Stand Firm and Hold Fast: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.

But. The contrast. Against the dark backdrop of the man of lawlessness, the Thessalonians shone bright.

We ought always to thank God for you. The obligation of gratitude. Always—not occasional. For you—specifically.

Brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. Egapemenoi hupo kuriou. Loved by the Lord—the passive voice pointing to Christ's active love for them.

Because God chose you. Heilato—chose, selected. Divine election. As firstfruits. Aparche—the first portion, the initial harvest. The Thessalonians were among the first in their region.

To be saved. The purpose of election. Salvation. Through the sanctifying work of the Spirit. Hagiasmos pneumatos. The Spirit setting them apart. And through belief in the truth. Pistis aletheias. Faith responding to truth.

Two sides of salvation: Spirit sanctifying, humans believing.

He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He called you. Kaleo—the effectual summons. Through our gospel. The means—the good news Paul preached.

That you might share in the glory. Peripoiesis doxes—obtaining, possessing glory. Of our Lord Jesus Christ. His glory—shared with them.

So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

So then. The application. The logic complete.

Stand firm. Steko—hold your ground. Don't be moved.

Hold fast to the teachings. Krateo—grip, hold tightly. The teachings—paradoseis, traditions. What Paul had delivered.

We passed on to you. Paradidomi—handed over, transmitted. The chain of tradition. Whether by word of mouth—oral teaching. Or by letter—written instruction. Both authoritative. Both to be held.

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

The prayer. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself. Personal. And God our Father. Both invoked together.

Who loved us. Past tense—the love demonstrated at the cross. And by his grace gave us eternal encouragement. Paraklesis aionios—everlasting comfort. And good hope. Elpis agathe—a hope that is genuinely good.

Encourage your hearts. Parakaleo—comfort, strengthen. The inner person. And strengthen you. Sterizo—make firm. In every good deed and word. Comprehensive—action and speech. Every one.

The dark future loomed.

The man of lawlessness would come.

The rebellion would occur.

Deception would spread.

But.

God had chosen them.

The Spirit was sanctifying them.

They had believed the truth.

They would share Christ's glory.

So: stand firm.

Hold fast.

The teachings were trustworthy.

The Lord who loved would encourage.

The Father who graced would strengthen.

In every deed.

In every word.

Stand firm.

Hold fast.

The Lord's coming was certain.

Their place in his glory was secure.