Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,
and good hope through grace: The word "good" from the Greek word agathos means "pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy" (Thayer 2-2-18). The word "hope" (elpis) means "much more frequently in the classics, and always in the New Testament in a good sense: ’expectation of good, hope;’ and in the Christian sense, ’joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation:’" (Thayer 205-2-1680). The word "grace" (karis) generally means "good-will, loving-kindness, favor: in a broad sense...kindness which bestows upon one what he has not deserved" (Thayer 2-2-18).