{"id":6182,"date":"2022-02-24T11:21:47","date_gmt":"2022-02-24T17:21:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/versebyverse.carpelibra.org\/?p=6182"},"modified":"2023-03-20T15:55:22","modified_gmt":"2023-03-20T21:55:22","slug":"2-thessalonians-213-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/versebyverse.carpelibra.org\/?p=6182","title":{"rendered":"2 Thessalonians 2:13-17"},"content":{"rendered":"

13\u00a0<\/sup>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,<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n

14\u00a0<\/sup>to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n

15\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n

16\u00a0<\/sup>Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace,<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n

17\u00a0<\/sup>comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n

In the New Testament the world is frequently said to be the object of the love of God (John 3:16<\/span><\/a>; Romans 5:8<\/span><\/a>, e.g., it is never said to be the object of the love of Christ. His love to the world was expressed in His death, indeed, but, save in the incident recorded in Mark 10:21, His love is always mentioned with reference to those who believe, whether individually (Galatians 2:20<\/span><\/a>), or collectively the local church (Revelation 3:9), and the church which is His body (Ephesians 5:25<\/span><\/a>). \u2014 Vine, page 125.<\/span><\/h3>\n

from the beginning (v.13) \u2014 perhaps with the sense of “first fruits,” as the Thessalonians were among the first Gentiles who received the gospel.<\/h3>\n

for salvation (v.13) \u2014 in contrast with the judgment of those who don’t believe<\/h3>\n

sanctification (v.13) \u2014 separation to God by the Holy Spirit<\/h3>\n

The ministry of the Holy Spirit, which begins with revealing the truth of the gospel to the individual, continues to guide the believer into all truth (John 16:13<\/span><\/a>), “renewing him unto knowledge” (Colossians 3:10<\/span><\/a>); hence, the apostle’s prayers for the converts in Philippians 1:9-10<\/span><\/a>; Colossians 1:9<\/span><\/a>. When they were called through the gospel, it was that they “might know the truth and that the truth might make them free” (John 8:32<\/span><\/a>). \u2014 Vine, page 127.<\/span><\/h3>\n

__________<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

In closing the doctrinal part of this epistle, the Apostle emphasized the vast difference between the outlook for God’s beloved people and for those who have rejected His love and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.<\/span><\/h3>\n

First, the word “salvation” should … be carefully considered in its context<\/em>. Salvation from what? … What subject has the Apostle been concerned with? The clear answer is the rapture of God’s people to be with Christ and the subsequent manifestation of His wrath upon a Christ-rejecting world.<\/span><\/h3>\n

In the light of the context<\/em>, then, the “salvation” to which the Apostle refers here is not salvation from eternal judgment, but salvation from “the day of God’s wrath. Note the connective “But” at v.13. …<\/span><\/h3>\n

It is after discussing God’s wrath upon this unbelieving world during the Tribulation, that the Apostle expresses his joy that God has chosen to save believers from this holocaust “through sanctification of the Spirit and belief<\/em> of the truth.”<\/span><\/h3>\n

Thus we have here yet another evidence that the rapture of the Church will precede the Tribulation, and that the members of Christ’s Body will not<\/em> be called upon to endure the latter. \u2014 Stam, pages 134-135.<\/span><\/h3>\n

__________<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

We were chosen to this salvation \u201cthrough sanctification of the Spirit\u201d (v.13). Sanctification means to be set apart to God (Exodus 13:2, 12), and we\u2019ve been set apart to be saved by the pre-tribulation rapture.<\/span><\/h3>\n

Normally sanctification is from the unsaved (1 Corinthians 6:9-11<\/span><\/a>), but here it is from the Jewish kingdom saints who will have to go through the Tribulation. That exact phrase \u201csanctification of the Spirit\u201d is only elsewhere used by Peter to write to \u201cthe \u2026 elect according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit\u201d\u00a0<\/i>(1 Peter 1:1-2). God foreknew the Jews would go through the Tribulation, so the Spirit sanctified them from us, the people He foreknew would be raptured before it. Peter went on, \u201cthat the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold\u2026though it be tried with fire\u201d (1 Peter 1:6-7<\/span><\/a>) and that\u2019s Tribulation talk (Zechariah 13:9; 14:1)<\/span><\/h3>\n

This is why Paul went on to say that they\u2019d been chosen to be saved from the Tribulation \u201cthrough belief of the truth,\u201d\u00a0Paul\u2019s truth,\u00a0<\/i>and why they were called by Paul\u2019s gospel (v.14). If they were called by Peter\u2019s gospel, the Spirit would have separated them to go through\u00a0<\/i>the Tribulation. This explains why Paul called us \u201cthem who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate\u201d (Romans 8:28-29<\/span><\/a>). God predetermined that our destination would be in heaven rather than the earth, so He called us by Paul\u2019s gospel to obtain the glory of the pre-tribulation rapture. Saved Jews under the kingdom program were also called to obtain glory but only after they have \u201csuffered\u201d the Tribulation (1 Peter 5:10). \u2014 Kurth<\/span><\/h3>\n

into which (v.14) \u2014 salvation<\/h3>\n

Paul is not thanking God that He saved them\u00a0from Hell<\/i>. The word \u201csalvation\u201d has different meanings. Israel was saved from the Egyptians (Exodus 14:13; Jude 1:5). Paul talked about being saved from a storm (Acts 27:31<\/span><\/a>). And in the Thessalonian epistles, \u201csalvation\u201d can refer to salvation from the Tribulation.<\/i> \u201cFor God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord\u201d (1 Thessalonians 5:9<\/span><\/a>). You don\u2019t have an appointment<\/i>\u00a0to\u00a0obtain<\/i> salvation from Hell\u2014you obtained it when you believed. But you have an appointment to obtain salvation from the Tribulation by the \u201csalvation\u201d of the Rapture (Romans 13:11<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/h3>\n

And it is\u00a0this\u00a0<\/i>salvation to which we were chosen, not salvation from Hell. True, the Bible says \u201cHe hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world\u201d (Ephesians 1:4<\/span><\/a>), but it doesn\u2019t say we were chosen to be\u00a0<\/i>in Christ, it says we were chosen\u2014in Christ.\u00a0Christ\u00a0<\/i>is God\u2019s elect. \u2014 Kurth<\/span><\/h3>\n

by our gospel (v.14) \u2014 the gospel of grace which Paul preached<\/h3>\n

for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (v.14) \u2014 defining the gospel that Paul preached
\n<\/span><\/h3>\n

In v.14 [Paul] declares that the Thessalonian saints were “called” to this position as God’s beloved, by his<\/em> gospel, “the gospel of the grace of God.” How often throughout his epistles, he insists upon this and upon the distinctiveness of his apostleship! Moreover, this glad message eventuated for them in “the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Now they, with Paul and the other members of the Body, could “rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2<\/span><\/a>). \u2014 Vine, page 135.<\/span><\/h3>\n

glory (v.14) = the outward and visible expression of what is inward and essential<\/h3>\n

therefore (v.15) \u2014 since they were sure of their salvation \u2014 Paul urges the Thessalonians to live according to God’s plan for their glorification rather than in lawlessness, which was pressuring them and from which they suffered.<\/h3>\n

stand fast (v.15) \u2014 continuous tense<\/h3>\n

The word \u201cfast\u201d (v.15) can mean\u00a0firm\u00a0<\/i>or\u00a0secure,\u00a0<\/i>as in how God set the mountains securely in place (Psalm 65:5-6<\/span><\/a>). So when Paul tells us to \u201cstand fast\u201d in the knowledge that God has chosen us to salvation from the Tribulation (vs.13-14), we should stand in that truth as firmly as a mountain.\u00a0<\/i>Did you know Paul always told people to stand fast in things in which they\u00a0weren\u2019t\u00a0<\/i>standing fast.<\/span><\/h3>\n

He told the Corinthians to \u201cstand fast\u00a0in the faith\u201d\u00a0<\/i>because they had\u00a0departed\u00a0<\/i>from the faith when they ceased believing in the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:32<\/span><\/a>). He told the Galatians to \u201cstand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free,\u00a0<\/i>and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage\u201d (Galatians 5:1<\/span><\/a>), the yoke of bondage being the Law of Moses. They had forgotten that \u201cwe are not under the law, but under grace\u201d (Romans 6:15<\/span><\/a>). The apostle told the Philippians to \u201cstand fast in one spirit, with one mind\u00a0<\/i>striving together for the faith of the gospel\u201d (Philippians 1:27<\/span><\/a>), because two ladies were feuding (4:2<\/span><\/a>) and the church was taking sides. But Paul told the Thessalonians to stand fast in the knowledge of the pre-tribulation rapture because they weren\u2019t\u00a0<\/i>standing fast in it, due to a letter that someone wrote them and signed Paul\u2019s name to (2:1-2<\/span><\/a>). \u2014 Kurth<\/span><\/h3>\n

hold (v.15) = to exert strength upon<\/h3>\n

traditions (v.15) = a handing on, that which has been handed down. In the early days of the age of grace, many of the teachings of Paul hadn’t yet been written down. Believers had to rely on the things they had heard him say (v.5)\u2014things that Paul had heard from God and had handed down to them. Later, when the teachings had been written down and distributed, Paul no longer talked of tradition but of doctrine (1 Timothy 6:20<\/span><\/a>; 2 Timothy 1:12-14<\/span><\/a>). They did, however, have his first letter, which he refers to in v.15 as “our epistle.” The “our” refers to both the spoken word and the epistle\u2014they were to listen to what Paul<\/em> had to say because God had chosen him<\/em> to spread the gospel of grace.<\/h3>\n

How the Apostle keeps exhorting these believers not to falter in their faith in the Lord’s coming for them before<\/em> the Tribulation breaks! This [was] doubtless because of the persecutions they were suffering. But since Paul’s word to them is also God’s Word to us, we should regard this as an appeal to us today not to be led astray from this precious truth, or to lose it as our “blessed hope.” \u2014 Stam, pages 135-136.<\/span><\/h3>\n

__________<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Himself (v.16) \u2014 occupies a position of emphasis. … The powers of evil so far outmatch the saints in subtlety and strength that the fullest knowledge of the progress of evil and the doom of Antichrist would itself avail them little. Once again, therefore, the apostle commend them to God that they might be by Him directly cheered and maintained in the evil day. \u2014 Vine, pages 128-129<\/span><\/h3>\n

loved (v.16) = agape \u2014 timeless and immutable<\/h3>\n

gave us … through [lit., “in”] grace \u2014 freely, not in discharge of obligation but without constraint of any kind. The tense is “point,” fixing the attention on the time when the love was manifested in the coming of Christ into the world. \u2014 Vine, page 129<\/span><\/h3>\n

everlasting (v.16) \u2014 a reminder that their suffering was temporary but God’s peace and comfort are eternal<\/h3>\n

consolation (v.16) = easing of grief and<\/em> encouragement<\/h3>\n

good (v.16) \u2014 because it cheers and encourages those who have it<\/h3>\n

hope (v.16) = the happy anticipation of good. For a believer, hope is knowledge<\/em>\u2014faith in the future, in what God has promised and will<\/em> carry out.<\/h3>\n

in every good work (v.17) = beneficial, useful, helpful word and work (Colossians 3:17<\/span><\/a>)<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

13\u00a0But 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, 14\u00a0to which He called … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6182","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-2-thessalonians"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/versebyverse.carpelibra.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6182","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/versebyverse.carpelibra.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/versebyverse.carpelibra.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/versebyverse.carpelibra.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/versebyverse.carpelibra.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6182"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/versebyverse.carpelibra.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6182\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7575,"href":"https:\/\/versebyverse.carpelibra.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6182\/revisions\/7575"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/versebyverse.carpelibra.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6182"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/versebyverse.carpelibra.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6182"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/versebyverse.carpelibra.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6182"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}