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Selected Verse: 2 Thessalonians 2:13 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| 2Th 2:13 |
King James |
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: |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
But--In delightful contrast to the damnation of the lost (Th2 2:12) stands the "salvation" of Paul's converts.
are bound--in duty (Th2 1:3).
thanks . . . to God--not to ourselves, your ministers, nor to you, our converts.
beloved of the Lord--Jesus (Rom 8:37; Gal 2:20; Eph 5:2, Eph 5:25). Elsewhere God the Father is said to love us (Th2 2:16; Joh 3:16; Eph 2:4; Col 3:12). Therefore Jesus and the Father are one.
from the beginning--"before the foundation of the world" (Eph 1:4; compare Co1 2:7; Ti2 1:9); in contrast to those that shall "worship the beast, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev 13:8). Some of the oldest manuscripts read as English Version, but other oldest manuscripts and Vulgate read, "as first-fruits." The Thessalonians were among the first converts in Europe (compare Rom 16:5; Co1 16:15). In a more general sense, it occurs in Jam 1:18; Rev 14:4; so I understand it here including the more restricted sense.
chosen you--The Greek, is not the ordinary word for "elected," implying His eternal selection; but taken for Himself, implying His having adopted them in His eternal purpose. It is found in the Septuagint (Deu 7:7; Deu 10:15).
through--rather as Greek, "in sanctification" as the element in which the choice to salvation had place (compare Pe1 1:2), standing in contrast to the "unrighteousness," the element in which Antichrist's followers are given over by God to damnation (Th2 2:12).
of the Spirit--wrought by the Spirit who sanctifies all the elect people of God, first by eternally consecrating them to perfect holiness in Christ, once for all, next by progressively imparting it.
belief of the truth--contrasted with "believed not the truth" (Th2 2:12). |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you; - see the notes on Th2 1:3. "Because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation." The following important things are affirmed or implied here:
(1) That God had chosen or elected them (εἵλετο heileto) to salvation. The doctrine of election, therefore, is true.
(2) that this was from "the beginning" ἀπ ̓ ἀρχῆς ap' archēs; that is, from eternity; see the Joh 1:1 note; Eph 1:4; 3:9-11 notes. The doctrine of eternal election is, therefore, true.
(3) that this was the choice of the persons to whom Paul referred. The doctrine of personal election is, therefore, true.
(4) that this is a reason for thanksgiving. Why should it not be? Can there be any higher ground of praise or gratitude than that God has chosen us to be eternally holy and happy, and that he has from eternity designed that we should be so? Whatever, therefore, may be the feelings with which those who are not chosen to salvation, regard this doctrine, it is clear that those who have evidence that they are chosen should make it a subject of grateful praise. They can have no more exalted source of gratitude than that they are chosen to eternal life.
Through sanctification of the Spirit - Being made holy by the Divine Spirit. It is not without respect to character, but it is a choice to holiness and then to salvation. No one can have evidence that he is chosen to salvation except as he has evidence that he is sanctified by the Spirit; see the notes on Eph 1:4.
And belief of the truth - In connection with believing the truth. No one who is not a believer in the truth can have evidence that God has chosen him. |
| The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
salvation
(See Scofield) - (Rom 1:16). |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Hath chosen (εἵλατο)
The only case in N.T. in which this word is used of God's election. lxx, Deu 26:18, of God's choosing Israel to be his peculiar people. Comp. Phi 1:22; Heb 11:25.
From the beginning (ἀπ' ἀρχῆς)
Not elsewhere in Paul. His usual expressions are πρὸ τῶν αἰώνων before the ages (Co1 2:7): πρὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4): ἀπὸ τῶν αἰώνων from the ages (Eph 3:9). Before eternal times (πρὸ χρόνων αἰωνίων) is found Ti2 1:9; Tit 1:2. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| God hath from the beginning - Of your hearing the gospel. Chosen you to salvation - Taken you out of the world, and placed you in the way to glory. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, etc. - In your calling, God has shown the purpose that he had formed from the beginning, to call the Gentiles to the same privileges with the Jews, not through circumcision, and the observance of the Mosaic law, but by faith in Christ Jesus; but this simple way of salvation referred to the same end - holiness, without which no man, whether Jew or Gentile, can see the Lord.
Let us observe the order of Divine grace in this business:
1. They were to hear the truth - the doctrines of the Gospel.
2. They were to believe this truth when they heard it preached.
3. They were to receive the Spirit of God in believing the truth.
4. That Spirit was to sanctify their souls-produce an inward holiness, which was to lead to all outward conformity to God.
5. All this constituted their salvation - their being fitted for the inheritance among the saints in light.
6. They were to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ - that state of felicity for which they were fitted, by being saved here from their sins, and by being sanctified by the Spirit of God. |
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
15 Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day.
7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:
4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
18 And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;