Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
Which. Your enduring tribulations is a 'token of the (future) righteous judgment of God' at Christ's coming; your present suffering for Him, and your adversaries' opposition to Him, is a pledge that then you will reign, and they perish (2 Timothy 2:12). The judgment is even now begun; but its consummation will be then. David (Psalms 73:1-14) and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 12:1-4) were perplexed at the wicked prospering and the godly suffering. But Paul, by the light of the New Testament, makes this very fact a consolation. It is a proof х endeigma (G1730)] of the future judgment, which will set to rights all present anomalies, by rewarding the now suffering saint, and punishing the persecutor. Even now 'the Judge of all the earth does right' (Genesis 18:25); for the godly are in themselves sinful, and need chastisement. What they suffer unjustly from men they suffer justly from God: they have their evil things here, that they may escape condemnation with the world, and have their good things hereafter (Luke 16:25; 1 Corinthians 11:32) (Edmunds).
That ye may be counted worthy - the purpose of God's "righteous judgment" as regards you.
For which - `in behalf of which ye are also suffering' (cf. Acts 5:41; Acts 9:16; Acts 14:22; Philippians 1:29). Though men are justified by faith, they shall be judged "according to their works" (Revelation 20:4; Revelation 20:12: cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 1 Peter 1:6-7). The "also" implies the connection between the suffering for the kingdom and being counted worthy of it (cf. Romans 8:17-18).