Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Thessalonians 2:14

14 Whereunto ‖ he called you by our gospel , to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ .

Before, the Apostle mentioned their Election, now their Calling; and are often in Scripture put together, Rom. 8.30. 2 Pet. 1.10. and are both applyed to Christ himself, Isa. 42.1.6. They are those two Soveraign Acts of God, pre-requisit to a State of Salvation. The one Eternal, the other in time; the one immanent in God, the other transient upon the Creature, and it is the first transient Act that flows from Election. And because there is an outward and inward Call mentioned in Scripture, we must here understand the Apostle of both: For [non-Latin text not transcribed] whereunto, or to which thing, mentioned in the beginning of this verse, refers to all that he said in the former verse, which is, Salvation, Sanctification, belief of the Truth, which they could not attain with a meer outward call; though they had that also: For the Apostle mentions here the Gospel, which he calls our Gospel, because preached by them, and intrusted to them, though the Original of it is from God, and the matter of it from Jesus Christ: And he puts them in mind of the great mercy they had received in their Preaching the Gospel to them, for thereby they were called into a state of Salvation; As also of the way wherein they are to obtain tis Salvation, which is through Sanctification of the Spirit, and the belief of the Truth, that they might be careful to persevere both in Faith and Holiness; and not to expect it from the Law; or the speculations of Philosophy, which some false Teachers might suggest, for as Faith comes by hearing the Gospel, Rom. 10.17. so it is that only which is the power of God to salvation, Rom. 1.16. And by this he confirms to them also their Election, because they had been thus effectually called by the Gospel: For no man can conclude his Salvation from Election, if he hath not been also thus called, which is by feeling the power of the Gospel in the heart, and yielding obedience to it in his Life.

What the Apostle before call'd Salvation, he here stiles the obtaining the Glory of our Lord Iesus Christ. A. Though in the 1 Thess. 5.9. he had there also called it obtaining Salvation, and by the same word here used in the Text: Yea the word [non-Latin text not transcribed] here rendred obtaining, sometimes signifies Salvation it self, Heb. 10. last. and which is equivalent, the purchased possession, Eph. 1.14. and it may signifie in the Text, the obtaining the glory of Christ in a way of purchase, as also by diligent endeavours after it, by way of acquisition, as the word seems to signifie. And by the glory of Christ is not meant the glory we give to him, as some would strain the words to that sence, but rather the glory we shall receive from him, which is the same which the Father hath given to him, and which he hath given to his people. Iohn 17.22. whereby they are co-heirs with him, Rom. 8.17. And so the Apostle sets forth the greatness of this Salvation, to which these Believers were called, it is to the obtaining the same glory with Christ, in kind at least; and shews their different state from those that perish, and will be damned, mentioned in the former verses, Or if we read the words, ye are called to be a peculiar people, as the Greek word is so rendered, 1 Pet. 2.9. [non-Latin text not transcribed] a peculiar people. And understand by the glory of Christ, that glory of his grace he hath manifested herein, it shews also how God hath distinguisht them from those before mentioned.