2 Thessalonians 2:16
“Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul prays to the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father, who have loved His people and given them eternal comfort and good hope by grace.
What Does 2 Thessalonians 2:16 Mean?
Paul moves from exhortation to prayer, addressing "our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father." He names them together as the source of his petition. He grounds the prayer in what they have already done: they "hath loved us" and "hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace." Before asking for anything, Paul rehearses the love and gifts the readers have already received.
The gifts are beautifully chosen for a troubled church. "Everlasting consolation" is a comfort that does not run out, unlike the fleeting comforts of this world; "good hope" is confidence that the best is yet to come. Both come "through grace," as unearned gifts. For people unsettled by fear, Paul points back to the unshakable love of God and the lasting comfort He has freely given. Our prayers, too, are best built on remembering what God has already poured out in His grace.
In the Original Language
paraklesis (παράκλησις), "consolation" — comfort, encouragement, a coming alongside to strengthen.