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After the introduction (2Th 1:1,2) the apostle begins this epistle with an account of his high esteem for these Thessalonians, 2Th 1:3,4. He then comforts them under their afflictions and persecutions (2Th 1:5-10) and tells them what his prayers were to God for them, 2Th 1:11,12.
1-4
Introduction (52 AD)
简体中文
引言（公元52年）
¹ 保罗、西拉、提摩太，写信给在神我们的父和主耶稣基督里帖撒罗尼迦人的教会：
² 愿恩惠、平安从神我们的父和主耶稣基督归与你们。
³ 弟兄们，我们该为你们常常感谢神，这本是合宜的；因你们的信心格外增长，并且你们众人彼此相爱的心也都充足；
⁴ 甚至我们在神的各教会里为你们夸口，都因你们在所受的一切逼迫患难中，仍旧存忍耐和信心。
此处我们看到，
一、引言（帖后1:1,2），所用的话与前封书信相同。由此我们可以观察到，这位使徒并不以为在自己的书信中重复自己讲道时所讲过的话是厌烦的事（腓3:1），也同样乐于把写给一个教会的话写给另一个教会。这封书信中出现与前封相同的话，表明传道人不应过于看重表达方式的多样化与文笔的优雅，而应看重自己所传之教义的真实与有益。也当十分谨慎，免得因刻意追求方法与用词的新奇，而提出与自然宗教或启示宗教之原则相违背的新观念或新教义；帖撒罗尼迦教会正是建立在这些原则之上，正如一切真教会一样——也就是「在神我们的父和主耶稣基督里」。
二、使徒表达他对他们的高度敬重。他不仅对他们怀有深厚的情感（正如他在前封书信中所表达的，如今又借着他为他们所愿的恩惠平安再次表达），还表达了对他们极大的敬重。关于这一点，请观察：
1. 他对他们的敬重是如何表达的。（1）他因他们归荣耀给神：「弟兄们，我们该为你们常常感谢神，这本是合宜的」，帖后1:3。他宁愿以向神感恩的方式，而非称赞他们的方式，来述说他们身上可称赞之处；既把所提之事当作自己喜乐的缘由，便视之为感恩的事，且理当如此，因为我们有责任为在自己或别人身上所发现的一切良善感谢神。我们为同作基督徒的肢体感谢神，这不仅是对他们的恩慈，更是我们的本分。（2）他也在「神的各教会里」以他们为荣，帖后1:4。这位使徒从不奉承朋友，却乐于称赞他们，为他们说好话，以荣耀神，并激励、勉励他人。保罗并不因自己的恩赐夸口，也不因自己在他们中间的劳苦夸口，而是因神所赐给他们的恩典夸口；这样他的夸口是好的，因为他给他们的称赞与自己所得的喜乐，全都归向对神的赞美与荣耀。
2. 他因何敬重他们并为此感谢神——即他们的信心、爱心与忍耐的增长。在前封书信中（帖前1:3），他为他们的信心、爱心、忍耐感谢神；在这里，他为这一切恩赐的增长感谢神，因他们不仅已是真基督徒，更是长进的基督徒。请注意，哪里有恩典的真实，哪里就会有恩典的增长。「义人的路好像黎明的光，越照越明，直到日午。」恩典既增长，神就当在其中得着一切的荣耀。我们既因恩典的改进与那善工的进展而亏欠于他，也同样因恩典的初结之工与开端而亏欠于他。我们或会受试探以为：自己从前败坏时不能使自己变好，如今既已良善便能轻易使自己更好；然而我们既因栽种当时所没有的恩典而需要神的恩典，也同样为加增已有的恩典而需要神的恩典。使徒代帖撒罗尼迦人感谢与夸口的缘由是：（1）他们的信心格外增长，帖后1:3。他们更坚定于福音启示的真理，更信靠福音的应许，并对另一个世界有活泼的盼望。他们信心的增长显于信心的行为；信心在哪里增长，一切其他恩赐也按比例增长。（2）他们的爱心充足（帖后1:3）——即他们对神对人的爱。请注意，信心在哪里增长，爱心也必充足，因为信心是借着爱心生发功效的；而且不是他们中间少数几个人，而是每一个人彼此之间的爱心都充足。他们中间没有像其他某些教会那样的分门结党。（3）他们的忍耐与信心一样，在一切逼迫患难中一同加增。当忍耐延及一切试炼时，忍耐就成全了它的工夫。帖撒罗尼迦人为义忍受许多逼迫，也遭遇今世苦难生活中的其他患难；然而他们因信「看见那不能看见的主」，并仰望「赏赐」，便忍受了这一切；并且是存忍耐忍受，并非麻木不仁，而是源于基督教训原则的忍耐，使他们安静顺服，并赐他们内在的力量与支持。
英文原文
Introduction (52 AD)
¹ Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
² Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
³ We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
⁴ So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
Here we have,
I. The introduction (2Th 1:1,2), in the same words as in the former epistle, from which we may observe that as this apostle did not count it grievous to him to write the same things (Php 3:1) in his epistles that he had delivered in preaching, so he willingly wrote the same things to one church that he did to another. The occurrence of the same words in this epistle as in the former shows us that ministers ought not so much to regard the variety of expression and elegance of style as the truth and usefulness of the doctrines they preach. And great care should be taken lest, from an affectation of novelty in method and phrases, we advance new notions or doctrines, contrary to the principles of natural or revealed religion, upon which this church of the Thessalonians was built, as all true churches are; namely, in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
II. The apostle's expression of the high esteem he had for them. He not only had a great affection for them (as he had expressed in his former epistle, and now again in his pious wish of grace and peace for them), but he also expresses his great esteem for them, concerning which observe,
1. How his esteem of them is expressed. (1.) He glorified God on their behalf: We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, 2Th 1:3. He chose rather to speak of what was praiseworthy in them in a way of thanksgiving to God than by commendation of them; and, as what he mentions was matter of his rejoicing, he accounted it matter of thanksgiving, and it was meet or fit it should be so, for we are bound, and it is our duty, to be thankful to God for all the good that is found in us or others: and it not only is an act of kindness to our fellow-christians, but our duty, to thank God on their behalf. (2.) He also glories in them before the churches of God, 2Th 1:4. The apostle never flattered his friends, but he took pleasure in commending them, and speaking well of them, to the glory of God and for the excitement and encouragement of others. Paul did not glory in his own gifts, nor in his labour among them, but he gloried in the grace of God which was bestowed upon them, and so his glorying was good, because all the commendation he gave to them, and the pleasure he took himself, centered in the praise and glory of God.
2. For what he esteemed them and thanked God; namely, the increase of their faith, and love, and patience. In his former epistle (1Th 1:3) he gave thanks for their faith, love, and patience; here he gives thanks for the increase of all those graces, that they were not only true Christians, but growing Christians. Note, Where there is the truth of grace there will be increase of it. The path of the just is as the shining light, which shines more and more unto the perfect day. And where there is the increase of grace God must have all the glory of it. We are as much indebted to him for the improvement of grace, and the progress of that good work, as we are for the first work of grace and the very beginning of it. We may be tempted to think that though when we were bad we could not make ourselves good, yet when we are good we can easily make ourselves better; but we have as much dependence on the grace of God for increasing the grace we have as for planting grace when we had it not. The matter of the apostle's thanksgiving and glorying on behalf of the Thessalonians was, (1.) That their faith grew exceedingly, 2Th 1:3. They were more confirmed in the truth of gospel-revelations, confided in gospel-promises, and had lively expectations of another world. The growth of their faith appeared by the works of faith; and, where faith grows, all other graces grow proportionably. (2.) Their charity abounded (2Th 1:3), their love to God and man. Note, Where faith grows love will abound, for faith works by love; and not only the charity of some few of them, but of every one to each other, did abound. There were no such divisions among them as in some other churches. (3.) Their patience as well as faith increased in all their persecutions and tribulations. And patience has then its perfect work when it extends itself to all trials. There were many persecutions which the Thessalonians endured for the sake of righteousness, as well as other troubles which they met with in this calamitous life; yet they endured all these, by faith seeing him that is invisible, and looking to the recompence of reward; and endured them with patience, not with an insensibility under them, but with patience arising from Christian principles, which kept them quiet and submissive, and afforded them inward strength and support.
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Prospect of Persecuted Saints (52 AD)
简体中文
受逼迫圣徒的前景（公元52年）
⁵ 这正是神公义判断的明证，叫你们可算配得神的国；你们就是为这国受苦。
⁶ 神既是公义的，就必将患难报应那加患难给你们的人；
⁷ 也必使你们这受患难的人与我们同得平安。那时，主耶稣同他有能力的天使从天上在火焰中显现，
⁸ 要报应那不认识神和那不听从我主耶稣福音的人。
⁹ 他们要受刑罚，就是永远沉沦，离开主的面和他权能的荣光。
¹⁰ 这正是主降临，要在他圣徒的身上得荣耀，又在一切信的人身上显为希奇的那日子。（我们对你们作的见证，你们也信了。）
使徒既提到他们主要为基督的缘故所忍受的逼迫与患难，便进一步为他们提供若干安慰，使他们能在其中得着慰藉：
一、他告诉他们，他们受苦在现今所带给他们的福乐与益处，帖后1:5。他们的信心既这样被试炼，忍耐也这样受操练，便因受苦而得着长进，以致「可算配得神的国」。他们的受苦是一个明证，表明他们实在配称为真基督徒，因为他们能为基督教受苦。诚然，宗教若有一点价值，便有全部价值；若非没有宗教，或有的并不值得持守，或不知道如何珍重它，否则人不能为它受苦。再者，从他们忍耐受苦看来，按照神公义的判断，他们也必算为配得天上的荣耀：不是凭功劳而得的配得，只是相符的配得；不是说他们能以功劳换取天堂，而是他们已被造就得适合天堂。我们既不能借一切受苦、也不能借一切善功，把天堂当作债务赚来；但我们因受苦中所存的忍耐，便有资格承受所应许给那些在神的事业中忍耐受苦之人的喜乐。
二、他接着告诉他们将来要给逼迫人的和受逼迫的人所要施行的报应。
1. 在这未来的报应中，（1）将有刑罚加在逼迫人的人身上：神要「将患难报应那加患难给你们的人」，帖后1:6。再没有别的事物比逼迫的灵、对神的名和他百姓的仇恨，更无可置疑地标记一个人注定永远灭亡；正如圣徒的信心、忍耐与坚忍是他们永远安息与喜乐的凭据，照样逼迫人的骄傲、恶毒与邪恶也是他们永远悲惨的凭据；因为各人身上都带着、并要带出世界之外，或是自己的天堂、或是自己的地狱。神必报应，必使那扰害他百姓的人遭患难。这事他有时在今世就行，许多逼迫人的可怕结局便是明证；但他特别要在来世如此行，在那里恶人的分必是「哀哭切齿了」。（2）要给受逼迫的人奖赏：神要以安息报应他们的患难，帖后1:7。为神的百姓存留着一安息，是从罪与忧愁得释放的安息。虽然义人现今多有患难，神却要从这一切之中搭救他们。将来的安息将丰丰富富地补偿他们现今一切的患难。现在的苦楚若与将来要显于我们的荣耀相比，就不足介意了。天堂里有足够的福分，足以抵消我们为基督的名在这世上所可能失去或受苦的一切。使徒说：「你们这受患难的人与我们同得平安。」在天上，曾在此同受苦的牧者与信徒必同得安息、同得喜乐；最微小的基督徒也必与最伟大的使徒同得安息；更要紧的是，我们若与基督一同受苦，也必与他一同作王，提后2:12。
2. 关于这未来的报应，我们还要观察：
（1）其确定性，由神的公义与正义所证明：「神既是公义的」（帖后1:6），必照各人的行为报应各人。想到这事，恶人与逼迫人的当恐惧战兢，而义人与受逼迫的必大得安慰；因为既有公义的神，就必有公义的报应。神受苦的百姓不会因受苦而有所失，他们的仇敌也不会因得胜而有所得。
（2）这公义报应施行的时候：「主耶稣同他有能力的天使从天上……显现」，帖后1:7。那将是「神公义判断的启示」之日；因为神要借他所设立的人——就是那义者耶稣基督——按公义审判天下。神的公义在他护理的进程中，并不像在那大审判之日的审理中那样向众人显明。圣经已把将来的审判向我们显明，我们有责任接受这里所赐关于基督的启示。诸如：
[1] 主耶稣在那日要从天上显现。如今诸天将他保留、将他隐藏；那时他就要被显明、被看见。他必带着上界全部的威荣与权能而来，「我们从那里等候救主」。
[2] 他要同他有能力的天使显现（帖后1:7），即他权能的天使：他们要侍候他，为他显现那严肃的大日增添荣美；在那日他们要作他公义与怜悯的差役；他们要传唤罪犯到他台前，收聚选民，并奉命执行他的判决。
[3] 他要在火焰中降临，帖后1:8。有火在他前头行，要烧灭他的仇敌。地和其上的工程都要被烧尽，天体也要被烈火熔化。这要成为试炼的火，试验各人的工程——熬炼的火，洁净圣徒，使他们有分于新天新地的纯洁与福乐——对恶人却是吞灭的火。在那日凡被寻见如同糠秕的，他的光必刺透，他的权能必吞灭。
[4] 这显现的果效对一些人是可怕的，对另一些人是喜乐的。
第一、对一些人是可怕的；因为那时他要向恶人施报。1. 对那些违背自然宗教的原则、背叛自然之光的人——「那不认识神的人」（帖后1:8），尽管他的看不见的事是借着所造之物显明的。2. 对那些背叛启示之光的人——「不听从我主耶稣福音的人」。定罪就是在此，光来到世间，世人倒爱黑暗。这正是许多人的大罪——福音已向他们显明，他们却不肯信；或即使假装相信，也不肯顺服。请注意，信福音的真理是为了叫我们顺服福音的命令；必须有信心的顺服。对这里所提的人而言，我们主耶稣基督的显现是可怕的，因为他们的刑罚已记在下面，帖后1:9。在此请观察：（1）那时他们必受刑罚。罪人虽然可能长久获缓刑，终必受刑。他们的悲惨必是其罪行相称的刑罚，正是他们所当得的。他们作了罪的工，必受罪的工价。（2）他们的刑罚不轻于沉沦——不是其存在的沉沦，乃是其福乐的沉沦；不是仅关乎身体，而是身体与灵魂同受。（3）这沉沦是永远的。他们要永远正在死，却永不能死。他们的悲惨要与永恒的线并行。黑暗的锁链是永远的锁链，火是永远的火。这事必如此，因为这刑罚是由一位永生的神所施，加在一个不朽的灵魂上，这灵魂已被置于神圣恩典与怜悯所不能及之处。（4）这沉沦要「离开主的面」，即直接从神自己而来。在此神借着受造之物、借着器皿刑罚罪人；那时他要把这工亲自揽在手中。那必是从全能者而来的沉沦，比那烧灭拿答、亚比户的吞灭火更可怕，那火是从主面前出来的。（5）这沉沦要「离开他权能的荣光」，即他荣耀的权能。不仅神的公义，连他这全能的权能，也要在罪人的沉沦中得荣耀；谁知道他忿怒的权能呢？他能把人丢在地狱里。
第二、对一些人是喜乐的日子，就是对圣徒——那些信而顺服福音的人——而言。那时使徒关于这日的见证便要得着证实并被人「信了」（帖后1:10）；在那光明蒙福的日子里：1. 基督耶稣要在他圣徒身上得荣耀，被他们所希奇。他们要看见他的荣耀，并欢喜地希奇；他们要荣耀他的恩典，希奇他对他们的大能与美善的奇事，并在他得胜的日子向他唱哈利路亚，因为自己已得着完全的胜利与福乐。2. 基督也要在他们身上得荣耀，被希奇。他的恩典与权能那时要显大，当人看见他为一切信的人所买赎的、所成全的、所赐下的是何等事。正如他的忿怒与权能要在他仇敌的沉沦中显明并得尊大，照样他的恩典与权能也要在他圣徒的拯救中得尊大。请注意，基督对待信他之人的作为，是世人一日要希奇的。如今他们对许多人是奇事；但在这又大又荣耀的日子里他们要怎样被希奇呢；更确切地说，那名为「奇妙」的基督，当神的奥秘成全之时，要怎样被希奇！基督从天上所带来的、那众天使的荣耀尊崇，还不及他要把许多圣徒——「许多的儿子」——带进荣耀里那样令他被希奇。
英文原文
Prospect of Persecuted Saints (52 AD)
⁵ Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
⁶ Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
⁷ And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
⁸ In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
⁹ Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
¹⁰ When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
Having mentioned their persecutions and tribulations, which they endured principally for the cause of Christ, the apostle proceeds to offer several things for their comfort under them; as,
I. He tells them of the present happiness and advantage of their sufferings, 2Th 1:5. Their faith being thus tried, and patience exercised, they were improved by their sufferings, insomuch that they were counted worthy of the kingdom of God. Their sufferings were a manifest token of this, that they were worthy or meet to be accounted Christians indeed, seeing they could suffer for Christianity. And the truth is, Religion, if it is worth any thing, is worth every thing; and those either have no religion at all, or none that is worth having, or know not how to value it, that cannot find in their hearts to suffer for it. Besides, from their patient suffering, it appeared that, according to the righteous judgment of God, they should be counted worthy of the heavenly glory: not by worthiness of condignity, but of congruity only; not that they could merit heaven, but they were made meet for heaven. We cannot by all our sufferings, any more than by our services, merit heaven as a debt; but by our patience under our sufferings we are qualified for the joy that is promised to patient sufferers in the cause of God.
II. He tells them next of the future recompence that shall be given to persecutor and persecuted.
1. In this future recompence there will be, (1.) A punishment inflicted on persecutors: God will recompense tribulation to those that trouble you, 2Th 1:6. And there is nothing that more infallibly marks a man for eternal ruin than a spirit of persecution, and enmity to the name and people of God: as the faith, patience, and constancy of the saints are to them an earnest of everlasting rest and joy, so the pride, malice, and wickedness of their persecutors are to them an earnest of everlasting misery; for every man carries about with him, and carries out of the world with him, either his heaven or his hell. God will render a recompence, and will trouble those that trouble his people. This he has done sometimes in this world, witness the dreadful end of many persecutors; but especially this he will do in the other world, where the portion of the wicked must be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth. (2.) A reward for those that are persecuted: God will recompense their trouble with rest, 2Th 1:7. There is a rest that remains for the people of God, a rest from sin and sorrow. Though many may be the troubles of the righteous now, yet God will deliver them out of them all. The future rest will abundantly recompense all their present troubles. The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed. There is enough in heaven to countervail all that we may lose or suffer for the name of Christ in this world. The apostle says, To you who are troubled rest with us. In heaven, ministers and people shall rest together, and rejoice together, who suffer together here; and the meanest Christian shall rest with the greatest apostle: nay, what is far more, if we suffer for Christ, we shall also reign with him, 2Ti 2:12.
2. Concerning this future recompence we are further to observe,
(1.) The certainty of it, proved by the righteousness and justice of God: It is a righteous thing with God (2Th 1:6) to render to every man according to his works. The thoughts of this should be terrible to wicked men and persecutors, and the great support of the righteous and such as are persecuted; for, seeing there is a righteous God, there will be a righteous recompence. God's suffering people will lose nothing by their sufferings, and their enemies will gain nothing by their advantages against them.
(2.) The time when this righteous recompence shall be made: When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, 2Th 1:7. That will be the day of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God; for then will God judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath appointed, even Jesus Christ the righteous Judge. The righteousness of God does not so visibly appear to all men in the procedure of his providence as it will in the process of the great judgment-day. The scripture has made known to us the judgment to come, and we are bound to receive the revelation here given concerning Christ. As,
[1.] That the Lord Jesus will in that day appear from heaven. Now the heavens retain him, they conceal him; but then he will be revealed and made manifest. He will come in all the pomp and power of the upper world, whence we look for the Saviour.
[2.] He will be revealed with his mighty angels (2Th 1:7), or the angels of his power: these will attend upon him, to grace the solemnity of that great day of his appearance; they will be the ministers of his justice and mercy in that day; they will summon the criminals to his tribunal, and gather in the elect, and be employed in executing his sentence.
[3.] He will come in flaming fire, 2Th 1:8. A fire goeth before him, which shall consume his enemies. The earth, and all the works that are therein, shall be burnt up, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. This will be a trying fire, to try every man's work,—a refining fire, to purify the saints, who shall share in the purity, and partake of the felicity, of the new heaven and the new earth,—a consuming fire to the wicked. His light will be piercing, and his power consuming, to all those who in that day shall be found as chaff.
[4.] The effects of this appearance will be terrible to some and joyful to others.
First, They will be terrible to some; for he will then take vengeance on the wicked. 1. On those that sinned against the principles of natural religion, and rebelled against the light of nature, that knew not God (2Th 1:8), though the invisible things of him are manifested in the things that are seen. 2. On those that rebel against the light of revelation, that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light. This is the great crime of multitudes—the gospel is revealed to them, and they will not believe it; or, if they pretend to believe it, they will not obey it. Note, Believing the truths of the gospel is in order to our obeying the precepts of the gospel: there must be the obedience of faith. To such persons as are here mentioned the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ will be terrible, because of their doom, which is mentioned, 2Th 1:9. Here observe, (1.) They will then be punished. Though sinners may be long reprieved, yet they will be punished at last. Their misery will be a proper punishment for their crimes, and only what they have deserved. They did sin's work, and must receive sin's wages. (2.) Their punishment will be no less than destruction, not of their being, but of their bliss; not that of the body alone, but both as to body and soul. (3.) This destruction will be everlasting. They shall be always dying, and yet never die. Their misery will run parallel with the line of eternity. The chains of darkness are everlasting chains, and the fire is everlasting fire. It must needs be so, since the punishment is inflicted by an eternal God, fastening upon an immortal soul, set out of the reach of divine mercy and grace. (4.) This destruction shall come from the presence of the Lord, that is, immediately from God himself. Here God punishes sinners by creatures, by instruments; but then he will take the work into his own hands. It will be destruction from the Almighty, more terrible than the consuming fire which consumed Nadab and Abihu, which came from before the Lord. (5.) It shall come from the glory of his power, or from his glorious power. Not only the justice of God, but this almighty power, will be glorified in the destruction of sinners; and who knows the power of his anger? He is able to cast into hell.
Secondly, It will be a joyful day to some, even to the saints, unto those that believe and obey the gospel. And then the apostle's testimony concerning this day will be confirmed and believed (2Th 1:10); in that bright and blessed day, 1. Christ Jesus will be glorified and admired by his saints. They will behold his glory, and admire it with pleasure; they will glorify his grace, and admire the wonders of his power and goodness towards them, and sing hallelujahs to him in that day of his triumph, for their complete victory and happiness. 2. Christ will be glorified and admired in them. His grace and power will then be manifested and magnified, when it shall appear what he has purchased for, and wrought in, and bestowed upon, all those who believe in him. As his wrath and power will be made known in and by the destruction of his enemies, so his grace and power will be magnified in the salvation of his saints. Note, Christ's dealings with those who believe will be what the world one day shall wonder at. Now, they are a wonder to many; but how will they be wondered at in this great and glorious day; or, rather, how will Christ, whose name is Wonderful, be admired, when the mystery of God shall be finished! Christ will not be so much admired in the glorious esteem of angels that he will bring from heaven with him as in the many saints, the many sons, that he will bring to glory.
11-12
The Apostle Prayer (52 AD)
简体中文
使徒的祷告（公元52年）
¹¹ 因此，我们常为你们祷告，愿我们的神看你们配得过所蒙的召，又用大能成就你们一切所羡慕的良善和一切因信心所作的工夫；
¹² 叫我们主耶稣的名在你们身上得荣耀，你们也在他身上得荣耀，都照着我们的神并主耶稣基督的恩。
在这些经文里，使徒再次告诉帖撒罗尼迦人，他是何等恳切且常常为他们祷告。他不能亲自与他们同在，却常常记念他们；他们常在他的思念之中；他愿他们好，而最能表达他对他们的好意与祝愿的，莫过于常常恳切地向神为他们祷告：「因此我们常……祷告」，等等。请注意，对基督第二次再来的信心与盼望，当激励我们为自己和他人向神祷告。我们当警醒祷告，正如我们的救主嘱咐门徒的（路21:36）：「所以，你们要警醒祷告，使你们能逃避这一切要来的事，得以站在人子面前。」请观察：
一、使徒所求的是什么，帖后1:11。明白当求什么，是至关重要的事；若没有神的指教，我们便不知当求什么，正如若没有神的帮助，我们便不能按所当有的来求。我们的祷告当与我们的盼望相称。于是使徒为他们求：1. 愿神在他们心里开始他恩典的善工；如此我们便可理解这句话：「愿我们的神看你们」（或读作「使你们」）「配得过所蒙的召」。我们所蒙的召是崇高圣洁的呼召；我们是蒙召进入神的国与荣耀；我们所盼望的，无非是圣徒的产业——即基督耶稣从天上显现之时所要显明的荣耀与福乐。既如此，我们所最关切的，便是与所蒙的召相称，或是为这荣耀做好准备：因为我们自己一无配得之处，唯独因神的恩典才有，所以我们当求他使我们有资格，然后看我们配得过所蒙的召，或使他「使你们能与众圣徒在光明中同得基业」，西1:12。2. 愿神推进已经开始的善工，「成就你们一切所羡慕的良善」。神的「所羡慕的」（美意）指他对百姓所定的恩惠旨意，这旨意源于他的美善，并向他们充满美善；我们所得的一切美善都由此而来。我们里面若有任何美善，都是神向我们所怀善意的结果，当归于他美善的美意，因此称为恩典。神向他的百姓所怀的恩典与善意之旨意，是多方面、多形式的；使徒求这一切都能成就在这些帖撒罗尼迦人身上。神百姓心里有许多因这美善的美意而开始的善工，我们当愿它们得以成全完备。使徒特别求神在他们里面「成就一切因信心所作的工夫」。请注意，（1）信心之工的成全，是为了叫一切其他善工也得着成全。（2）不仅开始，更是推进并成全信心之工的，乃是神的大能。
二、使徒为何求这些事（帖后1:12）：「叫我们主耶稣的名得荣耀」；这是我们在一切所行所愿的事上当追求的终向——使神与基督在凡事上得荣耀。我们自己的福乐与别人的福乐，都当从属于这最终的旨意。我们的善行当这样在人前发光，使别人归荣耀与神，使基督在我们里面并借着我们得荣耀，然后我们也必在他里面并与他同得荣耀。这也是我们神与主耶稣基督的恩典向我们显明、并在我们里面运行的大终局与大旨意。或可这样说：这是「照着」神与基督的恩典——即鉴于神与基督向我们显明、赐给我们的恩典，我们把自己一切所行的都导向创造主与救赎主的荣耀，这是合宜的事。
英文原文
The Apostle Prayer (52 AD)
¹¹ Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
¹² That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
In these verses the apostle again tells the Thessalonians of his earnest and constant prayer for them. He could not be present with them, yet he had a constant remembrance of them; they were much upon his thoughts; he wished them well, and could not express his good-will and good wishes to them better than in earnest constant prayer to God for them: Wherefore also we pray, etc. Note, The believing thoughts and expectation of the second coming of Christ should put us upon prayer to God for ourselves and others. We should watch and pray, so our Saviour directs his disciples (Lu 21:36), Watch therefore, and pray always, that you may be counted worthy to stand before the Son of man. Observe,
I. What the apostle prayed for, 2Th 1:11. It is a great concern to be well instructed what to pray for; and without divine instruction we know not what to pray for, as without divine assistance we shall not pray in such a manner as we ought. Our prayers should be suitable to our expectations. Thus the apostle prays for them, 1. That God would begin his good work of grace in them; so we may understand this expression: That our God would count you (or, as it might be read, make you) worthy of this calling. We are called with a high and holy calling; we are called to God's kingdom and glory; and no less than the inheritance of the saints is the hope of our calling, nothing less than the enjoyment of that glory and felicity which shall be revealed when Christ Jesus shall be revealed from heaven. Now, if this be our calling, our great concern should be to be worthy of it, or meet and prepared for this glory: and because we have no worthiness of our own, but what is owing purely to the grace of God, we should pray that he would make us worthy, and then count us worthy, of this calling, or that he would make us meet to partake of the inheritance of the saints in light, Col 1:12. 2. That God would carry on the good work that is begun, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness. The good pleasure of God denotes his gracious purposes towards his people, which flow from his goodness, and are full of goodness towards them; and it is thence that all good comes to us. If there be any good in us, it is the fruit of God's good-will to us, it is owing to the good pleasure of his goodness, and therefore is called grace. Now, there are various and manifold purposes of grace and good-will in God towards his people; and the apostle prays that all of them may be fulfilled or accomplished towards these Thessalonians. There are several good works of grace begun in the hearts of God's people, which proceed from this good pleasure of God's goodness, and we should desire that they may be completed and perfected. In particular, the apostle prays that God would fulfil in them the work of faith with power. Note, (1.) The fulfilling of the work of faith is in order to the fulfilling of every other good work. And, (2.) It is the power of God that not only begins, but that carries on and perfects the work of faith.
II. Why the apostle prayed for these things (2Th 1:12): That the name of the Lord Jesus may be glorified; this is the end we should aim at in every thing we do and desire, that God and Christ in all things may be glorified. Our own happiness and that of others should be subordinate to this ultimate end. Our good works should so shine before men that others may glorify God, that Christ may be glorified in and by us, and then we shall be glorified in and with him. And this is the great end and design of the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ, which is manifested to us and wrought in us. Or thus: it is according to the grace of God and Christ, that is, it is an agreeable thing, considering the grace that is manifested to us and bestowed on us, by God and Christ, that we direct all we do to the glory of our Creator and Redeemer.
在引言（帖后1:1,2）之后，使徒以自己对帖撒罗尼迦人的高度敬重开始了这封书信，帖后1:3,4。随后他在他们的苦难与逼迫中安慰他们（帖后1:5-10），并告诉他们自己向神为他们所献上的祷告是什么，帖后1:11,12。