11, 12. A characteristic reference to the writers’ constant prayers on their brethren’ s behalf. ‘ And now that all this may be brought to pass, our earnest prayer is that our God will count you worthy of the heavenly rest for which you are looking. To this end may He mightily animate you with all delight in goodness, and with a whole-hearted activity inspired by the faith you profess. Thus the full glory of the Lord Jesus will be displayed in you, as you in your turn derive your glory from Him in accordance with the gracious purposes of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.’ 11. Εἰςὅ] ‘ to which end’ with reference to the whole contents of vv. 5– 10. ἵναὑμ. ἀξιώσῃ] Ἀξιόω ‘ count worthy’ (cf. καταξιόν v. 5) occurs seven times in the N.T., and is usually associated as here with the thought of reward (e.g. 1 Timothy 5:17, Hebrews 3:3), cf. however Hebrews 10:29 ἀξιωθήσεταιτιμωρίας. The verb is frequent in the papyri in the sense of ‘ beg,’ ‘ entreat,’ e.g. P.Tebt. 28, 15 (2./b.c.) ἀξιοῦμενἐμβλέψανταεἰςτὰὑποδεδειγμένα ‘ we beg you to look into the matters indicated and …’ For ἵνα following προσεύχομαι cf. Mark 13:18; Mark 14:35; Mark 14:38, Philippians 1:9, and for its semi-final force here see the note on I. 4:1. κλήσεως] Usually in the N.T. κλῆσις is applied to the initial act of salvation as a Divine invitation (Romans 11:29, 1 Corinthians 1:26) carrying with it great responsibilities (Ephesians 4:1, 2 Peter 1:10), and that meaning is by no means impossible here in the sense that on the day of Christ’ s return the Thessalonians’ whole life may be found to have been in harmony with the call once addressed to them. There seems no reason however why the word should not be definitely extended to include the final issue of the calling, much in the sense of τῆςἄνωκλήσεως in Philippians 3:14 or κλήσεωςἐπουρανίου in Hob. 3:1: cf. the similar use of καλέω in I. 2:12, and see further Intr. p. 79. ὁθεὸςἡμῶν] For the expression cf. I. 2:2 note, and for the change from the 2nd pets. pron. (ὑμᾶς) to the 1st cf. I. 5:5b note. καὶπληρώσῃκτλ.] ‘ and may fulfil every delight in goodness and work of faith in power.’ The almost technical use of εὐδοκία in the Bibl. writings to denote the good-will of God to man (e.g. Psalms 105. (106.) 4, Luke 2:14, Ephesians 1:5; Ephesians 1:9, Philippians 2:13; cf. Pss. Sol. 8:39, Enoch 1:8 καὶτὴνεὐδοκίαν [εὐοδίαν, Charles] δώσειαὐτοῖς) has led to the translation of the A.V. ‘ all the good pleasure of his goodness’ (Beza totum suae bonitatis libitum). But if this had been intended we should have expected the art. before εὐδοκίαν, while the further considerations that ἀγαθωσύνης is never used elsewhere of God (cf. Romans 15:14, Galatians 5:22, Ephesians 5:9) and that the accompanying parallel clause κ. ἔργονπίστεως must refer to the Thessalonians are both in favour of extending εὐδοκίαν to them also. The word can then only mean the ‘ good pleasure,’ ‘ delight’ in ‘ goodness’ (ἀγαθωσύνης, gen. obj.), which it was the prayer of the Apostles that their converts might evince in full measure. For εὐδοκία (not found in class. Gk.) in this sense cf. Sir 29:23 (30), 35:14 (32:18), Pss. Sol. 16:12 εὐδοκίᾳδὲμετὰἱλαρότητοςστίρισοντὴνψυχήνμου, and see the note on εὐδοκέω I. 2:8. The corresponding subst. εὐδόκησις occurs O.G.I.S. 335, 122 (Perg.) κατὰτὴ[ντοῦδήμουἐπιταγὴνκαὶτὴνβασιλέω]ςεὐδόκησιν. ἀγαθωσύνης] Ἀγαθωσύνη a late form (WH.2 Notes p. 159, WSchm. p. 134) found only in the LXX., N.T., and writings derived from them. It is always rendered ‘ goodness’ in A.V., R.V., and ‘ represents the kindlier, as δικαιοσύνη represents the sterner element in the ideal character: comp. Romans 5:7’ (Robinson Eph. p. 200). See further Trench Syn. § 63., and cf. the valuable note on δίκαιος and ἀγαθός in Lft. Notes on Epp. of St Paul p. 286 f. For ἔργονπίστεως ‘ activity inspired by faith’ cf. I. 1:3 note. ἐνδυνάμει] an adv. adjunct to πληρώσῃ to bring out the manner of God’ s working, cf. Romans 1:4, Colossians 1:29, and the Prayer-Book collect for Monday in Easter-week: ‘ That, as by Thy special grace preventing us Thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by Thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect.’