2 Thessalonians 1:10

ἐπιστώθη, like the variant ἐπιστεύθη, is suggested by πιστεύουσιν (cf. a similar instance in 2 Thessalonians 3:3). The abrupt parenthesis (“you included for”) shows how Paul was thinking of the Thessalonians especially, while he depicted the bliss of the saints in general. ἐνδοξ., in one sense they were to be a credit and honour to their apostles (I., 1 Thessalonians 2:19 f.); in another, they were a glory to Christ Himself, by their ripened character a Johannine touch (cf. John 17:10, and 2 Thessalonians 1:12 of this chapter; the parallel between ἔργον πίστεως and John 6:29 is verbal). θαυμ. = to be wondered at (by whom? cf. Ezekiel 39:21; Ephesians 3:10 ?) in (i.e., by reason of, on account of) believers; for a partial parallel to the phrase see Isaiah 62:6 (καὶ ἐν τῷ πλούτῳ αὐτῶν θαυμασθήσεσθε). If ὅτι … ὑμᾶς had been meant to give the reason for θαυμασθῆναι (so Zimmer, Wohl.), Paul would probably have put God's witness instead of our witness, and expressed the idea unambiguously; the transition from the πᾶσιν to the special case of the Thessalonians becomes, on this construction, an anti-climax. The rhythmical swing of 7 b 10 suggests a reminiscence or quotation of some early Christian liturgical hymn, perhaps one of the prophetic ψαλμοί which he had heard at Corinth (1 Corinthians 14:15; 1 Corinthians 14:26).