DAVID FRAMPTON
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
1. Context: This prayer follows Paul's thanksgiving for the salvation of the Thessalonian saints, which is in
contrast to the eternal condemnation that is coming on those who have not believed the truth but who have
delighted in wickedness. The section 2:13-17 is made up of three parts:
[1] Doctrinal declaration. 2:13-14.
[2] Practical exhortation. 2:15.
[3] Personal intercession. 2:16-17.
Note: A preaching of doctrinal truth provides the foundation for practical demand that leads in turn to the
necessity of prayer for personal realization. This is the consistent order of the New Testament Scriptures.
2. The prayer that Paul offers for them grows out of their present experience of persecution and trial. When we
pray, we should know both the need of those for whom we pray and how the truth of God relates to their
present situation.
3. Paul begins his prayer by addressing God. cf. Mt 6:9. The order of address, the Son before the Father, is
unusual but it is not unique. cf. 2 Cor 13:14. Observe that Paul takes time to approach the living God properly,
which is something that all contemporary Christians need to consider more seriously. Boldness before God is
not equivalent with irreverence; familiarity should in this case never breed contempt but a deeper reverence - or
do we really think about the One whom we are calling upon? There is no absolute rule on this subject, but
rather a principle of reverence and love that should be heeded. Should we see how close we might come to
reverence, or does redeeming love foster a different attitude?
4. In this letter Paul has already taught about Christ s lordship (1:6-10). We do well to think on this teaching.
Christ is "Lord" in two ways:
[1] By right as the Creator of all things. 1 Cor 8:6; Col 1:15f.
[2] By right as the Redeemer of man, and this right is his:
(1) By divine gift. Mt 28:18; Ac 2:36; Eph 1:22
(2) By purchase. Rm 14:9
Point: Let us remember his Lordship when we approach him.
5. The First person of the Trinity is also addressed as God, which speaks of his relation to us as Creator, and
as Father, which speaks of his relation to us by regeneration and adoption.
6. Paul focuses on what God the Father has done for us by his free grace. Note that all is ascribed to his
generosity and not to our worthiness: "loved … by his grace gave.…" No matter how poverty-stricken and
ruined by sin, there is a throne of grace where we may always approach our God. Heb 4:16
7. Let us think of some things that the love of the Father has provided for us.
a. In love he predestined us to be his sons. Eph 1:4-5
b. In love he sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 Jn 4:10
c. In love he disciplines us. Heb 12:4-11
d. In love he preserves us. Rm 8:38-39
8. "who loved us…" "That is what the apostle eyed first as he was about to make intercession for these less
tried saints, and that is what our faith must never lose sight of, for nothing else will keep our hearts warm and
our affections fresh to God. All of God's dispensations to us and all of His dealings with us should be
considered in the light of His infinite and unchanging love for us. Yet that is only possible as faith is daily
exercised regarding these facts." [Pink, his emphasis]
9. Having stated the fountain of blessing (God's love), Paul now turns to the streams that flow from it
(encouragement and hope).
10. The first of these streams is eternal encouragement. This is something that is objective (a fact of our
position) rather than subjective (what we feel in our experience). Three reasons for this view:
[1] The tense of the verb - "gave" - instead of "is giving".
[2] The adjective "eternal", which speaks of something constant and unchanging. This is surely different
from the experience of all the saints, whose comfort varies as much and as constantly as the weather.
[3] The imperative verb of request in verse 17, which asks for encouragement.
What then is this "eternal encouragement"? Put simply, it is our peace with God (Rm 5:1). This provides
comfort to God's people at all times.
11. God has also given us "good hope". "In this verse Paul contemplates not the grace of hope in the
believer's soul but rather the object upon which that grace is to be exercised … Here hope is the object,
namely, the glorious and blessed estate which is reserved for us hereafter. In Scripture hope always
contemplates something future, something of which we are not yet in actual possession…." [Pink, his
emphasis]
12. Elements of hope:
[1] The personal return of Christ. Tit 2:13
[2] The resurrection of the dead. Ac 24:15
[3] The vision of God. 1 Jn 3:2-3
[4] Our inheritance in heaven. 1 Pt 1:3-4
13. Since these things are so, Paul prays that God would do two things experientially in the lives of those
believers:
[1] Encourage or comfort their hearts (inner persons). Since we live in a world of sorrow, we need to be
comforted so that our hearts will not be overwhelmed with distress. cf. 2 Cor 1:3ff. Christians should receive
their refreshment from the Lord, not from the things of this world. See Ps 23:3.
[2] Strengthen them to speak well and to act well. Both of these are our responsibilities. Tit 2:14;
Eph 4:29