimate object of their praise and the ultimate source of salvation.
• for you: Greek: peri hymōn (περὶ ὑμῶν). Identifies the specific recipients and beneficiaries of God's saving work.
• brothers: Greek: adelphoi (ἀδελφοί). A term of affectionate address, highlighting spiritual kinship and shared faith.
• beloved by the Lord: Greek: ēgapēmenoi hypo Kyriou (ἠγαπημένοι ὑπὸ Κυρίου). Affirms their deep personal relationship with Christ and the Father (through the "Lord"). The perfect passive participle indicates a past action with continuing results, stressing the enduring nature of divine love for them.
• because: Greek: hoti (ὅτι). Introduces the fundamental reason for Paul's thanksgiving, revealing the theological basis for the Thessalonians' blessed status.
• God: Greek: ho Theos (ὁ Θεός). Reiteration of God as the primary agent of election.
• chose you: Greek: exelexato hymas (ἐξελέξατο ὑμᾶς). From eklegomai, meaning "to choose out, pick out, select." This denotes a decisive, deliberate act of selection by God, distinct from any human merit.
• from the beginning: Greek: ap' archēs (ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς). This phrase can imply:
  • From eternity past: Before creation, indicating God's eternal counsel. This is its most significant theological weight, emphasizing predestination.
  • From the first evangelism: When the gospel first came to them.The eternal sense is more consistent with the emphasis on God's sovereignty throughout Pauline theology (e.g., Eph 1:4).
• for salvation: Greek: eis sōtērian (εἰς σωτηρίαν). States the ultimate purpose or goal of God's choice—deliverance from sin and wrath, bringing them into eternal life in Christ.
• through sanctification: Greek: en hagiasmō (ἐν ἁγιασμῷ). Hagiasmos means holiness or consecration, the process by which a believer is set apart and progressively made holy. It signifies the Spirit's work in cleansing and enabling believers to live righteously. It's the means by which salvation is apprehended and realized in life.
• by the Spirit: Greek: Pneumatos (Πνεύματος). Genitive case indicates the agent or source. It is the Holy Spirit who performs this work of setting apart and cleansing, vital for living out the truth.
• and belief: Greek: kai pistei (καὶ πίστει). Connects sanctification to faith as the other indispensable means. Faith is not a meritorious work but the human reception and trust in the truth God provides.
• in the truth: Greek: alētheias (ἀληθείας). Refers to the revealed truth of the gospel, God's divine revelation, in contrast to the "lie" those perish by. Belief in this truth is essential for salvation and the process of sanctification.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord": This group highlights Paul's persistent gratitude for the Thessalonians, emphasizing their standing as objects of God's (the Lord's) eternal love. It sets a pastoral tone, showing deep affection and spiritual responsibility.
• "because God chose you from the beginning for salvation": This clause asserts the theological foundation for their thanksgiving—God's sovereign, predetermined choice. "From the beginning" underscores the divine initiative and eternal scope of His plan. This is the source of their assurance, independent of fleeting circumstances.
• "through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth": This specifies the means by which this election to salvation is realized and evidenced. It presents a divine-human cooperation, where God's Spirit acts to sanctify (a process of progressive holiness), and the human response is faith in the revealed truth. These two are intrinsically linked: genuine sanctification is impossible without the Spirit, and genuine faith is directed toward the truth, leading to salvation.

2 Thessalonians 2 13 Bonus section

The emphasis on "sanctification by the Spirit" alongside "belief in the truth" is crucial. It underscores that God's election to salvation is not merely a decision for heaven in the future, but a decision for transformed living now. There is no true belief in the truth that does not also result in a progressive work of holiness enabled by the Holy Spirit. Conversely, the Spirit's sanctifying work is always tied to belief in and obedience to the revealed truth of God. This linkage counters any idea of a salvation that is merely intellectual assent without ethical transformation, or a transformation not rooted in Christ's truth. This verse also serves as a strong pastoral encouragement against apostasy, by grounding believers' hope in God's eternal, unwavering purpose rather than fluctuating human performance.

2 Thessalonians 2 13 Commentary

Second Thessalonians 2:13 is a powerful summary of Reformed theology concerning salvation, election, and the Christian life. Paul offers this deep theological truth as an anchor for the Thessalonians amid eschatological anxieties and the deception surrounding the "man of lawlessness." Unlike those destined for delusion who "did not receive the love of the truth," the Thessalonians are characterized by God's eternal election.

God's choice (exelexato) is sovereign and originates ap' archēs—from eternity. This pre-temporal choice signifies God's loving and gracious purpose for them, establishing that their salvation is entirely His initiative, not contingent on their worthiness or foreseen merit. The purpose of this choice is salvation (eis sōtērian), which encompasses their full deliverance from sin and entrance into eternal life in Christ.

The means by which this salvation unfolds in their lives are twofold: sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. These are not independent pathways but are interwoven aspects of God's saving work. Sanctification (hagiasmos) is the Spirit's work of setting apart and purifying believers, conforming them to Christ's image. This is a progressive, active process of living a holy life. Alongside this, belief in the truth (pistei alētheias) underscores the human response of trusting God's revealed Word, the Gospel, as the absolute standard, distinguishing them from those who fall prey to "the lie." This verse beautifully portrays that divine election does not negate human responsibility (faith) but rather undergirds and empowers it. It teaches that election is not to arbitrary favoritism, but to a holy life rooted in truth.

Examples: A believer understands that their salvation is not a mere accident but part of God's eternal, loving plan. When faced with trials or temptations to doubt, they find security in knowing they are "beloved by the Lord." The continuous work of the Spirit in guiding them toward righteousness and their commitment to believing the Bible's teaching are tangible proofs of this divine election in their lives.