εἰς ὃ καὶ προσευχόμεθα πάντοτε περὶ ὑμῶν, ἵνα ὑμᾶς ἀξιώσῃ τῆς κλήσεως ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν καὶ πληρώσῃ πᾶσαν εὐδοκίαν ἀγαθωσύνης καὶ ἔργον πίστεως ἐν δυνάμει, (2 Thessalonians 1:11)
Praying Toward God’s Purpose
This verse opens a Pauline prayer marked by hopeful intercession and spiritual intention. Paul’s grammar weaves purpose, desire, and divine agency together with subjunctive verbs, infinitive logic, and abstract nouns that embody virtue. The structure frames a powerful theology: God is the one who makes His people worthy and enables them to act in faith and goodness—with power.
εἰς ὃ καὶ προσευχόμεθα πάντοτε περὶ ὑμῶν – For This We Also Always Pray Concerning You
- εἰς ὃ – prepositional phrase meaning “for this purpose” or “for this end,” with ὃ referring back to the hope of glorification (v.10)
- καὶ προσευχόμεθα – present middle indicative, 1st person plural from προσεύχομαι, “we pray”
- πάντοτε – adverb, “always”
- περὶ ὑμῶν – “concerning you” (genitive of reference)
This is the grounding clause—Paul continually prays with this theological hope in mind. The present tense emphasizes ongoing spiritual labor.
ἵνα ὑμᾶς ἀξιώσῃ τῆς κλήσεως ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν – That Our God May Make You Worthy of the Calling
- ἵνα – introduces a purpose clause, meaning “so that”
- ὑμᾶς – accusative plural, the object of the verbs ἀξιώσῃ and πληρώσῃ
- ἀξιώσῃ – aorist active subjunctive, 3rd singular from ἀξιόω, “to deem worthy, to make worthy”
- τῆς κλήσεως – genitive singular from κλῆσις, “calling”
- ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν – “our God,” the subject of the verb
The aorist subjunctive shows purpose or result that Paul prays for. The phrase does not imply self-worthiness, but rather that God enables believers to walk in a manner worthy of the divine call they’ve received.
καὶ πληρώσῃ πᾶσαν εὐδοκίαν ἀγαθωσύνης – And Fulfill Every Good-Pleasure of Goodness
- πληρώσῃ – aorist active subjunctive, 3rd singular from πληρόω, “to fulfill, to complete”
- πᾶσαν εὐδοκίαν – “every good-pleasure” (or “delightful intention”)
- ἀγαθωσύνης – genitive singular from ἀγαθωσύνη, “goodness,” modifying εὐδοκίαν
This phrase is abstract but profound: it speaks of God completing in the believer every good-willed desire rooted in moral goodness. The abstract genitive ἀγαθωσύνης acts like a genitive of quality.
καὶ ἔργον πίστεως ἐν δυνάμει – And Work of Faith in Power
- ἔργον – accusative singular, “work, deed”
- πίστεως – genitive singular, “of faith” (subjective genitive)
- ἐν δυνάμει – prepositional phrase, “in power” (likely referring to God’s power)
This is the final object of the verb πληρώσῃ: not only desires, but also actions of faith—deeds which flow from belief and are empowered not by human strength, but divine power.
Syntax Summary Table
| Greek Phrase | Grammatical Role | Meaning | Spiritual Insight |
|---|---|---|---|
| εἰς ὃ προσευχόμεθα… | Prepositional phrase + present verb | Continual prayer focus | Persistent intercession rooted in hope |
| ἵνα ὑμᾶς ἀξιώσῃ… | Purpose clause + aorist subjunctive | May God deem you worthy | God enables worthiness—not self-achievement |
| πληρώσῃ πᾶσαν εὐδοκίαν ἀγαθωσύνης | Aorist subjunctive + abstract noun | Fulfill holy desires | God completes even our inner intentions |
| ἔργον πίστεως ἐν δυνάμει | Accusative phrase + prep | Faith-driven action in divine power | True obedience is faith expressed through God’s strength |
Praying for Divine Fulfillment
Paul’s Greek grammar in this verse is not passive—it is petition shaped by deep theology. He doesn’t merely wish Timothy and others well; he intercedes for God to actively transform them. The subjunctives are loaded with divine initiative. The infinitive and participles establish purpose and motive. In all of it, the agent of sanctification is God Himself.
This is how the early church prayed—not for success, but for transformation that made believers worthy of their calling. And in that calling, God would fulfill both their desires and their deeds—in power.
