2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which has loved us… 1. The prayer passes by a sudden transition from the human duty to the Divine grace. 2. The Lord Jesus is the Being addressed, but with a peculiar relation to the Father. In only one other instance are Father and Son united by a verb in the singular, and in no other instance is His name placed first. This should be noticed by those who hold that Paul's estimate of his Saviour only reached by degrees an exaggerated loyalty. 3. It is a rule that God should be addressed under an aspect appropriate to the specific supplication. The God of all grace turns a countenance infinitely varied towards His petitioners. Here the apostle is about to ask that the Thessalonians may be consoled, strengthened, and established, and accordingly, with exquisite precision, he calls upon Christ, and God as the everlasting Consoler and Strengthener through grace. I. THE INVOCATION. God in Christ is invoked as having loved us. 1. And more generally. (1) This is St. Paul's first allusion to the supreme and ultimate source of redemption. It is the first clear declaration that in the economy of human salvation love has the preeminence. The only saying that could surpass this was reserved for St. John in his first Epistle, the last document of revelation. (2) The link between the love that gave and the gift itself is grace. The love of God must by its very nature impart. There is something of grace in every Divine gift; but grace is the medium of the gifts of the love of God as they reach us through redemption. 2. More particularly in the gift of love. (1) The gift is two-fold and comprises the whole sum of our benefit in Christ. The blessing is an "everlasting consolation" as it comes from God, and a "good hope" as we receive it. (2) "Everlasting consolation" is a phrase nowhere else used. It implies the healing of the great wound of sin, and the removal of its consequences; an eternal assuagement of a sorrow that would otherwise know no end. (a) Nothing is more certain than that of itself the misery of sin must last forever; it has in its nature no resources of cure, no elements of change. (b) The consolation is eternal, unlike the beggarly and fleeting solaces of time, in which it is the joy that endureth for a night, while sorrow comes in the morning. It is an eternal consolation springing from an eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12). (c) But it is treasured up only for those who flee to it for refuge. Hence adjective of boundless meaning is elsewhere applied to the exact opposite "everlasting destruction."(3) The "good hope" describes that part of the gift which has reference to the future, and is another unparalleled expression, although it has near approximations. As the Epistle to the Hebrews supplies "eternal redemption," so it supplies "bringing in of a better hope." This hope embraces the whole Christian benediction, for such blessings as are received are only earnests of something better. It is a hope good in itself; "better" in relation to the promises given to the fathers; it is really the best inheritance that God can give, Christ merit, or we receive. II. THE PRAYER. 1. Generally we understand the purport of a prayer by its immediate occasion. Confidence within and stability without were the graces that the apostle aimed to strengthen (ver. 2). In the former Epistle the coming of death was the disturbing thought; in this it is the coming of the Lord of death foreshadowed by the "man of sin." Hence the abundance of hortatory language in both. But a higher comforter than Paul was necessary. Hence the sudden turn, "May the Lord Himself comfort your hearts." 2. The comfort prayed for is not what we call by the name. It is always in Scripture at once exhortation to the soul and invigoration as the result. The heart here is not the seat of the feelings, but the centre of the man; and the inner man is comforted when words are spoken to him by the Spirit which strengthens his own energies (John 6:63). 3. The idea of establishment in Christian life is as familiar in this Epistle as that of consolation. By keeping the heart strong in His consolation, the Lord stablishes the life in His obedience. But all is dependent on firm faith in Christian doctrine (ver. 15). Whatever scruple may arise on this subject is obviated by the reflection that "word" and "work" are here linked into one idea. The Christian life is one of entire goodness, based upon and growing out of perfect truth. Conclusion: A touching comment on our prayer is given in chap. 2 Thessalonians 3:8. It is as if the Divine Spirit had without delay, "while he was yet speaking," ratified the request. (W. B. Pope, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, |
    |