2:12a

In some Greek manuscripts this part of 2:12 is part of 2:11. Some English versions, such as the Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, and God’s Word, similarly include 2:12a in 2:11. You should follow the English or national language version that is most common in your area.

encouraging you, comforting you: The two Greek verbs here, parakaleō and paramutheomai, have similar meanings. They both include the meanings “to encourage, exhort, comfort.” If you have two similar words you can use here, you should do so. Otherwise, you can use a single term.

and urging you: The Greek word marturomai, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as urging, has a different meaning from the other two verbs in this part of the verse. It means “telling someone how necessary or important it is to do a particular thing.” Here is another way to translate this in English:

insist (NET Bible)

The form of all three of these verbs in Greek (they are present participles) mean that these were actions that happened continually. Paul and his companions continued encouraging, comforting, and urging the Thessalonians.

to walk in a manner worthy of God: This means “to behave in such a way that God would be pleased that you are members of his kingdom.” Paul uses the verb walk to describe how people behave. See also 4:1a, where the Berean Standard Bible translates this word as “live.”

2:12b

who calls you into His own kingdom and glory: In Greek there is a textual problem with this part of the verse. The King James Version has followed the manuscripts that have a past tense verb here: “who hath called.” However, the best manuscripts have a present participle that the Berean Standard Bible translates with a continuous present tense who calls. It is strongly recommended that you follow these manuscripts. All other English versions also use a present tense here.

This form of the verb literally means “the one calling, the caller.” Paul used this verb form to focus on one of two things:

(1) It focuses on the fact that God is the one who calls people into his kingdom. The verb then does not have any particular time/tense. God calls new people every day.

(2) It focuses on God continuously calling the Thessalonians. He called them originally when they became Christians but went on calling them every day to new aspects of their Christian life.

It is not possible to know which of these aspects Paul was concentrating on here. In your translation you have two options:

• Use a continuous present tense, as most English versions have done: “who calls you.”

• In some languages it may be possible to use a nominal form: “the caller of you.”

calls you into: In some languages it may not be possible to say “call into something.” The UBS Handbook handbook suggests a verb such as “invite,” and the SSA suggests “summon.” It may also be necessary to include an additional verb here. Here is another way to translate this:

who calls you to share in (Good News Translation)

His own kingdom and glory: There are two ways to understand this:

(1) God called the Thessalonians to share in two things: His own kingdom and His own…glory.

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), Revised Standard Version, NET Bible, Good News Translation, God’s Word, King James Version, Revised English Bible, Contemporary English Version)

(2) This could be interpreted as a hendiadys. This means that the second noun, glory, modifies the first noun, kingdom. This would then be translated “his glorious kingdom”.

(New Century Version, SSA)

Although the structure of this part of the verse in Greek gives some support to the second option, many commentators prefer the first option. This means that God’s kingdom and his glory are two related, yet separate, things that the Thessalonians could expect to share in if they behaved in a way that was worthy of God (2:12a). It therefore is recommended that you follow the first option (1).

The expectation of sharing in God’s kingdom and glory would also be an encouragement to continue believing despite persecution. Compare with Paul’s words in Romans 8:18.

kingdom: In this context, this does not refer to a geographical region, but to God’s rule over his people. To share in God’s kingdom then means “to be the people over whom God will rule.”

glory: In this context, to share God’s glory means to share his greatness/majesty.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.