11– 13. ‘ But after all is said and done, it is to God that we must look for the success of our efforts. May He open up our way to return to you. And in any case, whatever may be the Divine pleasure with regard to us, may the Lord Jesus grant you an increasing and overflowing love not only towards one another but towards all men, after the measure of the love which we on our part are displaying towards you. It is our earnest prayer indeed that this love may be the means of so inwardly strengthening your hearts that your lives may show themselves free from reproach and holy in the sight of the all-seeing God, when the Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones.’ 11. Αὐτὸςδέ] There is no need to seek any definite contrast for the emphatically placed αὐτός either in δεόμενοι (v. 10) or in Satan who had hitherto been blocking their path (2:18). It arises simply from the writers’ constant habit of referring everything in the last instance to the direct agency of God, ‘ Now may God Himself …’ : see Intr. p. 65, and for the apparent weakening of αὐτὸςὁ in Hellen. Gk. see Moulton Prolegg. p. 91. καὶὁκύριοςἡμῶνκτλ.] For the close union of ὁκύρ. Ἰης. (Add. Note D) with ὁθεόςκτλ. followed by a verb in the sing. see Intr. p. 66. κατευθύναι ‘ make straight’ rather than ‘ direct’ (Vg. dirigat), in accordance with the original meaning of the word, and the removal of the obstacles (ἐνέκοψεν, 2:18 note) here prayed for. The verb occurs elsewhere in the N.T. only in a metaphorical sense (2 Thessalonians 3:5, Luke 1:79), and for a similar use in the LXX. see 1 Chronicles 29:18, 2 Chronicles 19:3, Psalms 36. (37.) 23 παρὰΚυρίουτὰδιαβήματαἀνθρώπουκατευθύνεται. The opt. κατευθύναι (WSchm. p. 114) is here used without ἄν to express a wish as frequently in these Epp., 3:12, 5:23, 2 Thessalonians 2:17; 2 Thessalonians 3:5; 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (Burton §§ 175, 176).