1
Παῦλος καὶ Σιλουανὸς καὶ Τιμόθεος τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ Θεσσαλονικέων ἐν θεῷ πατρὶ ἡμῶν καὶ κυρίῳ Ἰησοῦ Χριστῷ·
Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
The epistolary superscription: three named senders, the addressee church, and its location 'in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ' — the sphere of its existence.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
ΠαῦλοςPaulNominativesubject (nominative of address/superscription)Παῦλος: the apostle's Roman cognomen; named first as the principal author of the letter.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ΣιλουανὸςSilvanusNominativesubject (coordinate)Σιλουανός: Silvanus (the Silas of Acts), Paul's co-worker on the second missionary journey and co-founder of the Thessalonian church.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ΤιμόθεοςTimothyNominativesubject (coordinate)Τιμόθεος: Timothy, Paul's young associate (cf. Acts 16–17); the three co-senders together founded the church.
τῇto theDativearticle
ἐκκλησίᾳchurchDativeindirect object (addressee)ἐκκλησία: 'assembly, gathering'; the called-out congregation — the local body of believers.
Θεσσαλονικέωνof the ThessaloniansGenitivegenitive of identification/relationshipΘεσσαλονικεύς: 'a Thessalonian'; the believers of Thessalonica, capital of the province of Macedonia.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)
θεῷGodDativedat. of sphere (locus of the church's being)θεός: God; the church exists 'in' God the Father — its defining sphere, distinguishing it from a mere civic assembly.
πατρὶFatherDativeapposition to θεῷπατήρ: 'Father'; the relational name for God, shared with the church as his children.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
κυρίῳthe LordDativedat. of sphere (coordinate with θεῷ)κύριος: 'Lord'; Father and Lord set in parallel under one preposition — the church's being is bound up in both.
ἸησοῦJesusDativeapposition to κυρίῳ
ΧριστῷChristDativeapposition
2
χάρις ὑμῖν καὶ εἰρήνη ἀπὸ θεοῦ πατρὸς καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.
Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The standard Pauline grace-and-peace blessing, naming its double source — God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ together.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
χάριςgraceNominativesubject (nom. in greeting formula)χάρις: 'grace, favor'; Paul reshapes the conventional Greek χαίρειν greeting into 'grace.'
ὑμῖνto youDativedat. of recipient
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
εἰρήνηpeaceNominativesubject (coordinate)εἰρήνη: 'peace'; the Hebrew šālôm — wholeness and well-being, the second half of the doubled blessing.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source)
θεοῦGodGenitiveobject of ἀπό (source)
πατρὸςthe FatherGenitiveapposition to θεοῦπατήρ: 'Father'; God named as Father, the fount of grace and peace.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
κυρίουthe LordGenitiveobject of ἀπό (coordinate source)κύριος: 'Lord'; Christ joined to the Father as a single source of grace and peace — an implicit high Christology.
ἸησοῦJesusGenitiveapposition to κυρίου
ΧριστοῦChristGenitiveapposition
3
Εὐχαριστεῖν ὀφείλομεν τῷ θεῷ πάντοτε περὶ ὑμῶν, ἀδελφοί, καθὼς ἄξιόν ἐστιν, ὅτι ὑπεραυξάνει ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν καὶ πλεονάζει ἡ ἀγάπη ἑνὸς ἑκάστου πάντων ὑμῶν εἰς ἀλλήλους,
We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you all for one another is increasing,
The thanksgiving period opens, framed as obligation ('we ought') rather than mere sentiment — fitting because their faith and love are visibly flourishing.
Word-by-word analysis· 26 words
Εὐχαριστεῖνto give thanksPres Act Inf · εὐχαριστέωcomplementary infinitive (of ὀφείλομεν)→ customary presentεὐχαριστέω: 'give thanks'; the standard verb opening a Pauline thanksgiving, here fronted for emphasis.
ὀφείλομενwe oughtPres Act Indic 1 Pl · ὀφείλωmain verb→ customary presentὀφείλω: 'owe, be obligated'; casts the thanksgiving as a debt of duty — distinctive to this letter.
τῷtheDativearticle
θεῷGodDativeindirect object (recipient of thanks)
πάντοτεalwaysadverb (frequency)πάντοτε: 'always, at all times'; the constancy of the obligation.
περὶforpreposition + genitive (reference)
ὑμῶνyouGenitiveobject of περί
ἀδελφοίbrothersVocativevocative of direct addressἀδελφός: 'brother'; warm familial address to the congregation, frequent in the Thessalonian letters.
καθὼςascomparative conjunction
ἄξιόνfittingNominativepredicate adjectiveἄξιος: 'worthy, fitting, befitting'; the thanksgiving is appropriate to the reality of their progress.
ἐστινit isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (copula, impersonal)→ stative present
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction
ὑπεραυξάνειis growing abundantlyPres Act Indic 3 Sg · ὑπεραυξάνωmain verb (ὅτι clause)→ progressive presentὑπεραυξάνω: 'grow exceedingly' (ὑπέρ-intensive of αὐξάνω); a NT hapax — their faith outgrows itself.
ἡtheNominativearticle
πίστιςfaithNominativesubjectπίστις: 'faith, trust'; the first ground of thanks — their trust is expanding, not merely surviving.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationship
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
πλεονάζειis increasingPres Act Indic 3 Sg · πλεονάζωmain verb (coordinate ὅτι clause)→ progressive presentπλεονάζω: 'increase, abound, become more'; the second ground — their love is multiplying.
ἡtheNominativearticle
ἀγάπηloveNominativesubjectἀγάπη: 'love'; self-giving covenant love — here mutual love within the body, the fruit of faith.
ἑνὸςof oneGenitiveattributive (with ἑκάστου)εἷς: 'one'; ἑνὸς ἑκάστου = 'of each single one,' stressing that no member is excepted.
ἑκάστουeachGenitivepartitive genitive (subject of ἀγάπη)ἕκαστος: 'each, every'; the love is individual and universal across the congregation.
πάντωνof allGenitiveattributive (with ὑμῶν)πᾶς: 'all'; underscores that the love embraces the whole body without exception.
ὑμῶνof youGenitivepartitive genitive
εἰςforpreposition + accusative (direction/goal)
ἀλλήλουςone anotherAccusativereciprocal pronoun (object of εἰς)ἀλλήλων: 'one another'; the direction of the love — mutual, within the community.
4
ὥστε αὐτοὺς ἡμᾶς ἐν ὑμῖν ἐγκαυχᾶσθαι ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις τοῦ θεοῦ ὑπὲρ τῆς ὑπομονῆς ὑμῶν καὶ πίστεως ἐν πᾶσιν τοῖς διωγμοῖς ὑμῶν καὶ ταῖς θλίψεσιν αἷς ἀνέχεσθε,
so that we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God, for your endurance and faith in all your persecutions and the afflictions that you are enduring —
The result of such growth: Paul himself boasts of them among the other churches — boasting in their steadfastness under persecution, which sets up the theme of judgment that follows.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
ὥστεso thatconjunction (result)ὥστε: 'so that'; here introducing an actual result with the infinitive — their growth issues in Paul's boasting.
αὐτοὺςourselvesAccusativeintensive pronoun (with ἡμᾶς)αὐτός: 'self'; αὐτοὺς ἡμᾶς = 'we ourselves' — emphatic, the apostles themselves do the boasting.
ἡμᾶςweAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive
ἐνaboutpreposition + dative (object of boasting)
ὑμῖνyouDativeobject of ἐν (ground of the boast)
ἐγκαυχᾶσθαιto boastPres Mid Inf · ἐγκαυχάομαιinfinitive of result→ progressive presentἐγκαυχάομαι: 'boast in/over' (ἐν + καυχάομαι); a NT hapax — Paul's glorying is 'in' them before others.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (place/sphere)
ταῖςtheDativearticle
ἐκκλησίαιςchurchesDativedat. of place (arena of the boast)ἐκκλησία: 'assembly, church'; the other congregations among whom Paul circulates the report.
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of possessionθεός: God; the churches belong to him — 'the churches of God.'
ὑπὲρforpreposition + genitive (cause/reference)
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
ὑπομονῆςenduranceGenitiveobject of ὑπέρ (cause of boasting)ὑπομονή: 'patient endurance, steadfastness' (lit. 'remaining under'); active perseverance under pressure.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationship
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
πίστεωςfaithGenitiveobject of ὑπέρ (coordinate)πίστις: 'faith, faithfulness'; here perhaps with the nuance of loyal steadfastness alongside ὑπομονή.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (circumstance)
πᾶσινallDativeattributive adjective
τοῖςtheDativearticle
διωγμοῖςpersecutionsDativedat. of circumstance/sphereδιωγμός: 'persecution' (from διώκω, 'pursue'); active hostility directed at the believers.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationship
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ταῖςtheDativearticle
θλίψεσινafflictionsDativedat. of circumstance (coordinate)θλῖψις: 'tribulation, affliction, pressure' (lit. 'a pressing'); the suffering they endure generally.
αἷςwhichDativerelative pronoun (object of ἀνέχεσθε, by attraction)
ἀνέχεσθεyou are enduringPres Mid Indic 2 Pl · ἀνέχομαιmain verb (rel. clause)→ progressive presentἀνέχομαι: 'bear up under, endure, put up with'; the present pictures their ongoing forbearance.
5
ἔνδειγμα τῆς δικαίας κρίσεως τοῦ θεοῦ, εἰς τὸ καταξιωθῆναι ὑμᾶς τῆς βασιλείας τοῦ θεοῦ, ὑπὲρ ἧς καὶ πάσχετε,
evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which also you are suffering —
An appositional comment interpreting their suffering: it is itself a token of God's righteous judgment — proof that he is justly ordering things toward their vindication and the kingdom.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
ἔνδειγμαevidenceNominativenominative in apposition (to the preceding clause)ἔνδειγμα: 'proof, token, plain indication' (from ἐνδείκνυμι); their endurance is visible evidence of a coming just verdict.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
δικαίαςrighteousGenitiveattributive adjectiveδίκαιος: 'righteous, just'; God's judgment is fair — it will set the imbalance of suffering right.
κρίσεωςjudgmentGenitiveobjective/descriptive genitive (with ἔνδειγμα)κρίσις: 'judgment, verdict, decision'; the act of judicial assessment, here God's eschatological judging.
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitivesubjective genitive (God judges)
εἰςthatpreposition + accusative (purpose/result)
τὸtheAccusativearticle (substantizes inf.)
καταξιωθῆναιto be counted worthyAor Pass Inf · καταξιόωarticular infinitive of purpose/result→ constative aoristκαταξιόω: 'count/deem worthy' (κατά + ἀξιόω); the divine passive — God himself reckons them worthy.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
βασιλείαςkingdomGenitivegenitive (of which they are deemed worthy)βασιλεία: 'kingdom, reign'; the goal of their suffering — the coming reign of God they are destined to share.
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitivepossessive/subjective genitive
ὑπὲρforpreposition + genitive (cause/advantage)
ἧςwhichGenitiverelative pronoun (object of ὑπέρ)
καὶalsoadverbial (ascensive)
πάσχετεyou are sufferingPres Act Indic 2 Pl · πάσχωmain verb (rel. clause)→ progressive presentπάσχω: 'suffer, experience'; their present suffering is 'for' (on behalf of / in the cause of) the kingdom.
6
εἴπερ δίκαιον παρὰ θεῷ ἀνταποδοῦναι τοῖς θλίβουσιν ὑμᾶς θλῖψιν
since indeed it is just in God's sight to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
The ground of the 'righteous judgment': a conditional taken as fact — God's justice requires that he repay the persecutors with the very affliction they inflict (lex talionis).
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
εἴπερsince indeedconjunction (conditional, assumed true)εἴπερ: 'if indeed, since' (εἰ + περ); the περ marks the condition as taken to be the case — 'seeing that.'
δίκαιονjustNominativepredicate adjective (impersonal)δίκαιος: 'just, righteous'; the repayment accords with God's justice — the same root as v.5's δικαίας.
παρὰin the sight ofpreposition + dative (in the judgment of)παρά + dat.: 'beside, with, in the estimation of'; 'just in God's view.'
θεῷGodDativeobject of παρά
ἀνταποδοῦναιto repayAor Act Inf · ἀνταποδίδωμιepexegetical infinitive (subject of δίκαιον)→ constative aoristἀνταποδίδωμι: 'pay back, recompense' (ἀντί + ἀπό + δίδωμι); a double-compound stressing exact requital — judgment in kind.
τοῖςthoseDativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
θλίβουσινwho afflictPres Act Ptc · Dat Pl Masc · θλίβωsubstantival participle (indirect object of ἀνταποδοῦναι)→ progressive presentθλίβω: 'press, oppress, afflict'; the present pictures the persecutors' ongoing oppression — cognate with θλῖψις.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object (of θλίβουσιν)
θλῖψινafflictionAccusativedirect object (of ἀνταποδοῦναι)θλῖψις: 'affliction'; the recompense is the very thing they dealt out — a deliberate echo of v.4.
7
καὶ ὑμῖν τοῖς θλιβομένοις ἄνεσιν μεθ' ἡμῶν, ἐν τῇ ἀποκαλύψει τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ ἀπ' οὐρανοῦ μετ' ἀγγέλων δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ
and to you who are afflicted, rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his mighty angels,
The other side of the just recompense: rest for the afflicted (including Paul's circle) — fixed in time at the apocalyptic unveiling of the Lord Jesus from heaven.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
καὶandcoordinating conjunction (with v.6)
ὑμῖνto youDativeindirect object (of ἀνταποδοῦναι, v.6)
τοῖςwhoDativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
θλιβομένοιςare afflictedPres Pass Ptc · Dat Pl Masc · θλίβωsubstantival participle (apposition to ὑμῖν)→ progressive presentθλίβω: 'press, afflict'; the passive marks them as the ones being oppressed — the counterpart to v.6's oppressors.
ἄνεσινrest/reliefAccusativedirect object (of ἀνταποδοῦναι)ἄνεσις: 'relaxation, relief, rest' (from ἀνίημι, 'loosen'); the easing of pressure — opposite of θλῖψις.
μεθ'withpreposition + genitive (association)
ἡμῶνusGenitiveobject of μετά (association)ἡμῶν: 'us'; Paul includes himself and his co-workers among the afflicted who await relief.
ἐνatpreposition + dative (time)
τῇtheDativearticle
ἀποκαλύψειrevelationDativedat. of time (when the recompense occurs)ἀποκάλυψις: 'unveiling, revelation, disclosure'; the apocalyptic appearing of Christ — the moment of judgment and relief.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
κυρίουLordGenitivesubjective/possessive genitive (the one revealed)κύριος: 'Lord'; the title under which Jesus is unveiled as eschatological judge.
ἸησοῦJesusGenitiveapposition to κυρίου
ἀπ'frompreposition + genitive (separation/origin)
οὐρανοῦheavenGenitiveobject of ἀπό (origin of the descent)οὐρανός: 'heaven, sky'; the place from which the Lord is revealed, descending in glory.
μετ'withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment)
ἀγγέλωνangelsGenitiveobject of μετά (accompanying retinue)ἄγγελος: 'messenger, angel'; the heavenly host attending the Lord's appearing (cf. the OT theophany imagery).
δυνάμεωςof powerGenitiveattributive genitive (of quality)δύναμις: 'power, might'; 'angels of his power' = his mighty/powerful angels — a Semitic genitive of quality.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
8
ἐν πυρὶ φλογός, διδόντος ἐκδίκησιν τοῖς μὴ εἰδόσιν θεὸν καὶ τοῖς μὴ ὑπακούουσιν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ,
in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus,
The appearing is 'in flaming fire,' the theophanic medium of judgment; the participle specifies the act — meting out justice to two overlapping groups: the ignorant of God and the disobedient to the gospel.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner/accompaniment)
πυρὶfireDativedat. of manner (medium of the appearing)πῦρ: 'fire'; the standard biblical emblem of God's judging and purifying presence (cf. Exod 3; Isa 66:15).
φλογόςof flameGenitiveattributive genitive (of quality)φλόξ: 'flame, blaze'; πυρὶ φλογός = 'flaming fire' — an OT theophany phrase (cf. Isa 66:15; Exod 3:2 LXX).
διδόντοςinflictingPres Act Ptc · Gen Sg Masc · δίδωμιadverbial participle (in genitive agreeing with κυρίου, v.7)→ progressive presentδίδωμι: 'give'; with ἐκδίκησιν, 'to give/render vengeance' — i.e. to mete out the punishment.
ἐκδίκησινvengeanceAccusativedirect object (of διδόντος)ἐκδίκησις: 'vengeance, retribution, just penalty' (from ἐκδικέω); judicial recompense, not personal vendetta (cf. Deut 32:35; Rom 12:19).
τοῖςthoseDativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
μὴnotnegative particle (with participle)
εἰδόσινwho knowPerf Act Ptc · Dat Pl Masc · οἶδαsubstantival participle (recipient of vengeance)→ intensive perfect (settled state)οἶδα: 'know' (perfect with present force); 'those not knowing God' echoes the Gentile ignorance of Ps 79:6; Jer 10:25 LXX.
θεὸνGodAccusativedirect object (of εἰδόσιν)
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
τοῖςthoseDativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
μὴnotnegative particle (with participle)
ὑπακούουσινwho obeyPres Act Ptc · Dat Pl Masc · ὑπακούωsubstantival participle (coordinate recipient)→ progressive presentὑπακούω: 'obey, submit to' (lit. 'hear under'); the gospel demands the obedience of faith — its rejection is disobedience.
τῷtheDativearticle
εὐαγγελίῳgospelDativedat. complement (of ὑπακούουσιν)εὐαγγέλιον: 'good news, gospel'; the proclamation that calls for obedient faith.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
κυρίουLordGenitivesubjective/possessive genitive (gospel belonging to the Lord)κύριος: 'Lord'; the gospel is 'of our Lord Jesus' — both about him and authorized by him.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
ἸησοῦJesusGenitiveapposition to κυρίου
9
οἵτινες δίκην τίσουσιν ὄλεθρον αἰώνιον ἀπὸ προσώπου τοῦ κυρίου καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς δόξης τῆς ἰσχύος αὐτοῦ,
who will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
A qualitative relative clause spelling out the sentence: such people will pay a penalty — eternal ruin consisting in exclusion from the Lord's presence and glory.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
οἵτινεςwhoNominativequalitative relative pronoun (subject)ὅστις: 'whoever, such as'; the qualitative relative — 'people of such a kind as to...'.
δίκηνpenaltyAccusativedirect object (cognate w/ τίσουσιν)δίκη: 'justice, penalty, punishment'; δίκην τίνω = a classical idiom, 'to pay a penalty, suffer punishment.'
τίσουσινthey will payFut Act Indic 3 Pl · τίνωmain verb (rel. clause)→ predictive futureτίνω: 'pay, render'; here in the legal idiom 'pay a penalty' — judicial requital at the judgment.
ὄλεθρονdestructionAccusativeaccusative in apposition (to δίκην)ὄλεθρος: 'ruin, destruction'; not annihilation of being but ruinous loss — defined here by separation from God.
αἰώνιονeternalAccusativeattributive adjectiveαἰώνιος: 'eternal, age-long'; the destruction belongs to the age to come — permanent in duration and quality.
ἀπὸaway frompreposition + genitive (separation)ἀπό: here separative — 'away from'; the destruction consists in exclusion from God's presence (cf. Isa 2:10, 19, 21 LXX).
προσώπουpresence/faceGenitiveobject of ἀπό (separation)πρόσωπον: 'face, presence' (lit. 'what is toward the eyes'); a Semitism — banishment from the Lord's face.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
κυρίουLordGenitivepossessive genitiveκύριος: 'Lord'; from whose face they are shut out — the deepest dimension of the ruin.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
δόξηςgloryGenitiveobject of ἀπό (coordinate separation)δόξα: 'glory, splendor'; the radiant majesty of the Lord, from which they are likewise excluded.
τῆςof theGenitivearticle
ἰσχύοςmightGenitiveattributive/source genitive (with δόξης)ἰσχύς: 'strength, might'; 'the glory of his might' — the splendor that issues from his power (echoing Isa 2:10, 19, 21 LXX).
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
10
ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἐνδοξασθῆναι ἐν τοῖς ἁγίοις αὐτοῦ καὶ θαυμασθῆναι ἐν πᾶσιν τοῖς πιστεύσασιν, ὅτι ἐπιστεύθη τὸ μαρτύριον ἡμῶν ἐφ' ὑμᾶς, ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ.
when he comes to be glorified in his saints and to be marveled at among all who have believed — because our testimony to you was believed — on that day.
A temporal clause locating the whole scene: 'when he comes.' Its goal is two-fold — to be glorified and marveled at in his people; a parenthesis grounds the Thessalonians' inclusion ('because our testimony was believed').
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
ὅτανwhentemporal conjunction (+ subjunctive)ὅταν: 'whenever, when' (ὅτε + ἄν); with the subjunctive, of an event certain but undated.
ἔλθῃhe comesAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἔρχομαιverb of the temporal clause→ constative aoristἔρχομαι: 'come, go'; here the parousia — the Lord's coming on 'that day.'
ἐνδοξασθῆναιto be glorifiedAor Pass Inf · ἐνδοξάζομαιinfinitive of purpose→ constative aoristἐνδοξάζομαι: 'be glorified in/among' (ἐν + δοξάζω); the saints are the arena in which Christ's glory is displayed (cf. Ps 89:7 LXX; Isa 49:3).
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)
τοῖςtheDativearticle
ἁγίοιςsaintsDativedat. of sphere (locus of glorification)ἅγιος: 'holy one, saint'; the set-apart people in whom Christ's glory shines — perhaps the believers (so v.10b), perhaps with the holy ones/angels.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
θαυμασθῆναιto be marveled atAor Pass Inf · θαυμάζωinfinitive of purpose (coordinate)→ constative aoristθαυμάζω: 'wonder, marvel at, admire'; Christ is the object of astonished worship among all believers.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (sphere)
πᾶσινallDativeattributive adjective
τοῖςthoseDativearticle (substantizes ptc.)
πιστεύσασινwho have believedAor Act Ptc · Dat Pl Masc · πιστεύωsubstantival participle (dat. of sphere)→ constative aoristπιστεύω: 'believe, trust'; the aorist views their believing as the act that brought them into Christ's people.
ὅτιbecausecausal conjunction (parenthetical)
ἐπιστεύθηwas believedAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · πιστεύωmain verb (parenthetical clause)→ constative aoristπιστεύω (pass.): 'be believed, be entrusted'; here 'our testimony was believed' — they are among the believers.
τὸtheNominativearticle
μαρτύριονtestimonyNominativesubject (of ἐπιστεύθη)μαρτύριον: 'testimony, witness'; the apostolic proclamation borne to the Thessalonians — equivalent to the gospel.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of source/relationship
ἐφ'topreposition + accusative (direction toward)ἐπί + acc.: 'to, toward, upon'; the testimony was directed 'to you' — its hearers.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeobject of ἐπί
ἐνonpreposition + dative (time)
τῇthatDativearticle
ἡμέρᾳdayDativedat. of time (resumes ὅταν ἔλθῃ)ἡμέρα: 'day'; 'that day' — the Day of the Lord, the fixed eschatological appointment (cf. 2:2).
ἐκείνῃthatDativedemonstrative adjectiveἐκεῖνος: 'that'; the demonstrative singles out the well-known eschatological Day.
11
εἰς ὃ καὶ προσευχόμεθα πάντοτε περὶ ὑμῶν, ἵνα ὑμᾶς ἀξιώσῃ τῆς κλήσεως ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν καὶ πληρώσῃ πᾶσαν εὐδοκίαν ἀγαθωσύνης καὶ ἔργον πίστεως ἐν δυνάμει,
To this end we also pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of the calling and may fulfill every resolve of goodness and work of faith with power,
Returning to the main line: 'with this in view' Paul reports his constant prayer — that God would make them worthy of their calling and bring to completion their goodness and faith-work by power.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (goal/purpose)εἰς ὅ: 'unto which, to this end'; points back to the glorification of v.10 as the goal in view.
ὃwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of εἰς)
καὶalsoadverbial (ascensive)
προσευχόμεθαwe prayPres Mid Indic 1 Pl · προσεύχομαιmain verb→ customary presentπροσεύχομαι: 'pray'; the general verb for prayer to God, here Paul's habitual intercession.
πάντοτεalwaysadverb (frequency)πάντοτε: 'always'; the constancy of the prayer, echoing the πάντοτε of v.3.
περὶforpreposition + genitive (reference)
ὑμῶνyouGenitiveobject of περί
ἵναthatconjunction (content of the prayer)ἵνα: 'that'; here introducing the content/object of the praying rather than strict purpose.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativedirect object (of ἀξιώσῃ)
ἀξιώσῃmay count worthyAor Act Subj 3 Sg · ἀξιόωsubjunctive (ἵνα clause)→ constative aoristἀξιόω: 'deem/count worthy, make worthy' (cf. καταξιόω, v.5); God renders them fit for what they are called to.
τῆςtheGenitivearticle
κλήσεωςcallingGenitivegenitive (of which they are deemed worthy)κλῆσις: 'call, calling' (from καλέω); the divine summons into salvation and the kingdom (v.5).
ὁtheNominativearticle
θεὸςGodNominativesubject (of ἀξιώσῃ / πληρώσῃ)
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
πληρώσῃmay fulfillAor Act Subj 3 Sg · πληρόωsubjunctive (coordinate ἵνα clause)→ constative aoristπληρόω: 'fill, fulfill, complete, bring to fruition'; God carries their good intentions and works through to completion.
πᾶσανeveryAccusativeattributive adjective
εὐδοκίανresolve/good pleasureAccusativedirect object (of πληρώσῃ)εὐδοκία: 'good pleasure, good will, resolve' (εὖ + δοκέω); here the good purpose/desire God brings to completion.
ἀγαθωσύνηςof goodnessGenitivegenitive of content/qualityἀγαθωσύνη: 'goodness, generosity' (a biblical-Greek formation); the moral excellence the resolve aims at.
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ἔργονworkAccusativedirect object (coordinate, of πληρώσῃ)ἔργον: 'work, deed'; faith's active outworking — the concrete labor that faith produces (cf. 1 Thess 1:3).
πίστεωςof faithGenitivegenitive of source (work produced by faith)πίστις: 'faith'; 'work of faith' = the activity that springs from and expresses their trust.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (means/manner)
δυνάμειpowerDativedat. of means (the agency of fulfillment)δύναμις: 'power'; God accomplishes this 'in/by power' — the divine enabling, not human effort alone.
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ὅπως ἐνδοξασθῇ τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ ἐν ὑμῖν, καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐν αὐτῷ, κατὰ τὴν χάριν τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν καὶ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.
so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The final goal of the prayer: a reciprocal glorification — the Lord's name glorified in them, and they in him — the whole grounded in and measured by divine grace.
Word-by-word analysis· 24 words
ὅπωςso thatconjunction (purpose)ὅπως: 'so that, in order that'; introduces the ultimate aim of God's fulfilling work in v.11.
ἐνδοξασθῇmay be glorifiedAor Pass Subj 3 Sg · ἐνδοξάζομαιsubjunctive (purpose clause)→ constative aoristἐνδοξάζομαι: 'be glorified in' (cf. v.10); the Lord's name receives glory through the transformed community.
τὸtheNominativearticle
ὄνομαnameNominativesubject (of ἐνδοξασθῇ)ὄνομα: 'name'; the 'name' stands for the person and renown of the Lord — what is honored or dishonored.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle
κυρίουLordGenitivepossessive genitive (whose name)κύριος: 'Lord'; the name to be glorified is that of 'our Lord Jesus.'
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
ἸησοῦJesusGenitiveapposition to κυρίου
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)
ὑμῖνyouDativeobject of ἐν (locus of glorification)
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject (of an implied ἐνδοξασθῆτε)ὑμεῖς: 'you'; the emphatic pronoun in the reciprocal half — 'and you (be glorified) in him.'
ἐνinpreposition + dative (sphere)
αὐτῷhimDativeobject of ἐν
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (standard/norm)
τὴνtheAccusativearticle
χάρινgraceAccusativeobject of κατά (the measuring norm)χάρις: 'grace'; the whole reciprocal glory is 'according to' — grounded in and proportioned by — God's grace.
τοῦofGenitivearticle
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive of sourceθεός: God; the grace's source — 'our God.'
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship
καὶandcoordinating conjunction
κυρίουthe LordGenitivegenitive of source (coordinate)κύριος: 'Lord'; God and the Lord Jesus Christ named together as the single source of grace — framing the chapter with v.2.
ἸησοῦJesusGenitiveapposition to κυρίου
ΧριστοῦChristGenitiveapposition