Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

1 Thessalonians 5:24

πιστὸς ὁ καλῶν ὑμᾶς, δς καὶ ποιήσει. Faithful is He that calls you, who also will do (it). The Thessalonians are conscious that God is calling them to a life of consecration to Himself, to be crowned by heavenly glory (see 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:18, and notes); He speaks in the Gospel as ὁ καλῶν: the “call” proves the possibility of the complete sanctification prayed for, since it pledges God’s all-sufficing aid to this effect. See 1 Corinthians 1:9; Philippians 1:6; Romans 11:29; 2 Timothy 2:13; Psalms 57:2; Psalms 138:8, for similar assumptions and tacit arguments. Elsewhere the Apostle points to the σφραγίς, or the ἀῤῥαβών, or the ἀπαρχή, “of the Spirit” as warranting the same certainty: see 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13 f., Ephesians 4:30; Romans 8:14-17; Romans 8:23. Under the formula πιστὸς ὁ θεός (or κύριος) St Paul appeals to God’s fidelity, in various ways: see 2 Thessalonians 3:3; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Timothy 2:13; cf. Deuteronomy 7:9; Isaiah 49:7, &c. For the timeless present, ὁ καλῶν, see note on 1 Thessalonians 2:12 : it implies God’s abiding character.

Ποιήσει is elliptical and without expressed object: the verbs are apposed in their bare idea—“Your Caller will do”; God will put His summons into execution, He will not let it remain futile nor leave its fulfilment to man’s weakness. “Hath He said, and shall He not do?” Numbers 23:19; cf. Psalms 22:31; Isaiah 44:23; Isaiah 55:11; Luke 1:37, &c.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

1 Thessalonians 5:24

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