ollowing the original, the R.V. refers
definitely to what has preceded. The whole context is a reason for the
prayer which now follows.

The _Triumphant Future_ is part of the reason of his prayer. "When He
shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be marvelled at in all
them that believe in that day." The Apostle looks forward to "the crowning
day" that is coming, and bases upon this glorious hope the prayer that
follows.

The _Testing Present_ is another part of the reason for this prayer. The
Church of Thessalonica was suffering persecutions and afflictions, and was
passing through the fire of testing (vers. 4-7); and it was this
fact--their then-existing severe experiences--that prompted the Apostle to
pray for them, as well as to express the hope concerning their deliverance
from the furnace of affliction.

Thus present and future are blended in his thought, and form the ground or
reason of his intercession.

2. THE NATURE OF THE PRAYER.

Two elements sum up this beautiful prayer.

He asks for the _Divine Approval_ on their life: "That God may count you
worthy of your calling." God's "calling" is His summons into His kingdom.
The kingdom may be regarded both as present and future. In the Gospels it
would seem as though the "calling" were limited to His invitation or
appeal, while in the Epistles it appears to include the believer's
response to the call. For this reason it is sometimes spoken of as God's
"calling," and at others, as in this case, as "your calling." The thought
of a Divine calling responded to by the believer is prominent in the
teaching of St. Paul, and should be carefully studied. Even in these
Epistles to the Thessalonians, the idea is frequently found (1 Thess. ii.
12, iv. 7, v. 24; 2 Thess. ii. 14).

"Count you worthy" is a notable phrase repeated from verse 5: "Counted
worthy of the kingdom of God." Seven times this verb is used by St. Paul.
As we ponder it we catch something of the wondrous glory of our life as
contemplated by the King of Kings. Surely, it may be said, the believer
can never be "worthy"; and this is true if he is considered in himself.
But just as it is with justification, which means "accounted just," so
with sanctification--by the unspeakable grace of God we are actually
"counted worthy." Hooker's well-known words about justification may be
quoted in this connection as illustrating the thought of worthiness in
sanctification. "God doth justify the believing