2 Thessalonians 2:17 kjv
Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
2 Thessalonians 2:17 nkjv
comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.
2 Thessalonians 2:17 niv
encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
2 Thessalonians 2:17 esv
comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
2 Thessalonians 2:17 nlt
comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.
2 Thessalonians 2 verses
(h2) MeaningThis verse serves as a powerful benediction from the Apostle Paul, Silas, and Timothy, petitioning God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ to grant inner solace and outer steadfastness to the Thessalonian believers. It seeks divine comfort for their anxieties and internal struggles, coupled with spiritual establishment that fortifies them in all aspects of their Christian conduct and communication. This encompassing grace enables them to live faithfully and effectively, expressing their faith consistently through both their actions and their verbal witness.
(h2) Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 23:4 | Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. | God's comforting presence in trials. |
| Isa 40:1 | "Comfort, comfort my people," says your God. | Divine compassion brings comfort. |
| Rom 15:4-5 | For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope... | Scripture as a source of comfort and hope. |
| 2 Cor 1:3-4 | Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction... | God is the ultimate source of all comfort. |
| Phil 4:6-7 | ...by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts... | Prayer leads to God's peace comforting hearts. |
| Heb 13:5-6 | I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear... | God's abiding presence is a source of comfort. |
| 2 Thes 2:16 | Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts... | Immediate context: God and Christ as sources of comfort. |
| Rom 16:25 | Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ... | God's ability to strengthen and establish believers. |
| 1 Pet 5:10 | And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. | God directly confirms and establishes believers after suffering. |
| Col 2:6-7 | Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith... | Establishing occurs through abiding in Christ and faith. |
| Heb 13:9 | Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace... | Grace provides stability against false doctrines. |
| 1 Cor 15:58 | Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. | Exhortation to be steadfast in the Lord's work. |
| Psa 87:5 | Of Zion it shall be said, "This one and that one were born in her," and the Most High himself will establish her. | God establishes His chosen people/place. |
| Eph 2:10 | For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. | Believers are divinely purposed for good works. |
| Col 1:10 | ...so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; | Fruitful living includes every good work. |
| Tit 2:7 | Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity... | Leadership requires exemplary good works. |
| Heb 10:24 | And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works... | Mutual encouragement towards good actions. |
| Phil 2:13 | for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. | God's enabling power for willingness and action. |
| Matt 5:16 | In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. | Good works lead to glorifying God. |
| Col 3:17 | And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. | Comprehensive command for all words and deeds. |
| Eph 4:29 | Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. | The importance of edifying and gracious words. |
| Matt 12:34-37 | For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil... | Words reveal the heart's condition and have accountability. |
| Jas 1:22 | But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | Emphasizes active doing (works) over passive hearing (word). |
| 1 Jn 3:18 | Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. | Highlights the necessity of action over mere speech. |
| 2 Thes 3:16 | Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. | Another benediction for divine presence and peace. |
| 1 Thes 5:23-24 | Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. | God's faithfulness in sanctifying and preserving. |
(h2) ContextThe Second Letter to the Thessalonians addresses pressing concerns among believers, particularly confusion regarding the timing of the Lord's return and the accompanying anxiety and disorder. Chapter 2 focuses heavily on the "man of lawlessness" and the events preceding the Lord's coming, a difficult teaching that could easily disturb believers. In this challenging context, Paul reassures the Thessalonians of God's sovereign choice (2 Thes 2:13) and their call to salvation through sanctification and belief in the truth (2 Thes 2:13-14). He then exhorts them to "stand firm and hold to the traditions" they were taught (2 Thes 2:15). Verse 17 is the culmination of Paul's prayer, beginning in verse 16, asking that God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ themselves intervene to fortify the believers. This divine intervention of comfort and establishment is essential for them to endure the prevailing challenges and to continue living a life consistent with the gospel in a world awaiting Christ's glorious return. It grounds their ethical conduct and witness in God's prior gracious action.
(h2) Word analysis
- Comfort (παρακαλέω - parakaleō): Literally meaning "to call alongside," this verb implies more than just soothing. It signifies a profound divine action of exhorting, encouraging, strengthening, and consoling, particularly in the face of fear, suffering, or uncertainty. It is a dynamic comfort that empowers for action.
- Your hearts (καρδία - kardia): In biblical thought, the "heart" is the core of a person – the seat of intellect, emotions, will, conscience, and inner being. Praying for comfort in their hearts means addressing their innermost anxieties, sorrows, and confusion stemming from their persecution and the eschatological teachings. It touches their spiritual resolve and fortitude.
- And establish (στηρίζω - stērizō): This verb means "to fix firmly," "to make stable," "to strengthen," or "to confirm." It suggests imparting a steadfastness that prevents wavering or spiritual collapse. It denotes a firm spiritual foundation, particularly vital given the unstable conditions and the discussion of apostasy earlier in the chapter.
- You: Refers directly to the Thessalonian believers, indicating the personal and communal recipient of this divine enabling grace. It is a work done in them and for them.
- In every good (πᾶς ἀγαθός - pas agathos): "Every" indicates comprehensive coverage, leaving no aspect out. "Good" (agathos) denotes what is inherently righteous, beneficial, excellent, and morally sound in God's eyes. It implies a high standard that is pleasing to Him.
- Work (ἔργον - ergon): This refers to action, deed, labor, or conduct. It encompasses the practical expression of faith—their obedience, service, ethical living, and acts of love in daily life.
- And word (λόγος - logos): This term signifies speech, message, communication, teaching, or testimony. It points to their verbal witness, the proclamation of the gospel, confessing their faith, and every form of Christian discourse that builds up others and honors God. The explicit inclusion of "word" alongside "work" underscores the importance of verbal expression as a key component of faithful Christian living.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "Comfort your hearts and establish you": This phrase combines two vital aspects of divine provision for the believer's inner and outer life. "Comfort" addresses the internal spiritual and emotional state, providing solace and strengthening courage. "Establish" addresses the outward stance and foundational stability, preventing believers from being shaken or misled. Together, they represent a complete work of fortification for enduring faithfulness.
- "In every good work and word": This holistic phrase emphasizes the pervasive nature of Christian living. "Every good" signifies that all areas of a believer's life—their deeds ("work") and their utterances ("word")—should reflect the goodness of God. The pairing of "work" and "word" highlights that authentic faith is demonstrated both through active obedience and through clear, consistent, and godly communication. Neither is sufficient without the other; they are integrated facets of a vibrant and visible witness to Christ.
(h2) CommentarySecond Thessalonians 2:17 is a profoundly rich benediction that concludes a crucial section of Paul's letter. Amidst eschatological anxieties and the reality of potential apostasy, Paul, Silas, and Timothy seek divine intervention for the believers. They ask God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ to minister directly to the core of their being ("comfort your hearts") and to solidify their entire life ("establish you"). This comfort is not passive relief but an active divine empowerment to face trials with fortitude. The establishment is not merely a spiritual concept but enables practical righteousness "in every good work and word." This signifies that a truly Christian life is expressed comprehensively, both in tangible actions and in verbal proclamation or witness. This prayer underscores that consistent and godly living—in both deeds and speech—is not achievable by human effort alone but is a gracious gift and ongoing work of God, demonstrating His active presence and power within His people, especially in times of difficulty and confusion.
(h2) Bonus sectionThis verse beautifully illustrates the Trinitarian working in the believer's life, as both the Father and the Son are invoked as the direct sources of comfort and establishment (following v.16). It highlights that the Christian life is not merely about adhering to a set of rules but is a dynamic partnership with God, who actively empowers His people for faithful living. The placement of this specific prayer directly after the weighty discourse on the "man of lawlessness" and the Day of the Lord reinforces that sound doctrine should always lead to a practical, sanctified life. Moreover, it is a testament to Paul's pastoral heart, as he constantly prays for the spiritual well-being and steadfastness of those he ministers to, emphasizing God's role in equipping them to stand firm. The combination of "work" and "word" signifies the completeness of a Christian witness – one that is both visibly lived out and audibly confessed, reinforcing the integrated nature of faith and practice.