Series Paul’s Letters
2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 ESV
2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 ESV
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 (before judgment comes)
2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 ESV
2 Thessalonians 3:13-15 ESV
2 Thessalonians 3:16 ESV
Once again, the second letter was written by Paul, Silvanus (also called Silas), and Timothy.
In their opening comments in 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 they reiterated, “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.”
The observations from Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy about the church in Thessalonica are filled with high praise for the followers of Jesus in that church. They even go so far as to tell them they boast about them to the other churches.
That means when they communicate with other churches they tell them that the Christians in Thessalonica are ardently steadfast and they are a people of faith. They go so far as to remind the believers in Thessalonica that even though they are being persecuted and are afflicted, they are faithfully enduring it.
They SEE the people in Thessalonica.
They KNOW their faithfulness.
They UNDERSTAND their suffering.
They share IN their suffering and Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy trust them in sharing what is to come.
In 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 the three writers changed the tone when they wrote about the coming judgement, “This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.”
In 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 the authors outlined what would happen before the time of judgement when the trumpet will sound.
The level of understanding the three authors of the letter to the church is apparent. They had witnessed the depth of their faith and they trusted them with the knowledge of what was to come.
They encouraged the church in 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15, “But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first-fruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.”
In the final section they asked the church members to pray for them.
Being prayed for is important, and requesting pray is very important. That’s because praying for one another establishes a bond…a Holy bond. The authors wanted the new church members to understand giving and receiving prayer.
In 2 Thessalonians 3:11 the writers warn about members who are not fully committed to God’s plan.
They gave a warning about idleness and in 2 Thessalonians 3:13-15 they encouraged the members by writing, “As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.”
The authors of the letter ended with a benediction in 2 Thessalonians 3:16, “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”
Spiritual Practice: Peace
Unplug from the world. Turn off the noise. Receive God’s peace.
In God, Deborah
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