2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

Text (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)

11 To which end we also pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire of goodness and every work of faith, with power; 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Translation and Paraphrase

11.

(Desiring greatly that our Lord may truly be glorified in you,) we pray always unto that (end) concerning you, (asking) that our God may count you worthy of the calling (which we have described), and (that He may) fulfill every good pleasure of (his) goodness (in His dealings with you), and (fulfill every) work of faith with power.

12.

(We ask for these things) in order that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in (the work and faith) you (show), and (that) you (in return shall be glorified) by (your fellowship with) Him, according to the (program of the) grace of our God and (our) Lord Jesus Christ.

Notes (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)

1.

We call this prayer that closes chapter one a prayer for God's blessings. It has three petitions in it, and two purposes for the petitions:

(1)

The petitions; 2 Thessalonians 1:11

a.

That God would count them worthy of the calling.

b.

That God would fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness.

c.

That God would fulfill the work of faith with power.

(2)

The purposes; 2 Thessalonians 1:12

a.

That the name of Jesus may be glorified in you.

b.

That you may be glorified in him.

2.

Have you ever prayed as Paul prayed here, that God would count certain people worthy of His calling? Have you ever prayed that God would fulfill the good pleasure of His goodness in the activities of some church.

3.

The wherefore beginning 2 Thessalonians 1:11 literally means, Unto that end, and refers back to Paul's statement in 2 Thessalonians 1:10 about how Jesus will be glorified in His saints. Paul prayed always that Jesus would truly be glorified in the character and labors of the Thessalonians. Have you ever prayed that such holy character might be developed in your brethren that they would bring glory to Jesus?

4.

Paul prayed that God would count them worthy of the glorious calling we have as Christians (or, more particularly, the calling of glorifying Jesus), This verse brings up again the matter of being worthy, which we mentioned in the notes on 2 Thessalonians 1:5, par. 8. It is wrong to say that we can never be worthy. God will count us worthy if we strive to attain the goal. (For the meaning of worthy, see notes on 1 Thessalonians 2:12, par. 4.)

5.

Then Paul prayed that God would fulfill in them all the good pleasure of His goodness. Knowing that God's goodness is unlimited, this is a GREAT request. May God accomplish in you all that goodness would desire, and that faith can effect. (Preacher's Homiletic Com.)

6.

It is not enough that we have good intentions of goodness. We must fulfill them with God's help. Good intentions without fulfillment are insufficient.

7.

Then Paul prayed that God would fulfill the work of faith with power. Oh, how we long to see the POWER of God displayed! When we read of how God displayed His power on Mt. Carmel as Elijah called down fire on the Lord's altar, we are tempted to pray, Lord, do it again! We are not anticipating miracles of the type God showed to Elijah, but we long to see heart-heating, soul-saving, saint-stirring power in our churches. Maybe modern churches lack this power because they have not asked for it as Paul did here.

8.

The conjunction that at the beginning of verse twelve indicates the purpose or end desired. In our translation, we have rendered it in order that.

9.

The purposes Paul had in mind in his prayer were that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in us, and we be glorified in him. In the Bible a NAME is not merely a tag of identification, but it is descriptive of the person himself. Note Acts 4:12.

10.

We cannot glorify the name of Jesus and be glorified ourselves by our own ability, but only according to the grace (or favor) of God, God supplies the ability and the grace.

11.

Concerning how Jesus is to be glorified in you, see notes on 2 Thessalonians 1:10, par. 4.

12.

We shall be glorified by Jesus, because our association with Him gives us all the glories of holiness, obedience, immortality, and goodness which Jesus has. He is glorious. We shall be like Him. We are glorified by being in fellowship with Him.

13.

Note that Jesus and God are on an equality as being the source of grace that will result in our glorification. Compare notes on 1 Thessalonians 3:11, par. 4.

STUDY SUGGESTIONSee if you can now answer the Did You Learn? questions that follow immediately [see Chapter Comments].

II THESSALONIANS, CHAPTER TWO
Chapter Topic:
The Man of Sin

There shall come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed. 2 Thessalonians 2:3

Chapter Topic: The Man of Sin

1.

By (or concerning) what two things did Paul beseech the Thessalonians in chapter two? 2 Thessalonians 2:1.

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________.

2.

Paul lists three things by which they were not to be shaken or be troubled. 2 Thessalonians 2:2. What were they?

________________________; _____________________; _____________________ as from us.

3.

They were troubled, thinking that the _______________ of _______________ ___________ was at hand. 2 Thessalonians 2:2.

4.

What two things must precede the day of Christ? 2 Thessalonians 2:3. __________ _________________________________; _________________________________ ______________________________________.

5.

The man of sin is called the son of _________________________________________ ________. 2 Thessalonians 2:3.

6.

The man of sin ______________________________ and _______________________ ______________________ himself above all that is called ___________ or that is worshipped. 2 Thessalonians 2:4.

7.

The man of sin sitteth in the _____________________ of God, showing himself that he is ____________ 2 Thessalonians 2:4.

8.

True or false (circle which)Paul mentioned the man of sin for the first time in this chapter. 2 Thessalonians 2:5.

9.

Concerning the man of sin, Paul says, Now ye know what _______________________________ that he might revealed in his time. 2 Thessalonians 2:6.

10.

What was already working in Paul's time? 2 Thessalonians 2:7.

________________________________________________________________________

11.

The man of sin would have appeared sooner, only he who now letteth (that is, hinders) will let (hinder) until he _________________________________________________ ______________ of the way. 2 Thessalonians 2:7.

12.

By what two means will the Lord destroy that Wicked one? 2 Thessalonians 2:8. ____________________ ________; _______________________________________________________________ ______________.

13.

The wicked one's coming is after the working of whom? 2 Thessalonians 2:9. ______________.

14.

He comes with all ____________________ and _______________________ and ________________ 2 Thessalonians 2:9

15.

He comes with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that ____________________. 2 Thessalonians 2:10

16.

These people perish because they ______________________________ _______________ the ________________ of the ____________. 2 Thessalonians 2:10

17.

What does God send these people because of their attitude? 2 Thessalonians 2:11. ___________________________________________________________.

18.

God sends these, that they should ____________________________ a __________________. 2 Thessalonians 2:11.

19.

In what did these people who were deceived by the Man of sin take pleasure? 2 Thessalonians 2:12. ______________

20.

Paul was bound (obligated) to give thanks for the Thessalonians, because God hath from the beginning ___________________ ______________ you to _________________________. 2 Thessalonians 2:13

21.

Through what two things had God chosen them to salvation? 2 Thessalonians 2:13. _______________________________________________________________________ _________________________; _____________________________________________ __________________.

22.

By what were the Thessalonians called? 2 Thessalonians 2:14. ______________________ _______________.

23.

To what had God called them? 2 Thessalonians 2:14 ___________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.

24.

Therefore, brethren, ______________________________, and hold the _______________________ which ye have been taught. 2 Thessalonians 2:15.

25.

By what two means had they been taught? 2 Thessalonians 2:15. _____________________________; ________________________________.

26.

Unto whom did Paul pray? 2 Thessalonians 2:16, (2 answers) __________________________________ ___________________________________; _______________.

27.

What has God given us through grace? 2 Thessalonians 2:16. (2 answers) _________________________________________________________________________________________; ____________________________________________.

28.

Paul prayed that God would _________________________________ your ____________________, and ____________________________ you in every good _________________ and _______________. 2 Thessalonians 2:17.

29.

Memorize 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:14.