2 Thessalonians 2:13–15, King James Version
Italic words were supplied in the English translation for clarity.
2 Thessalonians 2:13–15
Beloved and Called, the Church Must Stand Firm
Beloved people are held by God's choice, the Spirit, and the truth they believed
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. Thanksgiving returns after the warning. Some Greek witnesses read 'firstfruits' rather than 'from the beginning.' Either way the church's salvation is narrated as God's action, the Spirit's consecrating work, and actual belief in the truth — not as a slur on Jewish people, and not as a secret caste.
Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. The call arrived through a public gospel, toward Jesus's glory. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. The traditions in view are the team's own spoken and written teaching, the same deposit chapter 2 has been defending against rumor. Holding them is stability. It is not a blank check for later customs, and it is not a weapon against Israel's Scriptures.
How this should shape us
Stand in the gospel you were actually taught. Do not trade it for a rumor that the day has already come, and do not use 'chosen' or 'tradition' as a way to scorn Jewish neighbors or to crown a later party line.
Teach it back
Explain 2 Thessalonians 2:13–15 in your own words. Include its place in the letter, one exact textual observation, one important uncertainty or limit, and one conclusion the unit does not permit.
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Go deeper
The explanation above is meant to stand on its own. Open these notes only if you want language, history, disagreements, or source locations.
Where careful interpreters disagreeThe strongest options and their difficulties
Where do careful interpreters disagree?
Best judgment: Interpreters debate the textual choice 'from the beginning' or 'as firstfruits,' whether 'sanctification of the Spirit' refers to the Holy Spirit or a sanctified human spirit, and how the verse relates to later election systems. The passage certainly attributes salvation to God's loving initiative, Spirit-related sanctification, belief in truth, gospel calling, and steadfast reception of apostolic teaching.
How certain? probableResearch trail and exact locationsThe source record behind this section
Supports: The exact pinned KJV wording and immediate English context for 2 Thessalonians 2:13–15.
eBible/CrossWire eng-kjv2006 USFM, source files dated 2026-08-19, 2 Thessalonians 2:13–15; archive and normalized-corpus SHA-256 values are recorded in the library policy.
Supports: The critically edited Greek wording, connective structure, lexical forms, and variation markers.
Official SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/2Thess.txt, 2 Thessalonians 2:13–15.
Supports: Material translation choices, syntax, and textual variants checked at the cited verses.
NET Bible official 2 Thessalonians PDF, chapter 2, translator, study, and textual notes attached to verses 13–15; PDF pp. 2–3.
Supports: A complete modern evangelical commentary check on literary flow, historical setting, theology, and major interpretations.
David W. Chapman, The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary, “2 Thessalonians,” Thanksgiving and Prayer (2:13–17), verses 13–15.
Supports: A modern Jewish-context and historical-critical check on authorship, apocalyptic language, persecution, judgment, ethics, and textual questions.
Adam Gregerman, “2 Thessalonians,” in The Jewish Annotated New Testament (2011 first edition), print p. 381.
Supports: A morphology and lexical-range cross-check for original-language notes.
STEP Bible Data repository, TAGNT and Greek lexical records, 2 Thessalonians 2:13–15.
Supports: A modern research synthesis on authorship, letter relations, apocalyptic reception, the lawless figure, temple, restraint, and interpretive history.
Sydney E. Tooth, “2 Thessalonians,” Codex Database of Ancient Manuscripts and Material culture, 2023, Reception and Theology sections.
Sources for This Section
These records identify the source, the claim it supports, and the exact location used. A source remains evidence to evaluate; it does not replace the biblical text.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: The exact pinned KJV wording and immediate English context for 2 Thessalonians 2:13–15.
Exact location: eBible/CrossWire eng-kjv2006 USFM, source files dated 2026-08-19, 2 Thessalonians 2:13–15; archive and normalized-corpus SHA-256 values are recorded in the library policy.
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: The critically edited Greek wording, connective structure, lexical forms, and variation markers.
Exact location: Official SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/2Thess.txt, 2 Thessalonians 2:13–15.
Open the 2 Thessalonians Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — 2 Thessalonians with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005–2026 online edition
Supports: Material translation choices, syntax, and textual variants checked at the cited verses.
Exact location: NET Bible official 2 Thessalonians PDF, chapter 2, translator, study, and textual notes attached to verses 13–15; PDF pp. 2–3.
Open NET 2 Thessalonians 2 ↗modern open commentary
2 Thessalonians
David W. Chapman
The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary, 2023
Supports: A complete modern evangelical commentary check on literary flow, historical setting, theology, and major interpretations.
Exact location: David W. Chapman, The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary, “2 Thessalonians,” Thanksgiving and Prayer (2:13–17), verses 13–15.
Open source ↗modern annotated new testament
2 Thessalonians introduction and annotations in The Jewish Annotated New Testament
Adam Gregerman; edited by Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler
Oxford University Press, 2011
Supports: A modern Jewish-context and historical-critical check on authorship, apocalyptic language, persecution, judgment, ethics, and textual questions.
Exact location: Adam Gregerman, “2 Thessalonians,” in The Jewish Annotated New Testament (2011 first edition), print p. 381.
Open source ↗Lexical and grammatical evidence
STEP Bible Data
Tyndale House Cambridge
Tyndale House Cambridge, repository snapshot verified 2026
Supports: A morphology and lexical-range cross-check for original-language notes.
Exact location: STEP Bible Data repository, TAGNT and Greek lexical records, 2 Thessalonians 2:13–15.
Open source ↗modern scholarly dictionary entry
2 Thessalonians
Sydney E. Tooth
Critical Dictionary of Apocalyptic and Millenarian Movements, 2023
Supports: A modern research synthesis on authorship, letter relations, apocalyptic reception, the lawless figure, temple, restraint, and interpretive history.
Exact location: Sydney E. Tooth, “2 Thessalonians,” Codex Database of Ancient Manuscripts and Material culture, 2023, Reception and Theology sections.
Open source ↗