Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Thessalonians 2:13

13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you , brethren, beloved of the Lord , because God hath from the beginning ‖ chosen you to salvation , through sanctification of the Spirit , and belief of the Truth .

The Apostle here exempts these Thessalonians out of the number of those Reprobates, that he had before spoken of, and speaks of them as such as should be preserved from Apostasie in Faith or Practise, and obtain Salvation. And this he mentions for comfort to them, and with thanksgivings to God. He had often before given thanks for them, 1 Thes. 1.2. and 2.13. and 3.9. and in the former Chapter of this Epistle ver. 3. and both here and there mentions it as a debt he was bound unto, or a duty he owed, we ought to give thanks, as in the Greek.

And here he stiles them, not only brethren, as often before, but beloved of the Lord; such as have been, and are beloved. And therefore not in the number of them that should be damned, mentioned in the former verse.

Which words are either to give the reason of the Apostles Thanksgivings; or rather all Arguments to evidence they were beloved of the Lord. And he instanceth in their Election as a proof of it. There is an Election of Office, as David to the King, 2 Sam. 6.21. and Iudas to be an Apostle, Ioh. 6.70. and Election to a visible Church, and means of Salvation; and thus the seed of Abraham were chosen, Deut. 26.18. Psal. 135.4. & 147.19, 20. and Election to Salvation, as in the Text; which is either that which follows Faith, as some understand that place, Mat. 22.14. or rather that which goes before it; said here to be from the beginning; not from the beginning of the Gospel as some say; nor from the beginning of our Preaching to you, or of your effectual Calling, as others say; no nor yet is it meant from the beginning of the World, which was the beginning of the time; or immediately upon Adam's Fall; but by beginning is here meant Eternity it self, as Election, Eph. 1.4. is said to be from before the foundation of the World, which is from Eternity. Though beginning seems to relate to time, yet the Scriptures often express Eternity by such words as relate to time. As when God is called the Ancient of dayes, Dan. 7.9. it signifies his Eternity; and Iude speaks of some that were of old ordained to condemnation, [non-Latin text not transcribed], Gods Eternal decrees being compared to a book wherein names are written, Iude 4. when was their ordaining but from Eternity? and it is Election to Salvation, compleat Salvation, which is here meant, in the full fruition of it; not in the Title to it by Faith, or the first fruits of it in Sanctification, because they are here mentioned as the means that tend to it.

Election is to the means as well as the end, as Eph. 1.4. Holiness is not the cause of Gods Election, but God hath decreed it to be the way to Salvation; without holiness none shall ever set the Lord, Heb. 12.14.

And therefore those were spoken of as persons to be damned, who believed not the Truth in the former verse. And so its evident, Election is not upon the foresight of Faith, it is through it we have Salvation, but not Election: But of this before, 1 Epist. 4. And the Apostle joyns Sanctification and Faith together for they are not and cannot be put together. Now by all this the Apostle proves they were beloved of the Lord. He saw the fruits of Election in their Sanctification and belief of the Truth, thence concludes they were Elected, and therefore loved.