1 Thessalonians 5:24
“Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Context
This brief assurance follows Paul's prayer for the believers' sanctification, grounding that prayer in the faithfulness of the God who called them.
What Does 1 Thessalonians 5:24 Mean?
Right after praying that God would sanctify and preserve the believers, Paul adds a word of reassurance: "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." The prayer of verse 23 might sound too lofty -- can anyone really be kept blameless until Christ comes? Paul answers by pointing not to the believers' strength but to God's character. The One who calls them is "faithful," dependable and true to his word.
The promise rests on what God will do: "who also will do it." The same God who issued the call takes responsibility to bring it to completion. This does not erase human participation, but it grounds the believer's confidence in God's reliability rather than in their own performance. God does not call people and then abandon them midway; he finishes what he begins. For a young church facing pressure and uncertainty, this is steadying assurance. The hope of being made whole and kept blameless is secure because it depends on a faithful God whose calling carries with it the commitment to accomplish his purpose.
In the Original Language
"Faithful" is pistos, trustworthy and reliable; "calleth" is kaleo, to call or summon, here describing God's call to the believers.
Cross References
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”
- Philippians 1:6
“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:9
“If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.”
- 2 Timothy 2:13
Application
When the call to holiness feels beyond your strength, rest in the faithfulness of the God who promises to finish what he has begun in you.