II Thessalonians 1:10 · Bible study
2 Thessalonians 1:10 Commentary: Glorified in His Saints
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore what it means for Christ to be glorified in His saints and admired among believers at His coming, and how faith connects to future glory.
Research Summary
- Meaning: At His coming, Christ will be publicly honored through the transformed lives of the redeemed, confirming the worth of their faith.
- Key words: Endoxazomai (be glorified), passive, aorist, divine passive; thaumazomai (be admired), passive, aorist; hagioi (saints); pisteusasin (aorist participle, those who have believed).
- Main debate: Whether the en preposition is locative (glory shines within the saints) or instrumental (glory comes through the saints as the means). Both are complementary and attested in commentaries.
- Theological theme: Eschatological glory, Christ’s honour is bound to the redemption and holiness of believers; faith is the link between present witness and future wonder.
- Best use: Comfort for those suffering for the gospel; motivation for persistent faith; assurance that even now, faith is being woven into Christ’s eternal fame.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
on the day He comes to be glorified in His saints and regarded with wonder by all who have believed, including you who have believed our testimony.
WEB World English Bible 2000
when he comes in that day to be glorified in his saints and to be admired among all those who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.
KJV King James Version 1769
When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marvelled at in all them that believed (because our testimony unto you was believed) in that day.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
when He may come to be glorified in his saints, and to be wondered at in all those believing--because our testimony was believed among you--in that day;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
when he shall have come to be glorified in his saints, and wondered at in all that have believed, (for our testimony to you has been believed,) in that day.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
When he shall come to be glorified in his saints and to be made wonderful in all them who have believed; because our testimony was believed upon you in that day.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Cuando viniere para ser glorificado en sus santos, y á hacerse admirable en aquel día en todos los que creyeron: ( por cuanto nuestro testimonio ha sido creído entre vosotros.)
Quando ele vier para ser glorificado em seus santos, e naquele dia se fazer admirável em todos os que creem (porque nosso testemunho entre vós foi crido).
lorsqu’ il viendra pour être, en ce jour-là, glorifié dans ses saints et admiré dans tous ceux qui auront cru, car notre témoignage auprès de vous a été cru.
wenn er kommen wird, daß er herrlich erscheine mit seinen Heiligen und wunderbar mit allen Gläubigen; denn unser Zeugnis an euch von diesem Tage habt ihr geglaubt.
Wanneer Hij zal gekomen zijn, om verheerlijkt te worden in Zijn heiligen, en wonderbaar te worden in allen, die geloven (overmits onze getuigenis onder u is geloofd geworden) in dien dag.
quando verrà per essere in quel giorno glorificato nei suoi santi e ammirato in tutti quelli che hanno creduto, e in voi pure, poiché avete creduto alla nostra testimonianza dinanzi a voi.
Gdy przyjdzie, aby był uwielbiony w świętych swoich i aby się dziwnym okazał we wszystkich wierzących (dlatego iż uwierzono naszemu świadectwu u was) w on dzień.
когда Он приидет прославиться во святых Своих и явиться дивным в день оный во всех веровавших, так как вы поверили нашему свидетельству.
這正是 主降臨、要在 他 聖徒 的身上得榮耀、又 在 一切 信 的人身上顯為希奇 的 那 日子。 我們 對 你們 作的見證，你們也信了。
At his coming, when he will have glory in his saints, and will be a cause of wonder in all those who had faith (because our witness among you had effect) in that day.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · II Thessalonians 1:10
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse describes the purpose and outcome of Christ's second coming: He will be glorified and admired in and through His redeemed people. Barnes notes that the church, not the outward splendors, will be the source of His highest triumph. Calvin calls this a 'crowning consolation', believers who now suffer reproach will be made partners in Christ's glory. Gill adds that the glory Christ bestows on His members redounds to Him as Head. The Greek uses two divine passive infinitives (endoxasthenai, 'to be glorified'; thaumasthenai, 'to be admired'), both aorist, pointing to the completed, stunning act of the Parousia. The preposition en ('in'/'among') is understood either as the sphere where glory appears or the instrument by which glory is displayed. The textual variant addressed by Clarke and Cambridge leans toward the aorist participle pisteusasin ('those who have believed') over the present participle pisteuousin ('those who believe'), shifting the focus to the completed act of faith that secured their inclusion. The Thessalonian believers' faith in the apostolic testimony is cited as the reason they belong to that company. Their present sufferings (v. 6-7) are not the final word; in that day they will be Christ's glory.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Christ's coming will bring about His glory being displayed in the saints who have believed the apostolic testimony, providing comfort to suffering believers.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'glorified in his saints' | Christ's glory will be manifest at the Parousia through or among the redeemed; it is a public, eschatological display of His redemptive work. | Some (Calvin, Gill) emphasize that believers themselves become partakers of glory and reflect it. Others (Barnes, Cambridge) stress that the saints are the occasion of wonder for angels and onlookers, highlighting the instrumental role of the church in producing admiration. |
| Tense of the participle 'believed' | The verse refers to Christians as the ones whose faith connects them to this future glory. | The textual variant between present participle (πιστεύουσιν, 'those who believe') and aorist participle (πιστεύσασιν, 'those who have believed') is noted by Clarke and Cambridge. The aorist, found in many early manuscripts, emphasizes the completed act of faith at conversion; the present would emphasize a continuing state. Each reading shifts the nuance slightly but does not change the core meaning. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Thessalonica, a major port city in Macedonia, had a young church planted by Paul during his second missionary journey (Acts 17). From the first letter, we know the believers faced intense local opposition, likely from both Jewish leaders and pagan neighbours, and endured social ostracism, property loss, perhaps even physical harm (1 Thessalonians 1:6; 2:14). By the time Paul writes 2 Thessalonians, the situation has not improved; he mentions 'persecutions and afflictions' (1:4) and directly connects their endurance with God's righteous judgment (1:5-6).
Culturally, Thessalonians lived under Roman rule where the imperial cult honoured Caesar as 'lord' and 'saviour.' Confessing Jesus as Lord came at a cost. Paul's 'testimony' (marturion) was not abstract philosophy but a personal witness to Christ's death, resurrection, and coming judgment, claims that clashed with the local cults and Synagogue teaching.
Literarily, this verse sits in the opening thanksgiving and reassurance section. Having warned of divine retribution on those who afflict the church (1:6-9), Paul turns the lens to the other side of the Parousia: Christ's arrival brings not only relief from persecution but a public display of His glory in the very people who trusted His message. The parenthetical 'because our testimony to you was believed' echoes Paul's earlier boast that the Thessalonians became an example to all believers (1 Thessalonians 1:7-8). In that day, the faith that once seemed fragile will be seen as the foundation of eternal wonder.
Textual Notes
The main textual variation noted in the supplied sources involves πιστεύουσιν (present participle: 'them that believe') versus πιστεύσασιν (aorist participle: 'them that have believed'). Clarke reports that the aorist reading is supported by manuscripts A, B, C, D, E, F, many others, the later Syriac, Slavonic, Vulgate, Itala, and most Greek fathers. The Cambridge Bible also adopts the aorist. This reading is now standard in critical Greek texts (NA28, UBS5). The difference is subtle: the present participle may emphasize an ongoing state of faith; the aorist stresses the past act of coming to faith as the decisive basis for inclusion in that day. No other significant variants are noted in the consulted sources.
Reception History
Across church history, this verse has been treasured as a promise of Christ's ultimate vindication of His people. Early church writers saw it as a key text for resilience under persecution, linking present suffering to future glory. In the medieval period, the phrase 'to be admired in all them that believe' was often applied to the wonder of Christ's grace transforming sinners. Reformers like Calvin and Luther appealed to it to comfort believers that their lowly state would be reversed, while later Wesleyan and Baptist expositors (e.g., Clarke, Gill) used it to reinforce the necessity of personal faith as the link to eschatological glory. More recently, it appears in hymnody and teaching on the second coming, particularly passages on the ‘Day of Christ.’ The verse has not been a centre of major controversy; its message of hope has been a steady encouragement to Christians awaiting the Lord.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Christ’s coming unveils His glory in His people. The Parousia is not just a judgment scene; it is the moment when the Redeemer’s work is displayed through the redeemed. His glory is not separate from them, they are the setting where it shines.
- Faith is the link between present suffering and future glory. The Thessalonians’ belief in the apostolic testimony became the ground of their inclusion. What they trusted unseen will be openly admired.
- The church is Christ’s honor. As Barnes says, the church is the source of His highest triumph. This reorients suffering: we are not waiting to be rescued from a story that matters little; we are being shaped into a masterpiece that will bring Christ wonder forever.
Five-point outline
- The Coming: When He comes, the day is defined by His presence. The phrase ‘in that day’ (echoing Old Testament prophetic language) anchors hope in a concrete future.
- The Arena: Glorified in His saints. Hagioi, the holy ones set apart by God’s Spirit. Their holiness even now is glory in the bud (JFB).
- The Response: Admired among all who believed. Thaumazō conveys wonder. Angels and the saints themselves will marvel at what Christ has done.
- The Ground: Because our testimony was believed. Paul anchors the Thessalonian Christians’ hope directly in their response to the Gospel. Faith is the decisive link.
- The Implication: Suffering now is not meaningless. Present afflictions are the path to that day when Christ is seen in full glory, and we are seen in Him.
Illustration hooks
- A master painter’s gallery: An artist’s genius isn’t fully recognized until critics see the complete collection framed in the same hall. The day of Christ will be that gallery opening, with the saints as His works of grace.
- An athlete’s victory lap: After a marathon, the coach’s glory is bound up with the runners crossing the line. Their endurance and finish are his honor. So will Christ be honored when His people arrive, having believed the gospel to the end.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If I’m suffering for my faith, how do I know that will end well? This verse answers: Christ will be glorified in you on that day, your suffering is not final.
- What is the point of believing when the world ignores or mocks us? The point is that your faith is already registered as part of Christ’s coming glory, not as a present spectacle but as an eternal one.
- Is my ordinary, everyday faith enough? Yes. The same ‘testimony’ you believed is the very testimony that will be the cause of Christ’s admiration.
Leading a Discussion
This verse turns our gaze to the second coming, not as a distant event but as the moment when the faith we live now becomes visible as Christ’s glory. As you study together, notice the weight Paul places on the Thessalonians’ belief in his testimony, and let that encourage your own faith.
Discussion questions
- Read verses 6, 10 as a unit. How does the description of punishment (vv. 6, 9) set up the promise of verse 10?
- What does it mean for Christ to be ‘glorified in His saints’? Is He gaining glory He doesn’t already have, or is something being unveiled?
- The Greek word thaumasthenai (to be admired, wondered at) is used in the Septuagint for God’s awe-inspiring acts. Who is doing the admiring in this verse? The saints? Angels? All creation?
- Why does Paul add the parenthesis about the Thessalonians’ belief? (Hint: v. 8 mentions those who ‘obey not the Gospel.’ What contrast is he drawing?)
- How does knowing that Christ will be ‘admired in all them that have believed’ affect the way you handle current discouragements or doubts?
- Paul calls the Gospel a ‘testimony’, a witness to what happened. In your own words, what is the content of that testimony? Did you believe it?
- If the Thessalonians’ faith made Paul’s testimony ‘believed among you,’ how does the church today give credibility to the Gospel message?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Numbers 23:23 | Surely there is no enchantment with Jacob; neither is there any divination with Israel. Now it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘What has God done!’ |
| Psalms 68:35 | You are awesome, God, in your sanctuaries. The God of Israel gives strength and power to his people. Praise be to God! |
| Psalms 89:7 | a very awesome God in the council of the holy ones, to be feared above all those who are around him? |
| Isaiah 43:21 | the people which I formed for myself, that they might declare my praise. |
| Isaiah 44:23 | Sing, you heavens, for Yahweh has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth! Break out into singing, you mountains, O forest, all of your trees, for Yahweh has redeemed Jacob, and will glorify himself in Israel. |
| Isaiah 49:3 | He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” |
| Isaiah 60:21 | Then your people will all be righteous. They will inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. |
| Jeremiah 33:9 | This city will be to me for a name of joy, for praise, and for glory, before all the nations of the earth, which will hear all the good that I do to them, and will fear and tremble for all the good and for all the peace that I provide to it.’” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
11 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke emphasizes that the grace of God is most glorified in saving sinners and making them saints, a power that will be fully displayed on judgment day. He also notes a textual variant that changes "them that believe" to "them that have believed," suggesting the latter reading is genuine and clarifies the timing of faith.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes stresses that when Christ returns, his greatest glory will not come from outward splendor or attending angels. It will come from what is seen in the redeemed church itself—their virtues, their numbers, their joy in salvation. The Thessalonians will share in that honor because they believed the apostolic testimony.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin's distinctive point is that when Christ returns, he will not keep his glory to himself but will pour it out on believers, making them partners in it. This is the great comfort for believers now suffering reproach, as they will one day share in his splendor and dignity.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator highlights that at Christ's coming, the faith of the perfected saints will be the cause of astonishment and wonder, even to the angels and to the saints themselves. This glory for Christ is realized in those who believed the apostles' testimony, making their faith the pledge of His glorification.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Note emphasizes that when Christ returns, his glory will be displayed not only in his saints but also through their faith. The Thessalonian believers' acceptance of Paul's testimony is highlighted as evidence of their true belief, which will then be part of Christ's marvelous work at that day.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that Christ's second coming involves a mutual glorification: Christ displays his glory in and to believers, and they respond by ascribing eternal praise to him. He insists that saints and believers are identical, as true faith produces holiness. Unbelievers will also admire Christ when they see the despised believers exalted and Christ appearing in power.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB sees the saints as both the setting and the mirror that displays Christ's glory. He highlights how believers once trusted God's word by faith, but at His coming they see it fulfilled. For JFB, holiness is glory still developing, and glory is holiness fully revealed.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that the Thessalonians' patient endurance under persecution is not merely a sign of future judgment but evidence of God's righteous judgment already at work in the present. This judgment actively sifts and purifies them, working to make them worthy of the kingdom, not just promising future reward.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
For Henry, the Thessalonians' patient suffering was a visible sign they were being counted worthy of God’s kingdom—not because they earned it, but because their trials made them fit for it. He distinguishes between meriting heaven and being made meet for it, arguing that true religion, if worth anything, is worth everything, including suffering.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent draws attention to the Greek word for "to be glorified," which occurs only twice in the New Testament but is common in the Greek Old Testament. He links this rare verb to passages where God’s glory is displayed through mighty acts, particularly in Exodus and Isaiah.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley highlights that Christ's glory will be revealed not in a distant display but through the saints themselves. The wonderful glory of Christ shines in them, making believers the very place where His radiance is seen.