Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Thessalonians 2:17

"comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word." — 2 Thessalonians 2:17 (ASV)

As Paul closes ch. 2 with a prayer, he recognizes that he and his coworkers cannot in themselves make the appeal effective. Only God himself, who initially chose them (vv.13–14), can do that. Addressing his prayer to the first two persons of the Trinity, Paul names the Son before the Father (contra 1 Thessalonians 3:11), probably in line with the Son’s worthiness of equal honor with the Father and his special prominence in the chapter’s emphasis on future salvation and glory.

Yet the two persons are one God, as shown by several structural features in vv.16–17: (1) The pronoun “himself” is singular and probably should be understood as emphasizing both persons—“our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father himself” (cf. 1 Thessalonians 3:11). (2) “Loved us and... gave us” (v.16) represents two singular participles whose actions are applicable to both the Son and the Father. The singular number is explained by Paul’s conception of the two persons as one God. (3) “Encourage and strengthen” (v.17) are likewise singular in number, though they express the action of a compound subject. This grammatical feature is attributable to the oneness of essence among the persons of the Godhead (cf. Jn 10:30). Paul conceived of Jesus Christ as God in the same full sense as he conceived of God the Father.

Paul notes that the Son and the Father will answer this prayer because they “loved us” and graciously “gave us eternal encouragement and good hope”; this is shown by the incarnation and death of Jesus Christ, which are often referred to in terms of God’s loving and giving (Romans 5:5, 8; 8:35, 37; Galatians 2:20). Because of God’s love displayed in Christ, Paul’s readers had a source of unending “encouragement” (GK 4155) to offset their persecutions and accompanying doubts.

Paul prays that the encouragement provided in the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ may be appropriated inwardly and thereby give them strength for “every good deed and word.” Disquiet regarding the coming of the Lord (v.2) was the need to be met. As God undertakes their cause, they can “stand firm and hold to the teachings” (v.15).