2 Thessalonians 1:12

Here at any rate it is impossible to take χάριν in a universalistic sense (so Robinson, Ephesians, pp. 225 f.), as though it implied that Christians were put on the same level as O.T. saints. The idea is the merciful favour of God, to the exclusion of human merit. The main topic of the letter is now brought forward; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 gives the occasion for the λόγος παρακλήσεως (2 Thessalonians 1:3-12) which follows.