1 Thessalonians 2:12
in 1 Thessalonians 2encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
to the end that ye should walk worthily of God, who calleth you into his own kingdom and glory.
KJV
That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
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This verse in 1 Thessalonians 2
Commentary
13 notes on this verseThat ye would walk worthy of God - That they should, in every respect, act up to their high calling, that it would not be a reproach to the God of holiness to acknowledge them as his sons and daughters. See the notes on Eph 4:1; Php 1:27 (note); and Col 1:10 (note). His Kingdom and glory - His Church here, for that is the kingdom of God among men; and his glory hereafter, for that is the state to which the dispensations of grace in his Church lead.
This site's exposition
as a father treats his own children
on 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12
The nursing mother of verse 7 is joined by a father: we treated each of you as a father treats his own children. Each of you makes the care personal, given one by one.
This site's exposition
who calls you into His own kingdom and glory
Calls is present tense, the reading of some of the oldest manuscripts where others read called, as Jamieson, Fausset and Brown record. The call is still sounding while they walk. Matthew Henry reads kingdom and glory as grace now and glory hereafter, the way and its end.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
For it is our duty so to walk in the Lord's discipline as is "worthy," not according to the filthy concupiscences of the flesh.
"As ye know how we exhorted and comforted each one of you, as a father doth his own children." Above having spoken of his behavior here he speaks of his love, which was more than what belonged to his rule over them. And what is said marks his freedom from pride. "As a father his own children, exhorting you, and encouraging you, and testifying, to the end that ye should walk worthily of God, who calleth you into His own kingdom and glory." When he says, "and testifying," then he makes mention of "fathers"; although we testified, it was not violently, but like fathers. "Each one of you." Strange! in so great a multitude to omit no one, neither small nor great, neither rich nor poor. "Exhorting" you, he says; to bear. "And comforting and testifying." "Exhorting," therefore they did not seek glory; and "testifying," therefore they did not flatter. "That ye should walk worthily of God, who calleth you into His own kingdom and glory." Observe again, how, in relating, he both teaches and comforts. For if He hath called them unto His kingdom, if He called them unto glory, they ought to endure all things. We "entreat" you, not that you should grant us any favor, but that you should gain the kingdom of heaven.
For what could happen to me more desirable and more joyful than to be now close to you, that you might embrace me with those hands, which, pure and innocent, and maintaining the faith of the Lord, have rejected the profane obedience? What more pleasant and sublime than now to kiss your lips, which with a glorious voice have confessed the Lord, to be looked upon even in presence by your eyes, which, despising the world, have become worthy
The Medieval Church2 voices
It is remarkable how he left no one without consolation, but said to each one what was needed! They "exhorted" them to endure all things courageously. Therefore, he says, I did not seek glory. Above, the apostle likened himself to a nurse; now he likens …
And what were you told? To lead a life worthy of God, that is, that your conduct should be such that it might reflect favorably on the ministers of Christ. "To lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him" (Col. 1:10). Who …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
What is our great gospel privilege--that God has called us to his kingdom and glory. The gospel calls us into the kingdom and state of grace here and unto the kingdom and state of glory hereafter, to heaven and happiness as our end and to holiness as the way to that end.
That ye would walk worthy of God,....
As my beloved sons, I warn you, 1 Cor. iv. The manner of this apostle's exhortation ought to be regarded by ministers in particular for their imitation, and the matter of it is greatly to be regarded by them and all others; namely, that they would walk worthy of God, who hath called them to his kingdom and glory,
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Inconsistency would cause God's name to be "blasphemed among the Gentiles" (Ro 2:24). The Greek article is emphatical, "Worthy of THE God who is calling you." hath called--So one of the oldest manuscripts and Vulgate. Other oldest manuscripts, "Who calleth us." his kingdom--to be set up at the Lord's coming. glory--that ye may share His glory (Joh 17:22;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
That ye would walk worthy of God ... - That you would live in such a manner as would honor God, who has chosen you to be his friends; notes, Eph 4:1. A child “walks worthy of a parent” when he lives in such way as to reflect honor on that parent for the method in which he has trained him; when he so lives as to bring no disgrace on him, so as not to pain his heart by misconduct, or so as to give no occasion to any to speak reproachfully of him. This he does, when: (1) He keeps all his commands; (2) When he leads a life of purity and virtue; (3) When he carries out the principles of the family into his own life; (4) When he honors a father by evincing a profound respect for his opinions; and, (5) When he endeavors to provide for his comfort and to promote his welfare. In a manner similar to this, a true Christian honors God. He lives so as not to bring a reproach upon him or his cause, and so as to teach the world to honor him who has bestowed such grace upon him. Who hath called you - See the notes at 1Co 1:9.
The words behind it
16 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| εἰς | eis | [12] unto | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| περιπατεῖν | peripatein | to walk | G4043 → | 94 times |
| ὑμᾶς | humas | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἀξίως | axios | worthily | G516 → | |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ | theou | of God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| τοῦ | tou | who | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| καλοῦντος | kalountos | is calling | G2564 → | 147 times |
| ὑμᾶς | humas | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| εἰς | eis | to | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἑαυτοῦ | he'autou | His own | G1438 → | 322 times |
| βασιλείαν | basileian | kingdom | G932 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| δόξαν.¶ | doxan | glory. | G1391 → | 165 times |
εἰς[12] unto
eisG1519 →1755 times
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
περιπατεῖνto walk
peripateinG4043 →94 times
ὑμᾶςyou
humasG4771 →2973 times
ἀξίωςworthily
axiosG516 →
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦof God
theouG2316 →1312 times
τοῦwho
touG3588 →19766 times
καλοῦντοςis calling
kalountosG2564 →147 times
ὑμᾶςyou
humasG4771 →2973 times
εἰςto
eisG1519 →1755 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
ἑαυτοῦHis own
he'autouG1438 →322 times
βασιλείανkingdom
basileianG932 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
δόξαν.¶glory.
doxanG1391 →165 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ephesians 4:1As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received:
it leads to
- Colossians 1:10
so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
- Philippians 1:27
Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm…
- 1 Thessalonians 4:1–2
Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live in a way that is pleasing to God, just as you have received from us. This is how you already live,…
- Colossians 1:10
Through
1 John 2:6Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 2:21
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:
- John 13:15
I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you.
- 1 Corinthians 11:1
You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.
- John 15:4–6
Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.
- 1 John 3:6
No one who remains in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him or known Him.
- 1 Peter 2:21
About 1 Thessalonians
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Cyprian, Epistle LXXX; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Thessalonians 3; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Tertullian, On Exhortation to Chastity; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Thessalonians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Thessalonians.