Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

2:13 ought. See 1:3. give thanks. This is technically the second thanksgiving in the letter (see 1:3; cf. 1 Thess. 1:2; 2:13). beloved by the Lord . . . God chose you. See note on 1 Thess. 1:4. This may echo Deut. 26:18, where the reference is to God's choice of Israel. as the firstfruits. This indicates that the Thessalonians, as early Christians, are the firstfruits of the new humanity, or of Thessalonica. (On firstfruits offerings, see Ex. 23:19; 34:26.) However, as the ESV footnote indicates, some manuscripts read "from the beginning" (Gk. ap’ archēs) rather than "as firstfruits" (Gk. aparchēn; see note on 1 Cor. 15:20). In that case, Paul's point is that God's choice was in eternity past. Either way, Christians were divinely elected to be saved, and this was to be the ultimate end of a journey marked by sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, in contrast to the way of unbelievers, who are marked by unrighteousness and will believe the Antichrist's lie (2 Thess. 2:10-12). Note the involvement of each person of the Trinity: the Father elects, the Son loves, and the Holy Spirit makes holy.

2:14 To this (i.e., salvation) he called you through our gospel. The divine call was effectual and was actualized in history through Paul's preaching. obtain the glory. See 1:10; 1 Thess. 5:9.