2 Thessalonians 1:10 forms part of Paul’s eschatological encouragement to the persecuted Thessalonian believers (vv. 5–10). The context speaks of divine justice: affliction for the oppressors and relief for the afflicted when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven (v. 7). Verse 10 shifts from judgment to glory — highlighting the revelation of Christ’s majesty “in his saints” and the astonishment he will evoke among all who believed. It is a climactic vision of eschatological hope.
Structural Analysis
ὅταν ἔλθῃ
ἐνδοξασθῆναι ἐν τοῖς ἁγίοις αὐτοῦ
καὶ θαυμασθῆναι ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς πιστεύσασιν,
ὅτι ἐπιστεύθη τὸ μαρτύριον ἡμῶν ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς,
ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ.
The sentence hinges on the temporal conjunction ὅταν (“when”), followed by two coordinated purpose/result infinitives: ἐνδοξασθῆναι and θαυμασθῆναι. The subject is implicit: the Lord Jesus. The clause ὅτι ἐπιστεύθη… gives the reason why the believers will marvel — because they received and trusted the gospel.
Semantic Nuances
ὅταν ἔλθῃ — “when he comes” — aorist subjunctive of ἔρχομαι in a future-projection clause. It introduces the eschatological moment of the Lord’s return.
ἐνδοξασθῆναι — aorist passive infinitive of ἐνδοξάζομαι, meaning “to be glorified.” The passive voice implies that Christ receives glory. The prepositional phrase ἐν τοῖς ἁγίοις αὐτοῦ — “in his saints” — indicates the sphere or medium of this glorification. His people become the stage upon which his glory is displayed.
θαυμασθῆναι — aorist passive infinitive of θαυμάζω, “to be marveled at,” “to be wondered at.” Again, passive voice: others will marvel at Christ. The location of this marveling is ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς πιστεύσασιν — “among all those who believed.”
ὅτι ἐπιστεύθη τὸ μαρτύριον ἡμῶν ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς — “because our testimony to you was believed.” The verb ἐπιστεύθη (aorist passive) emphasizes that the gospel message was received. τὸ μαρτύριον ἡμῶν refers to Paul’s apostolic witness. ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς indicates direction — “upon you,” meaning “toward you,” i.e., directed to the Thessalonians.
ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ — “on that day” — standard eschatological language for the Day of the Lord.
Syntactical Insight
The ὅταν…ἔλθῃ clause governs the timing of the two infinitives ἐνδοξασθῆναι and θαυμασθῆναι. This construction is syntactically elegant: it suspends the moment of final glory in a temporal future. The parallel structure with ἐν…ἐν shows a deliberate rhetorical balance.
The reason clause ὅτι ἐπιστεύθη… explains why these believers will participate in the eschatological marveling — they responded to the apostolic witness. The whole verse culminates with ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, providing both dramatic closure and theological climax.
Historical and Cultural Background
In Greco-Roman thought, glory (doxa) was often external — honor received from others. Paul reorients this: Christ is glorified not by worldly acclaim, but through his sanctified people. The idea of a divine figure being “marveled at” also contrasts with pagan spectacle — here it is grounded in relationship and recognition by those who believed.
For a persecuted church like Thessalonica’s, this verse offers hope: their suffering will give way to glory — not only Christ’s, but shared glorification “in” them.
Intertextuality
- Isaiah 49:3: “You are my servant… in whom I will be glorified.” — Christ is glorified in his people.
- John 17:10: “I am glorified in them.” — Jesus speaks of the disciples.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:7–9: Preceding verses about judgment and fiery vengeance — setting the contrast for this glorious appearing.
Hermeneutical Reflection
2 Thessalonians 1:10 reveals the future hope of believers not only to see Christ but to be part of the revelation of his glory. The Greek grammar emphasizes passive awe (θαυμασθῆναι) and reflected radiance (ἐνδοξασθῆναι ἐν τοῖς ἁγίοις). The Christian life is thus not only about believing a message — it is about being transformed into a mirror of Christ’s glory, a marvel to the world when he appears.
The Day Glory Becomes Visible
The Greek of 2 Thessalonians 1:10 pulses with eschatological hope. The Lord ἔλθῃ not only to judge, but ἐνδοξασθῆναι — to be glorified in his people. And not only glorified — θαυμασθῆναι — to be the subject of stunned wonder. And why? Because τὸ μαρτύριον was believed. The gospel was not ignored. On that day, the glory of Christ will shine through every believing face — and every witness will have been worth it.
