2 Thessalonians 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which has loved us… I. WHAT IT INCLUDES. 1. A serious, believing, habitual regard to a future state as represented in the Bible. No atheist denying God or deist rejecting the Scriptures can have it. 2. Preparatory to this hope there must be a humbling conviction of sin, and our danger and helplessness, for the good hope implies deliverance therefrom. Those can know nothing of hope who have known nothing of fear. 3. It implies an acquaintance with the gospel (Colossians 1:23) for it is derived from gospel promises, and is connected with gospel faith. 4. The term "good" distinguishes it from every other kind of hope (Job 8:13, 14; Job 27:8; Proverbs 8:32). II. WHY IT IS CALLED A GOOD HOPE. 1. Its object is good — not worldly honour, filthy lucre, sensual delight, but the pure, spiritual, exalted felicities of the heavenly world. 2. Its foundation is good — not the stumbling stone of human merit, but the adamant rock of Divine love. 3. Its effect is good. The man who has it is the better as well as the happier for it (1 John 3:3; Psalm 119:166). (G. Burder.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, |
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