2 Thessalonians 1:11 ~ A Correct Translation?

Quasiblogo · Sunday at 5:51 AM

Your help, please, concerning which English translations most closely fit the Koine Greek text of 2 Thessalonians 1:11. Some examples of what I'm reading online; what I bold are the words which I ponder:

Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power (NKJV)

and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power (ESV)

I started to question which "direction to go" when reading this verse in the ESV. I was about to make a blog post citing the importance of personal zeal ("resolve") mixed with faith. However, when I looked at the NKJV, that "resolve" is instead rendered as a "pleasure" proceeding from God.

I looked at the Interlinear, but I'm unsure how to parse the meaning/intent.

My conviction, I should say, is that if the NKJV is the best way to translate, then it stands to reason that since we are being conformed to the Image of Messiah Jesus, His pleasure that He takes in goodness stemming from holiness becomes, and should continue to be, ours.

Postscript: a little after posted the above, I was reminded of how the NKJV and the ESV come to clash again over good/goodness/the Lord's pleasure, when it comes to Luke 2:14 (bold texts are mine):

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (NKJV)

“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased! (ESV)

Clare73 · Sunday at 11:36 AM

Quasiblogo said:
Your help, please, concerning which English translations most closely fit the Koine Greek text of 2 Thessalonians 1:11. Some examples of what I'm reading online; what I bold are the words which I ponder:
Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power (NKJV)
and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power (ESV)

I started to question which "direction to go" when reading this verse in the ESV. I was about to make a blog post citing the importance of personal zeal ("resolve") mixed with faith. However, when I looked at the NKJV, that "resolve" is instead rendered as a "pleasure" proceeding from God.
I looked at the Interlinear, but I'm unsure how to parse the meaning/intent.

2 Th 1:11 - "For which indeed we pray always concerning you, in order that the God of us may deem you worthy of the calling and may fulfill every good pleasure of goodness and work of faith in power,"

Paul is praying that God will bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every act prompted by faith which God initates.

Quasiblogo said:
My conviction, I should say, is that if the NKJV is the best way to translate, then it stands to reason that since we are being conformed to the Image of Messiah Jesus, His pleasure that He takes in goodness stemming from holiness becomes, and should continue to be, ours.

Postscript: a little after posted the above, I was reminded of how the NKJV and the ESV come to clash again over good/goodness/the Lord's pleasure, when it comes to Luke 2:14 (bold texts are mine):

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (NKJV)

“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased! (ESV)

ViaCrucis · Tuesday at 5:58 PM

Quasiblogo said:
Your help, please, concerning which English translations most closely fit the Koine Greek text of 2 Thessalonians 1:11. Some examples of what I'm reading online; what I bold are the words which I ponder:

Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power (NKJV)

and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power (ESV)

I started to question which "direction to go" when reading this verse in the ESV. I was about to make a blog post citing the importance of personal zeal ("resolve") mixed with faith. However, when I looked at the NKJV, that "resolve" is instead rendered as a "pleasure" proceeding from God.

I looked at the Interlinear, but I'm unsure how to parse the meaning/intent.

My conviction, I should say, is that if the NKJV is the best way to translate, then it stands to reason that since we are being conformed to the Image of Messiah Jesus, His pleasure that He takes in goodness stemming from holiness becomes, and should continue to be, ours.

Postscript: a little after posted the above, I was reminded of how the NKJV and the ESV come to clash again over good/goodness/the Lord's pleasure, when it comes to Luke 2:14 (bold texts are mine):

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (NKJV)

“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased! (ESV)

The word eudokia combines the Greek prefix eu meaning "good" and dokeo meaning "to seem". The word indicates a good or favorable opinion. In reference to God it is God's favorable disposition toward us out of His grace and love; and God's good purposes toward us and His work of redemption and working to bring things about toward His desired ends in Christ.

That is why in the angelic herald concerning Christ's birth there is peace and eudokia toward all men; because the Messiah is born there is Gospel--Good News--to the world. A proclamation of God's favor toward mankind, not on the basis of mankind's own moral ability but rather out of God's own love toward us, which is made evident in the giving of His Son, in the giving of Christ to us. So the birth of the Messiah is Good News, of peace, of God's own goodwill toward us.

That is why it is God's goodwill, His own gracious disposition toward us--His will and eudokia--that He should have chosen us, loved us, called us, and to bring all things toward His own intended purposes through Jesus (c.f. Ephesians 1:9 and surrounding context).

So eudokia can mean pleasure, in the sense of being favorable toward, or taking delight in; that it is God's own good intention, His own good will, His own good purpose and designs toward us and all creation, etc.

-CryptoLutheran

com7fy8 · 2025-08-27T13:26:54-0500

Quasiblogo said:
I looked at the Interlinear, but I'm unsure how to parse the meaning/intent.

Well well . . . I just viewed a few translations of this verse, and yes it seems some make it about what God desires, while others bring out prayer that He will do the good things we hope for.

For starters . . . it can mean the same thing, either way. After all, if God has good He desires for us, yes it is good for Paul to pray this for us. And . . . "of course" . . . if we desire what God desires . . . praying for what we want is the same as praying for what God wants . . . if we want what God wants!

So . . . either way of translating can mean the same thing.

So . . . now let me look at an interlinear >

It seems Paul prays that God will fulfill every good pleasure. Every pleasure that is good,

***pleasing to God Himself***

. . . is what Paul means, here, I would say . . .

This would mean whatsoever God Himself in His so great goodness can desire and do; and this good is so more and better than we now can hope and think and desire. But as God shares with us His own good, and we grow in this sharing with God, then we become more and more able to discover all so better than we could have hoped while less mature. However, He changes our character so we become more and more able to share with Him in His own love where all His good is.

And this includes how God changes us to become all-loving and sharing and caring as His family, the way His love is > this is included in the good pleasure which so pleases God Himself.

But is this what has our attention, all through the day and in our praying???? May be, "not quite" > so, in case ones translate this verse to mean what we ourselves are now capable of desiring . . . this can be limiting, away from all which God is capable of pleasing and doing.

So, I would favor, most of all, how this scripture can mean all that is possible with God. And we have Jesus Christ "who also makes intercession for us" > in Romans 8:34 > praying for us according to His own faith, not limited to how we might be able to wish and want and pray. Plus, the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us > Romans 8:29.

So, I see how Paul is praying for God to take us beyond how we can now think and want and pray.

Quasiblogo · 2025-08-28T16:34:14-0500

com7fy8 said:
Well well . . . I just viewed a few translations of this verse, and yes it seems some make it about what God desires, while others bring out prayer that He will do the good things we hope for.

For starters . . . it can mean the same thing, either way. After all, if God has good He desires for us, yes it is good for Paul to pray this for us. And . . . "of course" . . . if we desire what God desires . . . praying for what we want is the same as praying for what God wants . . . if we want what God wants! So . . . either way of translating can mean the same thing.

So . . . now let me look at an interlinear >

It seems Paul prays that God will fulfill every good pleasure. Every pleasure that is good,

***pleasing to God Himself***

. . . is what Paul means, here, I would say . . .

This would mean whatsoever God Himself in His so great goodness can desire and do; and this good is so more and better than we now can hope and think and desire. But as God shares with us His own good, and we grow in this sharing with God, then we become more and more able to discover all so better than we could have hoped while less mature. However, He changes our character so we become more and more able to share with Him in His own love where all His good is.

And this includes how God changes us to become all-loving and sharing and caring as His family, the way His love is > this is included in the good pleasure which so pleases God Himself.

But is this what has our attention, all through the day and in our praying???? May be, "not quite" > so, in case ones translate this verse to mean what we ourselves are now capable of desiring . . . this can be limiting, away from all which God is capable of pleasing and doing.

So, I would favor, most of all, how this scripture can mean all that is possible with God. And we have Jesus Christ "who also makes intercession for us" > in Romans 8:34 > praying for us according to His own faith, not limited to how we might be able to wish and want and pray. Plus, the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us > Romans 8:29.

So, I see how Paul is praying for God to take us beyond how we can now think and want and pray.

Well thought out, com!

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2 Thessalonians 1:11 ~ A Correct Translation?

Quasiblogo

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Clare73

Blood-bought

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ViaCrucis

Confessional Lutheran

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com7fy8

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Quasiblogo

Regular Member

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