2 Thessalonians 2:16

And God our Father (kai [o] qeo o pathr hmwn). It is uncertain whether the first article o is genuine as it is absent in B D. Usually Paul has the Father before Christ except here, 2 Corinthians 13:13 ; Galatians 1:1 . Which loved us (o agaphsa hma). This singular articular participle refers to o pathr, "though it is difficult to see how St. Paul could otherwise have expressed his thought, if he had intended to refer to the Son, as well as to the Father. There is probably no instance in St. Paul of a plural adjective or verb, when the two Persons of the Godhead are mentioned" (Lightfoot). Eternal comfort (paraklhsin aiwnian). Distinct feminine form of aiwnio here instead of masculine as in Matthew 25:46 .