14.0 2 Thess. 2:13-17

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
Body 1b, Thanksgiving
Lesson 14
Last revised: 4/18/01

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2:13 JHmei'" de; ojfeivlomen eujcaristei'n tw'/ qew'/ pavntote peri; uJmw'n, ajdelfoi; hjgaphmevnoi uJpo; kurivou, o[ti ei[lato uJma'" oJ qeo;" ajparch;n eij" swthrivan ejn aJgiasmw'/ pneuvmato" kai; pivstei ajlhqeiva", 2:14 eij" o] kai; ejkavlesen uJma'" dia; tou' eujaggelivou hJmw'n eij" peripoivhsin dovxh" tou' kurivou hJmw'n jIhsou' Cristou'. 2:15 a[ra ou\n, ajdelfoiv, sthvkete, kai; kratei'te ta;" paradovsei" a]" ejdidavcqhte ei[te dia; lovgou ei[te di j ejpistolh'" hJmw'n. 2:16 Aujto;" de; oJ kuvrio" hJmw'n JIhsou'" Cristo;" kai; oJ qeo;" oJ path;r hJmw'n, oJ ajgaphvsa" hJma'" kai; dou;" paravklhsin aijwnivan kai; ejlpivda ajgaqh;n ejn cavriti, 2:17 parakalevsai uJmw'n ta;" kardiva" kai; sthrivxai ejn panti; e[rgw/ kai; lovgw/ ajgaqw'/.

NRSV
2:13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 2:14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2:15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.
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, 2:17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

1. Determine the genre of the passage.

2:13-17 2:13-17 1:3-12 1:3-12

2:13 JHmei'" de; ojfeivlomen eujcaristei'n tw'/ qew'/ pavntote peri; uJmw'n, ajdelfoi; hjgaphmevnoi uJpo; kurivou, o[ti ei[lato uJma'" oJ qeo;" ajparch;n eij" swthrivan ejn aJgiasmw'/ pneuvmato" kai; pivstei ajlhqeiva", 2:14 eij" o] kai; ejkavlesen uJma'" dia; tou' eujaggelivou hJmw'n eij" peripoivhsin dovxh" tou' kurivou hJmw'n jIhsou' Cristou'. 2:15 a[ra ou\n, ajdelfoiv, sthvkete, kai; kratei'te ta;" paradovsei" a]" ejdidavcqhte ei[te dia; lovgou ei[te di j ejpistolh'" hJmw'n. 2:16 Aujto;" de; oJ kuvrio" hJmw'n JIhsou'" Cristo;" kai; oJ qeo;" oJ path;r hJmw'n, oJ ajgaphvsa" hJma'" kai; dou;" paravklhsin aijwnivan kai; ejlpivda ajgaqh;n ejn cavriti, 2:17 parakalevsai uJmw'n ta;" kardiva" kai; sthrivxai ejn panti; e[rgw/ kai; lovgw/ ajgaqw'/. 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 2:14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2:15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.
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, 2:17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. 1:3 Eujcaristei'n ojfeivlomen tw'/ qew'/ pavntote peri; uJmw'n, ajdelfoiv, kaqw;" a[xiovn ejstin, o[ti uJperauxavnei hJ pivsti" uJmw'n kai; pleonavzei hJ ajgavph eJno;" eJkavstou pavntwn uJmw'n eij" ajllhvlou", 1:4 w[ste aujtou;" hJma'" ejn uJmi'n ejgkauca'sqai ejn tai'" ejkklhsivai" tou' qeou' uJpe;r th'" uJpomonh'" uJmw'n kai; pivstew" ejn pa'sin toi'" diwgmoi'" uJmw'n kai; tai'" qlivyesin ai|" ajnevcesqe, 1:5 e[ndeigma th'" dikaiva" krivsew" tou' qeou' eij" to; kataxiwqh'nai uJma'" th'" basileiva" tou' qeou', uJpe;r h|" kai; pavscete, 1:6 i[per divkaion para; qew'/ ajntapodou'nai toi'" qlivbousin uJma'" qli'yin 1:7 ai; uJmi'n toi'" qlibomevnoi" a[nesin meq j hJmw'n, ejn th'/ ajpokaluvyei tou' kurivou jIhsou' ajp j oujranou' met j ajggevlwn dunavmew" aujtou' 1:8 ejn puri; flogov", didovnto" ejkdivkhsin toi'" mh; eijdovsin qeo;n kai; toi'" mh; uJpakouvousin tw'/ eujaggelivw/ tou' kurivou hJmw'n jIhsou', 1:9 oi[tine" divkhn tivsousin o[leqron aijwvnion ajpo; proswvpou tou' kurivou kai; ajpo; th'" dovxh" th'" ijscuvo" aujtou', 1:10 o[tan e[lqh/ ejndoxasqh'nai ejn toi'" aJgivoi" aujtou' kai; qaumasqh'nai ejn pa'sin toi'" pisteuvsasin, o[ti ejpisteuvqh to; martuvrion hJmw'n ejf j uJma'", ejn th'/ hJmevra/ ejkeivnh/. 1:11 eij" o] kai; proseucovmeqa pavntote peri; uJmw'n, i[na uJma'" ajxiwvsh/ th'" klhvsew" oJ qeo;" hJmw'n kai; plhrwvsh/ pa'san eujdokivan ajgaqwsuvnh" kai; e[rgon pivstew" ejn dunavmei, 1:12 o[pw" ejndoxasqh'/ to; o[noma tou' kurivou hJmw'n JIhsou' ejn uJmi'n, kai; uJmei'" ejn aujtw'/, kata; th;n cavrin tou' qeou' hJmw'n kai; kurivou jIhsou' Cristou'. 1:3 We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, as is fitting, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 1:4 Therefore we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you are enduring.
1:5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be made worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering -- 1:6 since indeed God deems it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 1:7 and to grant rest with us to you who are afflicted, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, 1:8 inflicting vengeance upon those who do not know God and upon those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 1:9 They shall suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 1:10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at in all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. 1:11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his call, and may fulfill every good resolve and work of faith by his power, 1:12 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.

Compare 2:13-17 to 1:3-12 in form and content.
Explore the issue of the unity of 2 Thessalonians in light of the literary nature of 2:13-17.

2. Determine the literary context of the passage.

Assuming the unity of 2 Thessalonians, what rhetorical role does 2:13-17 play in the communication strategy of the letter?
Explore the role of 'Thanksgiving' (e.g., 2:13-14) expressions in both 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians.
Explore the role of "Wish-Prayers" (e.g., 2:16-17) in 2 Thessalonians, and relate that to 1 Thessalonians.

3. Determine the time/place references in the passage.

Explore possible historical settings that may lie behind the admonition in 2:15 to stand firm in the faith.
Explore the possible content of the 'traditions' (2:15) passed down by Paul to the Thessalonians.

4. Analyze the internal literary structure of the passage.

Identify the three distinct subsections in 2:13-17.
Upon what basis can 2:13-17 be grouped together into one paragraph as does the UBS Greek Testament? Examine how various translations group these verses together through paragraphing divisions.

5. Determine the interpretative issues -- both theologically and exegetically -- present in the passage.

Explore the pauline concept of divine choosing, using 2:13-14 as the launch pad into similar texts elsewhere in the pauline corpus.
Trace out the concept of 'first-fruit' (2:13, ajparch;n eij" swthrivan) as a soteriological term in the pauline corpus. Relate it also to another pauline term of 'down-payment' (e.g., ajrrabw'na tou' pneuvmato" in 2 Cor. 5:5).
Explain -- and defend -- the perceived meaning of the metaphors "encourage your heart" and "establish in every good work." in 2:17.

6. Determine a central theme of the passage

7. Develop an exegetical outline of the passage.

8. Develop a short, one page sermon brief from the passage.

2:13-17	2:13-17	1:3-12	1:3-12
2:13 JHmei'" de; ojfeivlomen eujcaristei'n tw'/ qew'/ pavntote peri; uJmw'n, ajdelfoi; hjgaphmevnoi uJpo; kurivou, o[ti ei[lato uJma'" oJ qeo;" ajparch;n eij" swthrivan ejn aJgiasmw'/ pneuvmato" kai; pivstei ajlhqeiva", 2:14 eij" o] kai; ejkavlesen uJma'" dia; tou' eujaggelivou hJmw'n eij" peripoivhsin dovxh" tou' kurivou hJmw'n jIhsou' Cristou'. 2:15 a[ra ou\n, ajdelfoiv, sthvkete, kai; kratei'te ta;" paradovsei" a]" ejdidavcqhte ei[te dia; lovgou ei[te di j ejpistolh'" hJmw'n. 2:16 Aujto;" de; oJ kuvrio" hJmw'n JIhsou'" Cristo;" kai; oJ qeo;" oJ path;r hJmw'n, oJ ajgaphvsa" hJma'" kai; dou;" paravklhsin aijwnivan kai; ejlpivda ajgaqh;n ejn cavriti, 2:17 parakalevsai uJmw'n ta;" kardiva" kai; sthrivxai ejn panti; e[rgw/ kai; lovgw/ ajgaqw'/.	2:13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 2:14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2:15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter. 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, 2:17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.	1:3 Eujcaristei'n ojfeivlomen tw'/ qew'/ pavntote peri; uJmw'n, ajdelfoiv, kaqw;" a[xiovn ejstin, o[ti uJperauxavnei hJ pivsti" uJmw'n kai; pleonavzei hJ ajgavph eJno;" eJkavstou pavntwn uJmw'n eij" ajllhvlou", 1:4 w[ste aujtou;" hJma'" ejn uJmi'n ejgkauca'sqai ejn tai'" ejkklhsivai" tou' qeou' uJpe;r th'" uJpomonh'" uJmw'n kai; pivstew" ejn pa'sin toi'" diwgmoi'" uJmw'n kai; tai'" qlivyesin ai\|" ajnevcesqe, 1:5 e[ndeigma th'" dikaiva" krivsew" tou' qeou' eij" to; kataxiwqh'nai uJma'" th'" basileiva" tou' qeou', uJpe;r h\|" kai; pavscete, 1:6 i[per divkaion para; qew'/ ajntapodou'nai toi'" qlivbousin uJma'" qli'yin 1:7 ai; uJmi'n toi'" qlibomevnoi" a[nesin meq j hJmw'n, ejn th'/ ajpokaluvyei tou' kurivou jIhsou' ajp j oujranou' met j ajggevlwn dunavmew" aujtou' 1:8 ejn puri; flogov", didovnto" ejkdivkhsin toi'" mh; eijdovsin qeo;n kai; toi'" mh; uJpakouvousin tw'/ eujaggelivw/ tou' kurivou hJmw'n jIhsou', 1:9 oi[tine" divkhn tivsousin o[leqron aijwvnion ajpo; proswvpou tou' kurivou kai; ajpo; th'" dovxh" th'" ijscuvo" aujtou', 1:10 o[tan e[lqh/ ejndoxasqh'nai ejn toi'" aJgivoi" aujtou' kai; qaumasqh'nai ejn pa'sin toi'" pisteuvsasin, o[ti ejpisteuvqh to; martuvrion hJmw'n ejf j uJma'", ejn th'/ hJmevra/ ejkeivnh/. 1:11 eij" o] kai; proseucovmeqa pavntote peri; uJmw'n, i[na uJma'" ajxiwvsh/ th'" klhvsew" oJ qeo;" hJmw'n kai; plhrwvsh/ pa'san eujdokivan ajgaqwsuvnh" kai; e[rgon pivstew" ejn dunavmei, 1:12 o[pw" ejndoxasqh'/ to; o[noma tou' kurivou hJmw'n JIhsou' ejn uJmi'n, kai; uJmei'" ejn aujtw'/, kata; th;n cavrin tou' qeou' hJmw'n kai; kurivou jIhsou' Cristou'.	1:3 We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, as is fitting, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 1:4 Therefore we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you are enduring. 1:5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be made worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering -- 1:6 since indeed God deems it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 1:7 and to grant rest with us to you who are afflicted, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, 1:8 inflicting vengeance upon those who do not know God and upon those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 1:9 They shall suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 1:10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at in all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. 1:11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his call, and may fulfill every good resolve and work of faith by his power, 1:12 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.