Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Thessalonians 2:16

"Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace," — 2 Thessalonians 2:16 (ASV)

Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself. This expression is equivalent to this: "I pray our Lord Jesus, and our Father, to comfort you." It is really a prayer offered to the Saviour—a recognition of Christ as the source of consolation as well as the Father, and a union of His name with that of the Father in invoking important blessings. It is language that could be used only by one who regarded the Lord Jesus as Divine.

And God even our Father. Greek: "And God, and (kai) our Father;" though not incorrectly rendered "even our Father." If it should be contended that the use of the word "and"—"our Lord Jesus Christ, and God"—proves that the Lord Jesus is a different being from God, the use of the same word "and" would prove that the "Father" is a different being from God. But the truth is, the apostle meant to speak of the Father and the Son as the common source of the blessing for which he prayed.

Which has loved us. Referring particularly to the Father. The love which is referred to is that which is manifested in redemption, or which is shown to us through Christ. (1 John 4:9).

And has given us everlasting consolation. This is not temporary comfort, but that which will endure forever. The joys of religion are not like other joys: other joys soon fade away; they always terminate at death; they cease when trouble comes, when sickness invades the body, when wealth or friends depart, when disappointment descends, or when the senses, due to age, no longer minister to our pleasures as they once did.

The comforts of religion, however, depend on no such contingencies. They live through all these changes: they attend us in sickness, poverty, bereavement, losses, and age; they are with us in death, and they are perpetual and unchanging beyond the grave.

And good hope through grace. (See the notes on Romans 5:2).

(See the notes on Romans 5:5).

(See the notes on Hebrews 6:19).