encourage your hearts
This phrase emphasizes the need for internal fortitude and comfort, especially in the face of trials and persecution. In the context of 2 Thessalonians, Paul is addressing a church that is experiencing confusion and distress due to false teachings about the Day of the Lord. The heart, in biblical terms, often represents the center of one's emotions and will. Encouragement here is akin to the comfort provided by the Holy Spirit, as seen in John 14:26, where the Spirit is described as the Comforter. This encouragement is not merely emotional but is rooted in the truth of the Gospel and the hope of Christ's return.

and strengthen you
The strengthening mentioned is both spiritual and moral, enabling believers to stand firm in their faith. This is a recurring theme in Paul's letters, as seen in Ephesians 3:16, where he prays for believers to be strengthened with power through the Spirit. The Thessalonians needed this strength to withstand false teachings and persecution. The Greek word used here for "strengthen" implies making something more firm or resolute, suggesting a divine empowerment that goes beyond human capability.

in every good word and deed
This phrase highlights the practical outworking of faith. Good words and deeds are the evidence of a life transformed by the Gospel. James 2:17 underscores that faith without works is dead, indicating that true faith manifests in action. The cultural context of the early church placed a high value on community and mutual support, which would have been expressed through acts of kindness and truth-telling. This aligns with Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:16, where believers are called to let their light shine before others through good works, glorifying the Father in heaven. The emphasis on "every" suggests a comprehensive approach to living out one's faith in all aspects of life.

1. Paul
The apostle who authored the letter to the Thessalonians, providing guidance and encouragement to the early Christian church.

2. Thessalonica
A city in Macedonia where the church was established by Paul during his second missionary journey. The Thessalonian church faced persecution and needed encouragement.

3. Silas and Timothy
Companions of Paul who were involved in the ministry to the Thessalonians and co-authors of the letter.

4. Thessalonian Church
The recipients of the letter, a group of believers who were enduring trials and needed reassurance of their faith.

5. God and Jesus Christ
The divine sources of encouragement and strength mentioned in the preceding verse, who empower believers to live out their faith.Divine Encouragement
Recognize that true encouragement comes from God, who knows our hearts and provides the comfort we need.

Strength in Action
Understand that being strengthened by God is not passive; it involves active participation in good words and deeds.

Consistency in Faith
Emphasize the importance of consistency in living out our faith through our words and actions, reflecting Christ in all we do.

Community Support
Encourage believers to support one another, as Paul did with the Thessalonians, fostering a community of mutual encouragement and strength.

Prayer for Strength
Make it a habit to pray for God’s strength in our daily lives, acknowledging our dependence on Him for every good work.(17) Comfort your hearts . . .--"Comfort," in reference to the "unending comfort" of 2Thessalonians 2:16; and "stablish," in reference to the "good hope in grace." The "heart" needs comfort as the seat of emotions. "In every good word and work" (it should be, work and word) means in the maintenance of every good doctrine (as opposed to the false teaching which had got abroad about the Advent, and to the lies of the Apostasy), and in the performance of every good practice (as opposed to the lawlessness of the Apostasy, and to the disorderly conduct of which the next chapter treats: for here, as in 1Thessalonians 3:13, the prayer forms an introduction of the next subject). The singular number of the verbs "comfort" and "stablish" (which, of course, does not appear in the English), may perhaps be explained as in 1Thessalonians 3:12, where see Note, though it is not necessary so to understand it, inasmuch as the intervening relative (in the Greek, participial) clauses have turned the whole attention to the Father, who may be considered exclusively as the grammatical subject of the verbs. It would, however, have been painful to orthodox ears; however justifiable doctrinally, to have used a plural verb. It is by these little incidental touches, still more than by express doctrinal statements, that we learn what was the real belief of the Apostles concerning the Divinity of Christ; and we may say the same with regard to many other great doctrines.

Verse 17. - Comfort your hearts, and stablish you; or, according to the best manuscripts, stablish them. namely, your hearts. These verbs are in the singular, but their nominative is our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father, thus implying the unity between these Divine Persons. In every good word and work.

Parallel Commentaries ...

encourage
παρακαλέσαι (parakalesai)
Verb - Aorist Optative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3870: From para and kaleo; to call near, i.e. Invite, invoke.

your
ὑμῶν (hymōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

hearts
καρδίας (kardias)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 2588: Prolonged from a primary kar; the heart, i.e. the thoughts or feelings; also the middle.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

strengthen [you]
στηρίξαι (stērixai)
Verb - Aorist Optative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4741: From a presumed derivative of histemi; to set fast, i.e. to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or to confirm.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

every
παντὶ (panti)
Adjective - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

good
ἀγαθῷ (agathō)
Adjective - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 18: A primary word; 'good'.

word
λόγῳ (logō)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

deed.
ἔργῳ (ergō)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2041: From a primary ergo; toil; by implication, an act.


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NT Letters: 2 Thessalonians 2:17 Comfort your hearts and establish you (2 Thess. 2 Thes. 2Th iiTh ii th)