2 Thessalonians 2:16–17, King James Version
Italic words were supplied in the English translation for clarity.
2 Thessalonians 2:16–17
Grace-Given Hope Becomes Steady Word and Work
Comfort already given by grace is asked to steady every good word and work
Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace. Jesus and the Father are addressed together as the givers. Love, lasting comfort, and good hope are already in hand, and the means is grace — not a new panic, not a completed timeline, and not a tougher mood.
Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. The prayer turns received hope into present stability. Hearts need comfort; speech and labor need to be established. The letter will soon talk about idle meddling and quiet work. This sentence gets there first by asking God to make good words and good works firm, not frantic.
How this should shape us
Ask God to use the comfort you already have to make one true sentence and one faithful task steady this week. Do not wait for the times to feel less loud before you speak well and work well.
Teach it back
Explain 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 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 discuss the force of singular verbs following the two named subjects and the exact attachment of 'by grace.' The clear point is coordinated divine action: love and grace provide enduring comfort and hope, and the prayer seeks stable goodness in word and deed.
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 2:16–17.
eBible/CrossWire eng-kjv2006 USFM, source files dated 2026-08-19, 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17; 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 2:16–17.
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 16–17; 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 16–17.
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 2:16–17.
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 2:16–17.
Exact location: eBible/CrossWire eng-kjv2006 USFM, source files dated 2026-08-19, 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17; 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 2:16–17.
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 16–17; 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 16–17.
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 2:16–17.
Open source ↗