2 Thessalonians 2:16
Αὐτὸς δὲ ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς καὶ ὁ Θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ ἡμῶν, ὁ ἀγαπήσας ἡμᾶς καὶ δοὺς παράκλησιν αἰωνίαν καὶ ἐλπίδα ἀγαθὴν ἐν χάριτι,
Literal English Translation
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and gave eternal encouragement and good hope in grace,
Dual Subject, Singular Blessing
The double subject—ὁ Κύριος… καὶ ὁ Θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ ἡμῶν—unites Christ and the Father as the source of blessing. The word order gives prominence to αὐτὸς (“he himself”) for emphasis. The singular verb in the next verse (v. 17) governs both, implying unity of action. This syntactic construction mirrors Classical Greek joint subject formulas found in dedications or treaties, but here applied theologically.
Attributive Participle Phrases
ὁ ἀγαπήσας ἡμᾶς – Aorist active participle of ἀγαπάω, “the one who loved us.” This simple but profound phrase attributes initiating love to God—perfectly Johannine and Pauline in character.
δοὺς παράκλησιν αἰωνίαν καὶ ἐλπίδα ἀγαθὴν ἐν χάριτι – δοὺς is the aorist active participle of δίδωμι, “the one who gave.” The objects of the giving are:
- παράκλησιν αἰωνίαν – “eternal encouragement.” παράκλησις is used for both comfort and exhortation. The adjective αἰωνίαν (“eternal”) qualifies it as divine and enduring.
- ἐλπίδα ἀγαθὴν – “good hope.” Not just wishful optimism, but a moral and salvific assurance. ἀγαθή (“good”) gives it ethical weight.
ἐν χάριτι – “in grace.” The prepositional phrase indicates the means or sphere of this gift. The Classical usage of χάρις (favor, charm, thanks) here becomes a fully theological concept—unmerited divine generosity.
Structural Overview
| Greek Phrase | Form | Meaning | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Αὐτὸς… καὶ ὁ Θεὸς καὶ πατὴρ | Coordinated subjects | Jesus and the Father | Joint source of blessing |
| ὁ ἀγαπήσας ἡμᾶς | Aorist participle | The one who loved us | Divine past initiative |
| δοὺς παράκλησιν… ἐλπίδα | Aorist participle | The one who gave encouragement and hope | Describes divine gifts |
| ἐν χάριτι | Prepositional phrase | In/by grace | Grounding of all divine action |
Closing Insight
The grammar is formal, but the tone is intimate and pastoral. Coordinated subjects, participial elaboration, and measured vocabulary all work together to construct a theological doxology. This sentence quietly affirms Trinitarian unity, past love, present encouragement, and future hope—rooted entirely in divine grace.
