Whereunto. — From the neuter gender of the relative in the Greek we see that the antecedent in St. Paul’s mind is not exactly “belief of truth,” nor exactly “sanctification of spirit,” nor yet exactly “salvation,” but the general state of life which is compounded of these three notions — “to which thing He called you.” The election or choice takes place in eternity (2 Thessalonians 2:13); the call at that point of time when the men first hear the gospel. (See Romans 8:30.)
By our gospel — i.e., of course, “by our bringing you the happy message” — the historical delivery of the message is dwelt on rather than its contents.
To the obtaining of the glory of our Lord. — Almost all the ancient commentators render it, “for obtaining of glory to our Lord;” and St. Chrysostom says, beautifully:” No small thing this either, if Christ esteems our salvation His glory. It is, indeed, a glory to the lover of men that the number of those who are being saved should be large.” But this version is not so easy grammatically as our own, nor does it suit so well with the context. St. Paul is encouraging his readers with the same thought of their destiny which he has put forward in 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 — the identity of the joy of the Redeemer and the redeemed (Matthew 25:23). It is well to be observed that God did not call them straight “to the glory of our Lord,” but “to the obtaining” of the same. This “obtaining” does not mean an otiose receiving of glory in the last day, but a laborious course of “earning” or “purchasing” it during this life. The word is the same as that used in 1 Thessalonians 5:9, where see Note.