The word of the day is “chose.” Yesterday’s reading ended with Paul’s warning that the “man of lawlessness” (the Antichrist) will appear at the end of time. But he should not deceive them (vs. 9). However, now Paul reassures the believers in Thessalonica that they are not among those who will perish in delusion and unbelief. The Apostle writes, “…God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth” (13). The Greek term for “chose” is rooted in the thought of “taking something for oneself” ( #138, 8). The )emphasis is not on favoring one thing over the other. The focus is on making something one’s own. This thought appears first in…

The word of the day is “chose.”  Yesterday’s reading ended with Paul’s warning that they should not be deceived by the “man of lawlessness” (the Antichrist) who will appear at the end of time (vs. 9). However, now in 2 Thessalonians 2.13-3.5, Paul reassures the believers in Thessalonica that they will not perish in delusion and unbelief.  The apostle writes, “…God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth” (vs. 13). The Greek term for “chose” is rooted in the thought of “taking something for oneself’” (Strong’s #138, 8).  The emphasis is not on favoring one thing over the other.  But the focus is on making something one’s own.  This thought…