11 “To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1:11–12 (ESV)
In every epistle the Apostle Paul wrote, there was always a portion in which he, and his companions, mentioned their prayers on behalf of their audience. In this case from today’s text, the individuals praying included Paul, Silas and Timothy (2 Thess. 1:1). It paralleled the prayers contained in their first letter to the Thessalonian believers (1 Thess. 1:2-3, 13; 3:11-13). Let’s examine this particular prayer in detail.
“To this end we always pray for you.” The phrase to this end (εἰς ὃ; eis ho’) means “with reference to what came before.” Paul referred his readers back to the immediately preceding context of 1:1-10. This particularly included his instructions concerning the return of the Lord and His judgment upon the wicked (1:8-10).
It was because of the truth of the Lord’s return, and the Thessalonian believers present suffering for the sake of the Gospel, that Paul stated he, Silas and Timothy always prayed for them. Their prayers (προσευχόμεθα; proseuchometha) were not just occasional. Rather, their requests to God were continual, personal, and plural.
What did their prayers contain? What did these three individuals pray for on behalf of this church? How do their prayers for fellow believers then impact our prayers for fellow believers now?
First, their prayers were “that our God may make you worthy of his calling.” Paul acknowledged a unity between he, Silas, Timothy and the Thessalonian believers. He referred to God with the personal, plural pronoun “our.” This pronoun not only referred to the three missionaries, but also to the believers in Christ at Thessalonica. They were all one in Christ (Rom. 12:1-5; I Cor. 12:12).
For believers to be made worthy (ἀξιώσῃ; axiose) refers to God regarding the believer in Christ as valuable and deserving His meritorious regard at the future judgment. God’s calling (κλήσεως; kleseos) means called to perform a task. In other words, “to urgently invite someone to accept responsibilities for a particular task, implying a new relationship to the one who does the calling.[1]
“Now it stands to reason that if on the day of judgment, the Thessalonians are to be counted worthy of inheriting the kingdom, they must here and now conduct themselves in harmony with the Gospel-call which they have received. If our life is Christ, our future will be gain; otherwise not. Hence, the content (naturally also the purpose) of the prayer is “that God may count you worthy” (see on verse 5 above) of his gracious invitation extended to you by means of the preaching of the gospel, already in principle savingly applied to your hearts by the Holy Spirit; in other words, that in the estimation of God you may live and act as it becomes those who have received the call which you have received,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.[2]
Second, Paul prayed God “may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power.” To fulfill (πληρώσῃ; plerose) means to make complete. What the apostle wanted the Lord to complete was every resolve (πᾶσαν; pasan) means every kind of pleasing desire He possesses. This particularly refers to the good (ἀγαθωσύνης; agathosynes) or moral generous work (ἔργον; ergon) and responsibilities completed by the believers. This good work was accomplished solely by their faith (πίστεως; pisteos) and also by God’s power (δυνάμει; dynamei) and ability (Eph. 2:98-10; Phil. 2:12-13).
“The missionaries are constantly praying that in the case of the Thessalonians no resolution that springs from the good disposition which the Holy Spirit has created in their souls be left unfulfilled, and that no faith-inspired work be left unfinished. They are praying that God may accomplish this “by (his) power” (ἐν δυνάμει), the power of his grace working within them.” (Cf. Rom. 1:29; Col. 1:4; 1 Cor. 1:24; and see on 1 Thess. 1:5).[3]
Paul did not fail to continually pray for the Thessalonian’s work of faith, labor of love and steadfastness of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ (I Thess. 1:2-3). Neither should we cease praying for fellow believers who exhibit the same qualities.
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 423.
[2] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of I-II Thessalonians, vol. 3, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 162.
[3] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of I-II Thessalonians, vol. 3, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 163.
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